Xbox unveils a 10-foot red ant buggie giveaway for Grounded 2 ahead of Game Preview launch
Xbox has pulled off a somewhat unique publicity stunt to bolster the hype for Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming Grounded 2 for its Game Preview Launch on Xbox Series S|X, PC, Xbox Cloud, Steam Early Access, and Xbox Game Pass.
Users can participate in Xbox’s sweepstakes to win a 10-foot giant red ant buggy-mount from Grounded 2 by following Xbox on X or Instagram and commenting #Grounded2Sweepstakes. The giveaway will run through August 31, 2025. Gamers attending Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, Germany, can also see the life-size red ant plushie in person on August 20 at the Xbox Fanfest.
The giveaway was announced in an Xbox Wire news post where Vice President of Games Marketing Aaron Greenberg stated:
“We turned the in-game Red Ant Buddy into a real-world, mountable, ultra-soft, totally bonkers gaming plush. It’s part furniture, part Buddy, and all awesome.”
Grounded 2 is priced at $29.99 for the Standard Edition and $39.99 for the Founder’s Edition, which includes four cosmetic skins, a digital artbook, soundtrack, and custom emotes. The game also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing gamers to transition saves between Xbox and PC.
The sequel builds on the original Grounded’s 15 million players, shrinking them into the Brookhollow Public Park. The game builds upon the original’s co-op survival by expanding the map to nearly three times the original size of the first game’s backyard setting. This time, the game features rideable mounts called “Buggies,” featuring Orb Weavers and Red Ant Soldiers.
Mounts were a long-requested feature by fans of the original game and have finally been added to the upcoming sequel. Highlighting the new buggies, Greenberg stated, “The most requested addition from the Grounded community is the cornerstone of the new game.”
The Game Preview launch promises a roadmap for future updates, expansive content drops every few months, in contrast to the first game’s monthly update cadence. While the game is currently an Xbox and PC exclusive, Obsidian Entertainment hasn’t ruled out a PlayStation or Nintendo release, following Grounded 1’s multi-platform release on April 16, 2024.
