The new Frostpunk game that's coming in 2027 is a 'reimagining' of the original in Unreal Engine 5 with new content, mechanics, laws, and—finally—mod support

Frostpunk 1886 - big smokestack in a bigger hole

(Image credit: 11 Bit Studios)

Just days after an investors report revealed that a new Frostpunk game is coming "as early as 2027," 11 Bit Studios has made it official with the announcement of Frostpunk 1886, a remake that "revisits and expands upon" the original in Unreal Engine 5.

Frostpunk 1886 promises "an evolved take on the harsh, morally challenging survival experience" of the original game, but 11 Bit says it's not just a visual upgrade. The new game will also feature new content, mechanics, laws, and an all-new Purpose path the studio says will offer "a fresh experience even for the most seasoned players."

Frostpunk 1886 | New Game Announcement - YouTube

Watch On

A potentially bigger deal is the plan to support modding in Frostpunk 1886. 11 Bit Studios said it was impossible to support mods in Frostpunk because of "technical limitations" of the Liquid Engine used in the original game, but moving to Unreal Engine 5 "allows the game to become a living, expandable platform," and will also simplify (and hopefully speed up) the process of creating and releasing DLC.

The announcement of Frostpunk 1886 comes less than a year after the release of Frostpunk 2, but 11 Bit said it does not mean the end of that game: Both games will "evolve side by side—two paths forged in parallel, each carrying the vision of survival into unrelenting cold."

It's not a whole lot to go on at this point, but 11 Bit said more details and a proper look at Frostpunk 1886—that's a reference to Year 0 in the Frostpunk timeline, by the way, which saw the beginning of the devastating Great Frost that ultimately brought about the end of the old world—will be forthcoming "in the months ahead."

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.