11 bit studios has announced Frostpunk 1886, a complete overhaul and reimagining of the original title in the series. According to the announcement trailer, the game should be out sometime in 2027.
However, this big news comes with big twists. Before we get into that, let’s take a look at the announcement trailer that offers a hint as to what makes 1886 so different than a “typical” reborn game.
What’s new in Frostpunk 1886?
Several things are changing with the updated title. Starting things off, players may wonder why “1886” is tacked onto the title. This marks “a pivotal moment in the timeline of the universe, when the Great Storm descended upon New London.”
The biggest change, however, is that the game is moving from 11 bit’s proprietary Liquid Engine to Unreal Engine. This allows the development team more flexibility to improve visuals, of course. But what devs seem to be most excited about is that it offers them an opportunity to add new content, new mechanics, new laws, and a new Purpose Path. The latter addition gives even the most seasoned veteran of the original game new ways to experience the beloved title.
Using Unreal Engine also provides an opportunity to make “the game…a living, expandable platform” which will fully support mods. This has been a long-requested feature from the community but that was not feasible due to limitations in the Liquid Engine. It also provides a chance to add future DLC content as well.
Development of 1886 started in early 2025 and the game is expected to head out the gate sometime in 2027. According to the team, this makes “a new era for 11 bit studios — one focused on delivering in-house projects more frequently than ever before.”
There are big plans in the next several months to unveil more about the game, including gameplay, features, and more.
Check out the Frostpunk 1886 Steam page for further details.
