We go hands on with the biggest Grounded 2 update yet, Into the Abyss, which adds an all-new underwater area called the Skunk Pond.10:00, 08 Aug 2026After playing just over an hour of Grounded 2's upcoming update, it's clear that Obsidian has found a few worthwhile ways to bring added depth to the game's existing survival sandbox.‌Grounded 2 is one of those games where it’s instantly easy to see the appeal. What if you and friends were shrunken down to the size of an ant and forced to survive within the oversized outdoors? It’s a quirky and attractive concept I myself - and I’m sure plenty others - have been obsessed with ever since watching 1989’s Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Developer Obsidian mostly nailed what it means to explore and craft within such a setting in the first game and has been well on its way to perfecting it since Grounded 2 launched in early access last July.‌Easily one of the biggest missing pieces to this puzzle up until now, though, has been the lack of underwater exploration - something that’ll be remedied as soon as next week following the game’s Into the Abyss update.I was recently invited to check out quite a bit of the new content the latest Grounded 2 update introduces; the most obvious being a totally new area located in the southern part of the park called Skunk Pond. What I found when plunging into its depths was a fresh craft-based quest line, creepy new enemies, but also plenty of new ways to survive and make this area of the park my own.‌The first point of call in my demo was to work out a way to breathe for longer when underwater. Kitted out with plenty of late-game smoothies, weapons, and crafting materials, doing so was made relatively easy after I dived into the depths of Skunk Pond’s smoky shores, chopped off a piece of Eelgrass, and then analysed it back at my base. I was on my way to crafting a snorkel following this, swiftly falling back into the familiar ‘putting X and Y together to make X’ gameplay routine that veteran Grounded 2 fans will already know so well.The difference now, however, is that getting around is made more of a challenge than it was before, not just due to the need for oxygen but also my need to manage the chilly temperature levels that can kick in at the pond’s lower levels.‌In the drinkPushing through these obstacles undoubtedly brings a fresh degree of challenge and appeal to existing players. Obstacles that may be systemically similar to how Grounded 2 forces you to survive on land, true, yet feels largely fresh due to the distinct factors that being underwater introduces.I was only able to explore the pond and its new surrounding areas for a little over an hour during my preview demo, yet already it’s not hard to see the ways Into the Abyss will encourage you to push on to discover new wonders, sub-locations, and more manageable ways to explore the water such as a diving suit and even a buggy. Both of which seem like great rewards for players willing to pursue all Into the Abyss has to offer, although I wasn’t able to get that far.What I was able to experience were some of the update’s brand-new enemies, easily the most dangerous being the infamous toe-biter, which more than once caused my health to slowly drain after injecting me with venom. Underwater combat in general has a much different feel to it compared to the base game.‌Whereas fights using melee weapons like your spear or from afar using a bow are daily straightforward, fighting all the various water bugs mostly required me to throw out floating Croakwurst mines, which when bumped into will explode on impact and kill anything nearby. Approaching combat in this way might not be as instantly satisfying, but is far more tactical and forces you to think about your positioning a lot more.If you hadn’t already guessed, just as much as Skunk Pond has been designed to inherently stoke your curiosity, with many underwater wonders such as a digital watch, shark toy, and others to discover, the water is also something to be feared. Various new creatures exist within it where you won’t be able to utilise your usual combat tools, and new factors such as breath, chill, and swim speed are set to keep you on your toes.‌All these elements reinforce the fact that Skunk Pod is an area that is something to approach with caution as well as enjoyment. In fact, various times while on the hunt for fresh resources did I find myself incredibly far away from my underwater base, unable to quickly head back to replenish my oxygen level or lay my head to advance time when the waters become incredibly dark at night.In the end, I came away from my hour-and-a-half exploring Into the Abyss’ new area feeling like I barely scratched the surface in terms of the new perks, crafting recipes, and locations it has to offer. It’s easily the biggest update to Grounded 2 yet and Obsidian has been clear about that, listening to the feedback from fans and inevitably prepping for the eventual 1.0 launch later down the line.For now, Grounded 2 is still in early access and is set to remain so even as it hits PS5 this coming Tuesday. But with even this being the case, the ability to explore the murky waters of Skunk Pond is surely set to give Obsidian’s marquee survival crafting game fresh legs. Underwater diving as an ant-sized explorer both excites and scares me, and that can only ever be a good thing.Article continues belowInto the Abyss is set to arrive on all platforms - including PS5 - within Grounded 2 on Tuesday, August 11.