On April 24, 2025, 11 Bit Studios announced development of Frostpunk: 1886, a complete remake of Frostpunk, the original grimdark citybuilder from 2018. Premiered via a teaser trailer, Frostpunk: 1886 is set for a 2027 release window. The team over at 11 Bit Studios provided that roughly 30-second teaser trailer, a short video description section within, and a new Steam listing for all of us to analyze.
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New game, familiar setting
Joining in on the trend of remastering older beloved games like Bethesda’s success with Oblivion Remastered, 11 Bit Studios has confirmed Frostpunk: 1886 is a remake of the original Frostpunk. That means, we’ll all be going back to New London in 1886, back to where it all began. But it will be different this time, especially considering how a brand new Purpose Path will be included in addition to the original Order and Faith paths.
“Our goal is to build on the original Frostpunk and expand it by adding new content … That means new events, mechanics, laws, technologies, and buildings.”
Taking what was there and making it better seems to be the name of the game for 11 Bit Studios. But, they are careful not to lose the original essence of what made Frostpunk successful, “The game introduces new content while staying true to the legacy of the original Frostpunk, sticking to its premise and unique gameplay feel.”
That unique feel pertains to its morally gray decision-making in the face of unrelenting brutality. Frostpunk: 1886, it seems, will not shy away from the franchise’s bleak themes. The trailer they released ends with darkening skies, blaring alarms, and a repeated desperate call to “Save the children!”
Unreal Engine 5 unlocks mod support
Source: 11 Bit Studios
The original Frostpunk from 2018 was built using 11 Bit Studios’ own proprietary Liquid Engine. This allowed the team to build out some custom features for their game, but sharing mod access to players was not feasible. That’s part of the reason why Frostpunk 2 was developed in Unreal Engine 5. Speaking to Polygon in 2024, Frostpunk 2’s co-director and design director, Jakub Stokalski, explained:
“Strategy games, and PC games in particular, benefit from having a vibrant modding community.”
Frostpunk: 1886 is following suit after Frostpunk 2 by choosing Unreal Engine 5 to promote community mods. They say, “It became apparent that rebuilding Frostpunk in the Unreal Engine will make it a richer, more immersive experience with enhanced visuals and performance.”
It looks like 11 Bit Studios is betting on robust community engagement. This is well-founded because fans of the Frostpunk series are some of the most dedicated out there, creating markets for Frostpunk board games and novellas. With a 2027 release window a few years down the line, Frostpunk: 1886 will likely provide many updates to come.
