Frostpunk, the acclaimed 2018 city-building survival simulator, is receiving a full remake in Unreal Engine 5. Titled Frostpunk 1886, developer 11 bit studios announced the ambitious project earlier this week, revealing plans for not only a visual overhaul but also brand-new content, mechanics, and official mod support.
According to a press release, while Frostpunk 2 — released in 2024 — will continue to be expanded with regular content updates, the original Frostpunk is being reimagined to lay a new foundation for the future. The team explained that with the studio’s proprietary Liquid Engine now retired, it made sense to rebuild the game in Unreal Engine 5, offering players a refreshed experience with expanded possibilities.
However, Frostpunk 1886 will not merely be a graphical upgrade. 11 bit studios promises the remake will introduce new laws, gameplay mechanics, and an entirely new purpose path for players to explore. Set during a critical point in the game’s alternate-history timeline, “1886” references the year when the catastrophic Great Storm first engulfed New London, plunging the world into a frozen apocalypse.
One of the most exciting announcements for long-time fans is the addition of official mod support. Previously impossible due to limitations with the Liquid Engine, modding will finally be embraced in Frostpunk 1886, offering the community greater freedom to create and share new content. The developers have also hinted that future DLC may be on the horizon, although no specifics have yet been revealed.
Development on Frostpunk 1886 began in early 2025, and the title is currently scheduled for release in 2027. 11 bit studios has promised a deeper look into the game’s changes and additions over the coming months. Meanwhile, work on Frostpunk 2 will continue, with the studio noting that both projects will evolve in tandem.
“In the meantime, fans can look forward to a future where Frostpunk 2 and Frostpunk 1886 evolve side by side — two paths forged in parallel, each carrying the vision of survival into the unrelenting cold,” the press release reads.
For now, Frostpunk 1886 has only been confirmed for PC via Steam, with no announcement regarding a potential console release. The original Frostpunk launched on PC in 2018 and later came to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in 2019. Frostpunk 2 is still expected to arrive on consoles later this year.
