Obsidian Entertainment has released update 0.5.1 for Grounded 2, marking a significant shift in the Early Access title’s crafting and progression systems. Launched on September 24, 2026, for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 5, the patch most notably removes Infused Ooze from the game entirely, forcing a restructuring of high-tier crafting recipes.
The removal of Infused Ooze directly impacts the Tier 4 Omni-Axe. While the specific replacement ingredients for the axe have not been detailed in the notes, the recipe has been updated to reflect the resource’s absence. This change follows update 0.1.1.2, which focused primarily on quality-of-life adjustments.
Buggy Mount Improvements
A major focus of this update is the “Buggy” system—the biological mounts used for traversal and combat. These vehicles are based on insect variants, including Ladybugs, Ants, and Toe Biters. Version 0.5.1 improves Buggy perception, allowing these biological mounts to identify threats and participate in combat more effectively alongside players.
These improvements aim to make mounts more viable during skirmishes rather than serving strictly as transport. The AI adjustments ensure that mounts react to hostiles with better coordination when the player engages in a fight.
New Progression and Character Upgrades
Character progression has been expanded through new tiers for Molar upgrades. Players can now access additional levels for:
- Milk Molars
- Mega Milk Molars
- Moldy Milk Molars: A distinct new tier of character progression that represents a separate upgrade path from the original game’s offerings.
Platform and Multiplayer Fixes
For players on PlayStation 5, update 0.5.1 addresses several connectivity and visibility issues. PS5 users can now correctly see the online status of friends playing on Steam. Additionally, the update ensures that Shared Worlds remain accessible even when crossplay is disabled on the console.
The patch also resolves a licensing loophole regarding the Founder’s Pack. Previously, a bug allowed players to retain access to DLC skins even after a refund had been processed; this has been corrected to ensure content is revoked upon refund.
Creative Mode and Environment Changes
Players utilizing Creative mode will find fewer restrictions when exploring the yard. Obsidian has removed the Diving Suit requirement for the Abyss hatch specifically for this mode, allowing for easier entry into underwater sections without specific gear. These changes and more are detailed in the official patch notes from the developer.
Additional Changes
- Improved AI pathing for biological mounts in dense terrain.
- Fixed various world-sharing sync issues between PC and console platforms.
- Adjusted recipe requirements for several Tier 4 items previously dependent on Infused Ooze.
