Xbox game takes arachnophobia mode to the next level in new update

The story of four teens shrunk down to bug size continues with Xbox's Grounded 2, but this time the kids are trapped inside a huge park with new dangers and objectives.

At the PAX Australia gaming expo this year, 9news.com.au caught up with Justin Vasquez, Creative Director at Eidos Montreal and Miles Winzeler, Producer at Obsidian Entertainment, to talk "scary spiders" and all things Grounded 2.

Grounded 2 is in early access for Xboxand PC currently, which the creators say allows them to build the game alongside the community.

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"Community feedback in the early access model was such a key component to Grounded 1's success," Vasquez said.

"The community rallied behind this amazing game, this amazing fantasy," he said, attributing community feedback to making the game what it is today.

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Last week, the game unleashed a new update.

Hairy and Scary sets players up to take on a colossal tarantula named AXL — a big nope from me. Thankfully, Grounded 2 builds upon the arachnophobia mode from the first game and allows players to reduce AXL to nothing but a blob.

"We have an arachnophobia slider that basically reduces different elements that are phobia triggers on the spiders in game so they can become increasingly more blob-like, lose the extra limbs and the fangs and, you know, enjoy the game," Winzeler told 9news.com.au.

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"The first area of the picnic area that we released in early access was designed to feel a lot like the backyard, because we wanted players, especially returning players, to feel secure that this was still going to be the core Grounded experience that you've come to know and love," he said.

"With the community garden, it's that really great mix of the organic plant life and nature. But this is something that's clearly man made and crafted by humans."

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