The 2018 city-building survival simulator Frostpunk is being remade in Unreal Engine 5 as Frostpunk 1886, developer 11 bit Studios has announced, and it will include new content as well as official mod support.

In a press release, 11 bit Studios explained that while its 2024 sequel Frostpunk 2 will continue to receive new content updates, it wanted to lay a new foundation for the original now that the studio’s proprietary Liquid Engine, which was used to build the first Frostpunk, is no longer in development.

That led the team to using the Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5 for its upcoming remake, but 11 bit makes clear that Frostpunk 1886, which is slated for release in 2027, won’t be just a visual update. It will add new content, mechanics, laws, and a new purpose path for players to pursue as they attempt to manage a settlement amid a frozen, post-apocalyptic alternate history. As for the name, “1886” refers to an important moment in the game’s universe, when the Great Storm first descended upon New London.

Frostpunk 1886 will also include official mod support, a long-requested feature by the game’s community but one that was impossible due to limitations with the Liquid Engine, 11 bit said. The remake could possibly receive new DLC content in the future as well.

Work began on Frostpunk 1886 in early 2025, 11 bit Studios notes, and promised a deeper look at all the changes coming to the remake in the months ahead. Meanwhile, the studio emphasized that work will continue on Frostpunk 2.

“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 states.

Frostpunk 1886 looks to just be coming to PC via Steam for now, with no word on a potential console release. Frostpunk was originally released on PC in 2018 before coming to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in 2019. Frostpunk 2 is still slated to arrive on consoles this year.