The Mycopunk Cryo Grenade arrives with the 1.0 release on October 20, 2026 for PC and PS5, according to the developers. It is not in the game yet, and Pigeons at Play has not published how you unlock it. However, cryo itself is already playable since the August 25 Freeze & Fester update, through four cryo upgrades that you find at a mound of ice in the Swamp and Ice Floes. Check the 1.0 patch notes on launch day for the grenade’s unlock steps.
Summary: Mycopunk Cryo Grenade
- 1.0 release: October 20, 2026 on PC (Steam) and PS5.
- PS Store time: 1:00 PM ET, which is 10:00 AM PT.
- Cryo Grenade: confirmed for 1.0, with no unlock method published.
- Cryo now: four cryo upgrades, one equipped at a time.
- Where to find them: a mound of ice in the Swamp and Ice Floes.
- Freeze and shatter: frozen targets lock in place, and enough damage shatters them.
- Also in 1.0: new guns, grenades, maps, modes, a new character and hats.
Mycopunk 1.0 Release Date and Time
Mycopunk leaves Early Access on October 20, 2026. The developers confirmed the date in a trailer during the PC Game Show broadcast at Tokyo Game Show on September 20, and the game launches on Steam and PlayStation 5.
Game8 reports the PlayStation Store lists a 1:00 PM ET launch, so here is the time in each US zone:
| Time zone | Launch time, October 20 |
|---|---|
| Eastern (EDT) | 1:00 PM |
| Central (CDT) | 12:00 PM |
| Mountain (MDT) | 11:00 AM |
| Pacific (PDT) | 10:00 AM |
That time comes from the PlayStation listing. Steam has not shown a separate hour in the sources I checked, so confirm it on your own store page.
The game is a four-player co-op looter shooter in which robots fight fungal aliens. The 1.0 version promises new guns, new grenades, new maps, new modes, a new character and hats for characters, according to the official announcement coverage. Early Access launched on July 10, 2025 at $14.99.
Is the Cryo Grenade Available Yet?
No. The August 19 devlog says the full power of cryo arrives in 1.0 with a new grenade, and it adds that the grenade is not finished, so players cannot have it yet. The August 25 patch notes repeat it: cryo launched early as a soft launch so the team could work out balance issues before 1.0.
Here is what is and is not known:
| Question | Status |
|---|---|
| Will the Cryo Grenade ship with 1.0? | Yes, per the developers’ plan |
| How do you unlock it? | Not published |
| What are its upgrades? | Not published |
| What does it cost? | Not published |
Because nothing official describes the unlock, I will not guess. Mycopunk’s unlocks generally use resources. A fan wiki lists eight resources that unlock weapons, weapon upgrades and grenade upgrades, including GATS, Romphus, Gussula, Beezia, Yeuco, Saxonite and the Self-Replicating Acid Blob. That tells you how the game’s economy works, but it does not tell you the Cryo Grenade’s price.
For another co-op looter-shooter that tests new content with a limited-time rollout, see our Vaultbreakers Alpha Test guide.
How Freezing and Shattering Work
The devlog explains the system clearly. Cryo builds up on a target, and once it is fully applied, the target is frozen.
- Frozen enemies lock in place. They cannot move.
- Frozen weapons pacify enemies. Freezing specific parts, like guns, stops those parts from working.
- Frozen players still move. They are much slower than normal.
- Shattering breaks the ice. When a frozen target takes enough damage, it shatters, breaks free and takes a lot of damage.
- Punching is the shortcut. Punching a frozen target usually shatters it instantly.
The devs say the best part is the crunch of shattering a group of enemies at once. As a result, the intended loop is freeze first, then shatter.
The patch also added a cryo exploder, a variant of the exploding barrel enemy that freezes everything around it. Keep your distance from it, since the freeze affects you too.
The Four Cryo Upgrades
The August 25 update added four cryo upgrades that any employee can equip. They behave like special abilities, they all use the Q key, and you can equip only one at a time.
| Upgrade | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ice Cube | Hold Q to encase yourself in ice, which freezes you and gives damage resistance. Jump out to create a cryo explosion and heal based on how long you stayed inside |
| Permafrost Wave | Hold Q to send freezing spikes of ice out in every direction |
| Splinter Virus | Hold Q to freeze nearby targets that are not frozen, and instantly shatter nearby targets that are |
| Ice Skates | Hold Q to toggle skates, which let you move faster with less control |
A few notes on using them:
- Splinter Virus rewards two uses. The first press freezes a group, and a second press shatters them. That is my reading of its description, not a tested combo.
- Ice Cube is the defensive option. The longer you stay inside, the more you heal when you jump out.
- Ice Skates are for movement, not control. The developers call them silly but fun.
- Version 1.10.1 fixed a bug. Ice Skates effects did not stop after you unequipped them, and that is now fixed.
Where to Find the Cryo Upgrades and Permafrost Wave
The patch notes say to look for a mound of ice in the Swamp and the Ice Floes. In the August update, the ice mound always spawns in the Swamp, and the notes do not say where it appears in the Ice Floes or how often.
The notes also do not say which of the four upgrades you get from a mound. So here is the practical advice:
- Play the Swamp. It is the guaranteed spot, per the August notes.
- Scan for an ice mound. It looks different from the rest of the terrain.
- Try the Ice Floes too. The mound can appear there.
- Check your inventory. The update added employee ability icons and descriptions to the inventory screen.
The Swamp is a temperate region with caves, industrial pipelines and green forests, and it was added in the same update. Threat levels in the lobby filter now only go up to the real maximum, which was a small fix in 1.10.1.
What Else Comes with 1.0
The developers’ roadmap and devlogs mention several 1.0 additions:
- New region X11-B. A moon of New Atlas, meant for your best builds. Enemies are tankier and deal more damage, and electromagnetic radiation storms sweep across the area and fizzle your abilities.
- Fulfillments. An in-game achievement system, with many rewards that are hats.
- New content. New guns, grenades, maps, modes and a new character.
The X11-B storms matter for cryo builds, since they fizzle abilities, and every cryo upgrade is an ability.
Tips to Prepare for the Cryo Grenade
These tips are my suggestions based on the confirmed systems:
- Try cryo now. The upgrades are live, so you can practice freezing and shattering before the grenade arrives.
- Save resources. Unlocks use resources, so do not spend everything before 1.0.
- Learn to punch frozen enemies. It is the fastest shatter.
- Watch for the cryo exploder. It freezes you, not just enemies.
- Read the 1.0 notes. The grenade’s unlock steps should appear there.
Common Mistakes
- Searching for the grenade today. It is not in the game yet.
- Trusting unlock guides. None exist from the developers.
- Equipping two cryo upgrades. Only one works at a time.
- Ignoring the ice mound. It is the source of the upgrades.
- Standing near cryo exploders. They freeze everything around them.
Conclusion
The Mycopunk Cryo Grenade comes with the 1.0 release on October 20, and you can already practice freeze and shatter with the four cryo upgrades from the ice mound. The developers have not said how to unlock the grenade, so check the launch day notes. Everything here is accurate as of October 19, 2026, and the 1.0 update may change details.
FAQs
When does Mycopunk 1.0 release?
It releases on October 20, 2026 on PC and PS5. The PlayStation Store lists 1:00 PM ET.
How do I unlock the Cryo Grenade in Mycopunk?
The developers have not published the unlock method. The grenade arrives with 1.0.
What are the cryo upgrades?
They are Ice Cube, Permafrost Wave, Splinter Virus and Ice Skates, and you can equip one at a time.
Where do I find the Permafrost Wave upgrade?
Look for a mound of ice in the Swamp or Ice Floes. The notes do not say which upgrade each mound gives.
How do I shatter frozen enemies?
Deal enough damage, or punch them, since a punch usually shatters a frozen target instantly.
What else is in Mycopunk 1.0?
The developers promise new guns, grenades, maps, modes, a new character and hats.
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