Planning a sequel to one of the most popular survival games can't have been easy, but Studio Wildcat plans to do just that with ARK 2.
Much like its predecessor, ARK 2 promises to be a game of adventure, open-wilderness survival, and the importance of family -- whether that be human or dinosaur.
Here's everything you need to know about ARK 2, from its estimated release date to all of the latest news.
If you're interested in other gaming hubs, check out our breakdown for games like Assassin's Creed Shadows, Gears of War: E-Day, and DOOM: The Dark Ages.
ARK 2 Release Date Estimate
The release date for ARK 2 has been revealed to be "late 2024". Outside of that, no specific release date has been confirmed by Studio Wildcat.
ARK 2 was originally announced at The Game Awards 2020. Among the memes about Vin Diesel's involvement was a release date of 2023, but that has since been pushed back multiple times.
That being said, ARK 2's developer has not indicated that the game will not be released in 2024. However, if anything changes, we'll update this guide accordingly.
click to enlargeARK 2 Platforms
Despite its predecessor being available on all platforms, including the Nintendo Switch, ARK 2 will launch as a PC and Xbox Series X exclusive.
This isn't all that surprising, as Studio Wildcat announced the partnership with Microsoft alongside its reveal of the game. A sad state of affairs for gamers looking to play it on PS5, though.
Will ARK 2 Come To Game Pass?
ARK 2 will be available on Game Pass at launch for both PC and Xbox Series X.
Considering the popularity of the original game, Studio Wildcat no doubt wants ARK 2 in the hands of everyone possible at launch.
Will ARK 2 Come To PS5?
ARK 2 will not be available on the PS5 at launch, but that doesn't mean the survival dinosaur game won't be on other platforms like the PS5 in the future.
The reason we believe it's possible for ARK 2 to eventually grace Sony's console is that the first ARK game, Survival Evolved, did end up launching on the PS4 and even the Nintendo Switch.
Though we believe in the possibility of the former, we highly doubt ARK 2 will ever make its way to the current generation of Nintendo's handheld console.
ARK 2 Vin Diesel
It can't have escaped fans' notice that Vin Diesel will be returning as Santiago Da Costa.
In addition to lending his voice and likeness to the character, Studio Wildcat has confirmed that Diesel is a massive fan of ARK overall - hence his role at the studio as President of Creative Convergence. We have no idea what that means, but good for Diesel.
Vin Diesel is also serving as an executive producer of ARK 2, which basically means he is providing direct feedback on aspects of the development process for the upcoming game. Let's hope all other ARK fans appreciate Diesel's vision.
ARK 2 Trailers
The first trailer for ARK 2 is the Game Awards 2020 announcement trailer. In it, Santiago and his daughter Meeks explore a beautiful jungle with plenty of dinosaurs.
The last ARK 2 trailer was seen at E3 2022. Like the first, it did not show any gameplay but implied that the bond between the father-daughter duo would be the focus of the game's storyline. It also showed off what is arguably the coolest mode of transport—a T-Rex in armor.
ARK 2 Gameplay
Despite being announced in 2020 and set for release in late 2024, we have yet to see any gameplay for ARK 2.
Even so, we do have some idea of what the gameplay for ARK 2 will be like. For one thing, it will be a third-person perspective and a redesigned combat and control system that focuses on movement such as dodging, blocking, and even parkour. If it sounds as though it's Souls-like combat, then buckle up, because we're certain it pretty much is.
With dinosaurs roaming around, players can expect a management system centered around the creatures, alongside crafting and a build system similar to the original ARK.