Ark 2 was first announced at The Game Awards in 2020, but four years on, we still haven’t been able to roam the world and find the dinosaurs that inhabit it. After a delay to the game’s 2023 launch, we now have a release window for Ark 2, and we don’t have too long to wait.
Ark: Survival Evolved is one of the most popular survival games on the market, and almost a decade after its 2015 launch, plenty of players are still regularly jumping into the dinosaur-infested world.
It shouldn’t be any surprise then that fans of the genre are desperate to get their hands on the next installment in the series, so here’s everything we know about Ark 2‘s release window.
Ark 2 release window
Ark 2 is scheduled to launch in late 2024, as confirmed by Studio Wildcard in a blog on their official website.
Unfortunately, we don’t have an exact date yet, but it’s expected to come later in the year. Based on what they’ve told us, I’d expect Ark 2 to be released in November or December of this year, but I’ll be sure to update this post once we have official confirmation from the developer.
Why was Ark 2 delayed?
In a blog post in March 2023, Studio Wildcard stated that they had “put much thought into delaying Ark 2 for the betterment of the final product and the team’s wellbeing.”
“Our goal is to make Ark 2 the best game it can be and provide a truly exceptional and rewarding experience for players,” they explained. “Unreal Engine 5 is incredibly new technology to us, and we aim to use this cutting-edge tech to its fullest potential while creating a game with never-before-achieved scope at Studio Wildcard.”
“As we learn more about the engine and develop the sequel, we have adapted our workflows and adjusted our pipelines to accommodate this new next-generation paradigm, and because of everything that involves, we need more time for development.”
Ark 2 platforms
Due to Studio Wildcard’s deal with Microsoft, Ark 2 will be an Xbox exclusive, launching on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
There’s no word on whether it will come to PlayStation consoles at a later date.
Is Ark 2 going to be on Xbox Game Pass?
Yes, Ark 2 will be on Xbox Game Pass from day one, meaning you can download it on release day if you’re a subscriber to the service.
This includes console Game Pass and PC Game Pass, so no matter which platform you use, you can get in the action.
Ark 2 trailer
The latest Ark 2 trailer was released in June 2022 and gives us a look not only at Unreal Engine 5 but Vin Diesel’s character in the game too.
Is there any Ark 2 gameplay footage?
Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any gameplay footage of Ark 2 just yet. With a later 2024 release window, however, we’d expect to see some in the coming months.
Ark 2 mod support
Ark 2 will feature mod support at launch, supported by mod.io. Even better, mods will be available for both PC and Xbox consoles, meaning everyone has the chance to customize their game the way they want to.
“Ark 2‘s fully stackable, user-created mods will open the door for players to generate new dinosaurs and creatures, items, and gameplay features,” Studio Wildcard confirmed.
Ark 2 storyline
Studio Wildcard hasn’t dropped too much information about Ark 2‘s storyline, but we do know that it takes place after Survival Evolved’s fifth DLC, Genesis: Part 2.
At the end of that expansion, Santiago, played by Vin Diesel, wakes up from stasis after the Genesis Ship breaks in half, sending him flying towards a planet. We believe Ark 2 will follow Santiago as he tries to survive on this new world.
