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| Release Date | 2024 |
| Developer | Studio Wildcard, Grove Street Games |
| Platform | Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows Genres: Massively multiplayer online game, Adventure game, MORE |
Ark 2 is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming games, serving as the sequel to the popular survival game Ark: Survival Evolved. Originally announced in 2020 and slated for a 2022 release, Ark 2 has faced multiple delays, pushing its launch window back to late 2024. As fans eagerly await more news and updates, speculation continues to swirl around details including Ark 2’s release date, what platforms it will come to, and when we’ll get our first glimpse of gameplay.
When is the Ark 2 Release Date?
When Ark 2 was first revealed at The Game Awards in December 2020, Studio Wildcard targeted an ambitious 2022 release. However, after two years passed with relatively little news or promotional material for the game, the studio announced in mid-2022 that Ark 2 was delayed to 2023. But just a few months later during the 2022 Xbox Bethesda Showcase, Studio Wildcard dropped the bombshell that they were moving the Ark 2 release date yet again, this time to “the end of 2024.”
The developers explained that “We’ve put much thought into delaying ARK 2 for the betterment of the final product and the team’s well-being…So why the delay? Our goal is to make ARK 2 the best game it can be and provide a truly exceptional and rewarding experience for players.”
While disappointing for eager fans, the delays aren’t entirely surprising given the ambitious scope of the project. As a sequel to a game renowned for its vast scale, intricate systems, and wealth of content, Studio Wildcard is clearly taking a very deliberate approach to ensure Ark 2 lives up to expectations at launch. And given the track record of many other high-profile sequels launching in unfinished states lately (we’re looking at you Cyberpunk), perhaps these delays will work to Ark 2’s benefit in the long run.
Xbox Exclusivity Causes Controversy
If you are an Xbox user, you are eagerly waiting for Ark 2 news Xbox. Compounding frustrations around Ark 2’s launch delays is the looming period of Xbox console exclusivity that the game will have. When Studio Wildcard first announced Ark 2 at the 2020 Game Awards, it also revealed that the sequel was being developed in partnership with Xbox and would be a console launch exclusive on Xbox Series X/S.
At the time, Studio Wildcard did not clarify just how long that exclusivity period would last – would it be a few months, a year, or indefinite? That ambiguity has led to no shortage of debate and speculation around if or when Ark 2 might come to PlayStation 5. Some fans fear they may never get their hands on the game if they only have a PS5.
Others however point to bounding success of Ark: Survival Evolved on PS4 as evidence that Ark 2 will surely make its way to Sony’s console as well…eventually. Studio Wildcard CEO Doug Kennedy has gone on record saying “Our development plan for ARK 2 is for it to be on Xbox first. But we fully intend to bring ARK 2 to PlayStation in the future.”
So, while ARK 2 news Xbox One is plentiful so far, PS5 owners are left playing the waiting game until Studio Wildcard and/or Microsoft decide to end the exclusivity period, whenever that may be.
PlayStation Fans Left Wondering: When Will Ark 2 Come to PS5?
Understandably, as a console estimated to have over 30 million players so far, PlayStation owners are hungry to find out when Ark 2 might make its way over. Yet nearly two years after Ark 2’s initial announcement, concrete details on Ark 2 PlayStation plans remain frustratingly sparse.
In response to ongoing questions around Ark 2 PS5 release, developers Studio Wildcard released a brief update via Twitter in October 2022: “We don’t have any news around ARK 2 platforms or release date (beyond PC and Xbox) to share at this time.” Hardly the confirmation PlayStation fans were hoping for.
Barring any surprise announcements in 2023, the earliest Ark 2 release date PS5 would be late 2024, possibly coinciding with the game’s “end of 2024” release window for Xbox and PC. Some industry analysts expect Ark 2’s exclusivity to last until early 2025 or beyond. So, PlayStation gamers may need to brace for an agonizing 1+ year wait before getting their own Ark 2 release date.
Of course, crafty PlayStation owners do have one alternative option to scratch their Ark 2 itch…get an Xbox! With Microsoft seemingly gearing up for another holiday console battle with the rumored “PS5 Slim,” grabbing one of the still-readily-available Xbox Series S consoles on sale could be an affordable path to early Ark 2 access. Then down the road you’d still be able re-purchase Ark 2 on PS5 as well for your main console.
When is Ark 2 coming out on PS4?
While fervor around an eventual PS5 release for Ark 2 continues unabated, one area that finally does seem fully put to rest is the possibility of last-gen console support. From the beginning, Studio Wildcard positioned Ark 2 as a true “next-gen-only” title built to tap into the power of Xbox Series X/S and modern gaming PCs. They doubled down on that approach during the Xbox + Bethesda 2022 showcase by confirming “Ark 2 will be available only on Xbox Series X|S and Windows 10/11 PCs when it launches.”
So, for gamers who still haven’t upgraded from PS4 or Xbox One, Ark 2 sadly won’t offer any prehistoric escapism or rampaging dinosaurs – you’ll remain stuck solidly in the modern era without a viable path forward. Time to start penny pinching for that next-gen console!
Ark 2 Gameplay Details Trickling Out
Thankfully amidst all the release date drama and exclusivity controversy swirling around Ark 2, Studio Wildcard has started to give some actual concrete details on what we can expect from Ark 2’s gameplay. Given how similar Ark Survival Evolved and Ark 2 can look at a passing glance, there were fair questions around how much of a true “sequel” Ark 2 would really be versus an enhanced visual makeover.
Studio Wildcard directly addressed those skepticism by saying “Ark 2 has some pretty significant design changes from the original game.” Elaborating further, they highlighted:
- Souls-like melee combat system with combos, dodging, blocking etc.
- Strict focus on primitive weapons only
- New third person perspective and gameplay
- Expanded movement/traversal mechanics like climbing and swinging
- More RPG elements like talent trees
Combined with visuals harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5, these gameplay changes promise quite an evolution beyond the established Ark formula. And the promise of riding into battle on the back of your very own dinosaur mount never gets old.
Fans are still impatiently waiting for Studio Wildcard to showcase actual Ark 2 gameplay though. The developer says they will drop the first Ark 2 gameplay trailer at some point in 2024 leading up to release. This extended cinematic hype-building approach has worked wonders for heavyweight titles like God of War Ragnarök and Elder Scrolls 6 but is undoubtedly testing the patience of the Ark community too.
Ark 2’s Cutting Edge Visuals Powered by Unreal 5
As a true next-generation only title, Ark 2 represents a visual showcase piece for Unreal Engine 5. Epic has highlighted Ark 2 in several tech demos, praising the benefits Studio Wildcard can derive by leaping from Ark’s original dated engine to Unreal 5’s cutting edge capabilities.
Key enhancements powered by Unreal 5 include vastly improved lighting effects, more detailed textures and objects, richly complex new biomes, and the show stopping Nanite and Lumen technologies. Nanite allows automatically generating millions of geometric elements while Lumen enables cinema-quality global illumination no longer pre-baked but reacting in real-time.
Early Ark 2 game art and assets on display already highlight intensified atmospheric effects, enriched landscape diversity, and intricately detailed creatures. One can only imagine how incredible dragons spewing fire or packs of velociraptors swarming their prey will look engulfed in Unreal Engine 5’s graphical showcase features by launch.
Mod Support Crucial to Community for Ark Survival Evolved 2
Another vital integration coming to Ark 2 is full cross-platform mod support at launch. Modding represented an enormous part of the success formula for Ark Survival Evolved, enabling dedicated community creators to produce thousands of custom dinos, maps, gameplay modes and more.
Studio Wildcard smartly understands preserving that creative outlet will spur engaged players to become evangelists that significantly extend Ark 2’s lifespan and appeal. They have confirmed “Ark 2’s fully stackable, user-created mods will open the door for players to generate new creatures, items, and gameplay features” across both console and PC.
That cross-platform sharing is enabled via integration of the flexible mod.io framework. Creators can craft mods using common languages like JavaScript, Python, Lua or Visual Scripting. Then easily publish them through mod.io’s pipeline to be accessible by the entire community. Having mods ubiquitously compatible out of the gate eliminates frustrating fragmentation and means all Ark 2 players can enjoy the same great custom content.
Expanded Ark Universe Coming to All Screens
It’s undeniable that beyond the namesake video game itself, Ark has grown into a true multiverse franchise sprawling across mediums and formats. This cross-media strategy will accelerate in 2023 and beyond, establishing crucial connective lore and introducing beloved characters like Vin Diesel’s Santiago to fans in new ways.
An animated TV series adapting the Ark saga simply titled “ARK: The Animated Series” is scheduled to premiere in 2023. Though delays are just as possible given the state of Ark 2’s timeline shifts! Vin Diesel along with co-stars Michelle Yeoh, David Tennant and more will reprise their roles for the show. Creator Jay Oliva promises a tone marrying mature themes with youthful wonder.
Augmenting the shows rollout, Studio Wildcard plans to unleash a barrage of Ark novels and comic books as well. Similar to monolith franchises like Halo or Destiny, transmedia extensions serve to truly immerse dedicated aficionados in all facets of an expansive fictional universe. Early plotlines showcase tribe origins stories that provide backstory to names and factions the games reference.
Clearly as development towards the core Ark 2 title drags on, Studio Wildcard is ensuring fans stay immersed via interconnected multimedia content. The ambitious roadmap emphasizes their focus on nurturing Ark into an epic sci-fi/fantasy juggernaut built to stand the test of time.
The Future Looks Wild
As we (hopefully) crest towards the final phase of anticipation for Ark 2’s protracted release marketing campaign, speculation will continue around what surprises Studio Wildcard still has up its sleeves. Some rumors suggest Vin Diesel’s involvement with Ark 2 runs deeper than his starring voice acting role as protagonist Santiago – he has taken an active creative role and even performed some motion capture filming. If true, that bodes well for an enhanced story-driven experience compared to Survival Evolved’s loose narrative.
Studio Wildcard also continues hiring a range of new talent across its global studios to contribute to Ark 2 and beyond, suggesting they have a long term vision for the franchise still years in the making. And their recent release of a stunning Unreal Engine 5 Ark Survival Evolved remake seems to reinforce Studio Wildcard’s commitment to establish this world as an evolving platform for ambitious ideas and technical achievements yet to come.
So, while the road towards Ark 2’s eventual release may be long, winding, and obscured, the final destination promises to be well worth the wait. Whenever and wherever you experience it, Ark 2 is primed to deliver a cutting-edge survival spectacle highlighted by Vin Diesel’s dream role battling dinosaurs with future-tech weapons and armor. Get ready to return to the Ark!
For more information about Ark 2, including the most recent news and tips for winning the game, see the blog.
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