The highly anticipated dinosaur survival game, Ark 2, has dispelled rumors of cancellation or delay troubles with a fresh announcement from developer Studio Wildcard. The studio has unveiled a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended, titled Ark: Lost Colony, which not only breathes new life into the franchise but also serves as a bridge to the upcoming sequel.
Ark: Lost Colony marks the first original expansion pack for Ark: Survival Ascended, the remake of the original Ark: Survival Evolved. The reveal trailer for this expansion was masterfully crafted by the renowned anime studio Mappa, known for their work on popular series such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man. Adding to the excitement, the trailer features voiceover work by the acclaimed actress Michelle Yeoh, who reprises her role as Mei Yin from Ark: The Animated Series.
Studio Wildcard has promised that **Ark: Lost Colony** will include numerous cinematic anime sequences produced by Mappa. Here's a detailed description from the studio:In this new frozen world, players follow in the footsteps of legendary Ark survivor Mei Yin, embarking on a soul-searching quest deep into the chilling heart of darkness to uncover long-buried secrets of Ark’s past.
Ark: Lost Colony challenges survivors to become the hunted in a vast occupied city, offering access to powerful new character abilities, unique gear, innovative building systems, and exotic tames.
Can Survivors confront the demons lurking in Arat Prime and bridge Ark's past with its future?
According to Studio Wildcard’s press release, Ark: Lost Colony seamlessly connects the narratives of the Extinction and Genesis expansions, setting the stage for the events of Ark 2.
Ark 2 is the much-anticipated sequel powered by Unreal Engine 5, following the success of Ark: Survival Evolved. Initially unveiled with a surprise appearance by Vin Diesel at The Game Awards 2020 and slated for a 2022 release, the game faced multiple delays, first to 2023 and then to late 2024. As an Xbox Series X and S console exclusive, it was set to launch day-one on Game Pass, and also be available on PC via Steam and Windows.
Despite assurances from Studio Wildcard as late as December 2023 that **Ark 2** was on track for a late 2024 release, the game missed this window, raising concerns among fans. However, the recent announcement in early 2025 reaffirms the studio's commitment to the project, though an updated release date for **Ark 2** remains undisclosed.On the other hand, Ark: Lost Colony has a more concrete timeline. Pre-orders will commence in June 2025, granting immediate access to exclusive preview gameplay content. The full release is scheduled for November 2025, with Ark: Lost Colony priced at $29.99 for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
