Ark: Survival Evolved is one of the most popular survival games today, with over 16 million sales and 10 million mobile installs. This means that all eyes are on Studio Wildcard and the upcoming Ark 2. As we wait for the next entry in the series to be released, here is everything you need to know about Ark 2.
Ark 2 Release Date
Ark 2 was one of the most highly anticipated games in 2023, but unfortunately, it won’t be released this year. It was announced in September that it would now be pushed back to 2024 with no concrete date. We could hear new information during The Game Awards, but if not, expect it to be released in the second half of 2024.
What Platforms Will Ark 2 Be Released On?
When Ark 2 was first announced it was also revealed that the game would see console launch exclusivity on the Xbox Series X alongside a PC release. It is possible that the game could come to other platforms at a later date.
Will Ark 2 Come To PS5?
Ark: Survival Evolved found huge success on the PS4, so it would be unusual if Studio Wildcard bypassed the PS5 completely. The partnership with Xbox is only for console launch exclusivity, so Ark 2 could come to PS5 after a set amount of time and even Nintendo’s next console.
Ark 2 Trailer
Ark 2 was first announced back in 2020 and since then information has been rather scarce. But check out the cinematic reveal trailer from 2020 below.
Do You Need To Play Ark 1 Before Ark 2 Is Released?
Ark: Survival Evolved doesn’t have a powerful story, something that is common with survival games. There is a story there but you can have just as much fun not paying any attention to it and it doesn’t have any real impact on the gameplay. So if you’ve yet to play Ark: Survival Evolved, you could skip it and just wait for Ark 2 to be released and you will have no problem jumping straight into it. There may be some bits of lore you don’t understand, but it shouldn’t impact you enjoying the game.
What Will The Ark 2 Story Be About?
The Ark 2 story will continue from the Genesis: Part 2 DLC for Ark: Survival Evolved which was released in 2021. There hasn’t been much information given surrounding the story, but taking a look at Genesis: Part 2 can give us some idea of what to expect. After the Genesis Ship is destroyed and crashes into a planet, one of the Santiago clones awakens from stasis and heads toward a planet that will likely be the location of the game. If you haven’t played the game or the Genesis: Part 2 expansion this may not make much sense. But as mentioned in the previous section, you don’t need to experience the story ahead of the game’s release.
Vin Diesel Is In Ark 2
It’s not uncommon for celebrities to appear in video games these days, but it may seem surprising to see Vin Diesel in a video game that isn’t about family. But his involvement makes sense as he is the executive producer of both Ark 2 and Ark: The Animated Series. The Fast and the Furious star is a huge fan of the series, with him claiming to have logged over 1,000 hours in Ark: Survival Evolved over the years. This will help with him producing Ark 2 as he has a deep understanding of the game and knows what players will enjoy as he is one of them. It is great to see a celebrity involved in a game that has a passion for the project.
Will Ark 2 Be On PS Plus And Xbox Game Pass?
As part of the partnership between Microsoft and Studio Wildcard, it was announced that Ark 2 would launch on Xbox Game Pass for both PC and console. If the game comes to PS5 it could appear on PS Plus at some point, whether as part of the Premium game list or as a monthly free game. If you haven’t had a chance to play the first game yet, Ark: Survival Evolved is available on Xbox Game Pass for console and playable on PC via Cloud Gaming.
Mods Will Be Supported Across All Platforms
Game mods are very popular these days and can help breathe new life into a game for many years to come. Studio Wildcard understands this and has announced that mods will be natively supported from launch, and the most exciting news is that it will also be the case on Xbox. Console players rarely get the ability to install mods as they can’t modify the game files like PC players can. But, Ark 2 will utilize Mod.io to allow for user-generated content on both platforms.
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Xbox should end their partnership for this like Sony did KOTOR just seems like a waste since the game was supposed to be out for a while now and no updates since.