You want to know when the Ark 2 release date it is? Since Ark 2’s announcement at The Game Awards 2020, we’ve been hoping to learn more about the upcoming dinosaur-themed survival game. Based on the two cinematic trailers and additional information from the development team at Studio Wildcard, it’s clear that Ark 2 will feature a unique story, enhanced gameplay mechanics, and (of course!) a T-Rex.
From Ark 2’s release date to its platform, soul-like combat, and mod compatibility; here’s everything we know about the sequel to Ark.
Ark 2 release date speculation
At this time, there is no definitive release date for Ark 2. It was one of the surprise announcements during The Game Awards 2020, and while the sequel to Ark was originally scheduled to arrive in 2022, it has since been pushed back to 2023. This window release date was confirmed in the Xbox Cinematic Trailer and Bethesda Games Showcase 2022.
At this point, any talk of a specific Ark 2 release date is pure speculation. However, as the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase trailer hasn’t revealed any games yet, it’s unlikely to be before the end of 2023. Like the original Ark game, it’s possible that Ark 2 will be out in early access first.
ark 2 trailers
So far, we’ve seen two cinematic trailers and both feature Vin Diesel as the hero Santiago.
In the first trailer, Santiago’s small community (including his daughter) is ambushed by huge orc-like monsters. The situation seems dire enough, but Santiago is handling it well… Until a T-Rex joins the fight. As both orcs and humans fall victim to the gigantic dinosaur, Santiago manages to grab his daughter and find safety in a nearby cave.
In the second trailer, Santiago’s daughter introduces us to the world of Arat, where “every day is a struggle to survive.” We see a Dodo, a larger dinosaur, and then… A T-Rex, again. This time, however, the T-Rex is tamed by Santiago and her daughter. Looks like your survival game is going pretty well.
ark 2 gameplay
Although we are yet to see some Ark 2 gameplay footage, Studio Wildcard has already revealed some details about core aspects of the game. First of all, the sequel uses a third-person perspective and a redesigned control system. This includes movement abilities similar to parkour and combat similar to souls. Looks like we can expect a bit of dodging and blocking.
We were also promised a world event system that triggers unique events; not just around your character’s location, but everywhere in the world of Ark 2. On top of that, there will be a new creature management system, component-based item creation, and an improved building system with many more options than ever before. the original Ark.
As expected, Ark 2 will have a multiplayer mode and PvP combat. Note that while there have been some rumors about a solo campaign mode, we haven’t seen any official word on it. Naturally, PvE combat still plays a big role, but not just against dinosaurs: in Ark 2, you have to deal with hostile Aratai aliens, who will use their own tamed dinosaurs.
Ark 2 Platform and Mod Compatibility
Ark 2 will initially launch as an Xbox Series X/S console exclusive. The game will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one, including PC Game Pass. Keep in mind that there is still a chance that the game will come to PlayStation, but at this point, we have no idea how long the Xbox exclusivity window will last.
Studio Wildcard also confirms that the game will feature fully stackable user-created mods, compatible with mod.io. This means that anything can be added, improved or redesigned, for both PC and console gamers. In addition to the mods, Ark 2 is likely to receive DLC content, just like its predecessor.
ark 2 story
The trailers don’t reveal much about the story of Ark 2, but we do know that it takes place after the events of Genesis: Part 2, which is the final DLC for Ark: Survival Evolved. In short (spoilers beware!), the DLC ended with the destruction of the Genesis Ship, resulting in a clone of Santiago being thrown onto a new planet. We assume that this planet is none other than the world of Arat.
Why is Vin Diesel in Ark 2?
Let’s take a closer look at Vin Diesel’s role, shall we? As the trailers have shown, Vin Diesel plays the heroic protagonist of Ark 2, but that’s not all. As an avid gamer and huge fan of Ark: Survival Evolved, Studio Wildcard decided to bring Vin on as an executive producer. More precisely, Vin Diesel joins the production team as president of Creative Convergence.
While we don’t know the exact extent of Diesel’s involvement, he has mentioned that he is “excited to be joining the team at Studio Wildcard to develop the story.” He suggests that he is working on the game’s narrative, and possibly more.
And that wraps up our Ark 2 info for now. While we all await more news about the upcoming sequel, why not try out some of the best Ark Survival Evolved mods to get the most out of the original? We’ve got some suggestions for the best dinosaur games on PC if you can’t wait for Ark 2’s release date, but still want to get up close and personal with huge prehistoric beasts.
