Ark 2 release date speculation: Pre-order, gameplay and trailer
A fast and furious dinosaur family.
Ark: Survival Evolved did exactly what it said on the tin when it dropped back in 2015. The first-person action survivor really was evolved in terms of difficulty. If we weren't manically crafting, we were fighting off an impossible dinosaur boss. Legitimately, we stood a better chance surviving on a desert island for real.
The sequel looks to take this and add more. Especially more story, with Vin Diesel starring as a tribesman protecting his family (as the epic trailer showed). But when can we expect Ark 2? Soon, right?
Unfortunately, we bring news of a delay. The initial release window was extremely wide anyway, but now the game will drop on the other side of that.
Still, we hope it will be worth the wait. But when exactly will it be released, and what other information is out there about Ark 2?
When is the Ark 2 release date?
The original Ark 2 release date is now planned for 2024, the developers confirmed recently.
The game was originally intending to launch in 2022, then it was pushed to 2023, and now we've been told that it's aiming for next year sometime. There aren't any more specifics like a month or an exact date as of yet.
We hope it isn't delayed again. We need to fight dinosaurs as Vin Diesel already.
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Can I pre-order Ark 2?
While its release date is currently unknown and it is yet to receive official boxart, retailer GAME has Ark 2 up for pre-order. This is a placeholder pre-order, so it’s worth waiting until release details are officially confirmed before spending any of your hard-earned cash.
It’s also worth noting that Ark 2 is not on the Xbox One, PS4, or PS5 at launch. Avoid those pre-orders unless you want to waste your money and time.
You can currently wishlist the game on Steam to play on PC.
Which consoles and platforms can play Ark 2?
Ark 2 is an Xbox Series X/S console exclusive, but will also be playable on PC. If that console exclusivity lasts forever, though, is another question. The game could be a timed-exclusive on the Xbox and eventually find its way onto the PS5. Given that the previous entry performed well and was released multiplatform, we’d be surprised if Ark 2 doesn’t end up on PS5 at some point.
Ark 2 gameplay and story details
Ark 2 features Vin Diesel's Santiago, a father seeking to protect his daughter Meeka (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho of Moana fame) against a world full of dinosaurs and tech. You’ll be up against the ghosts of the ancient past and visions of a new future. Colour us intrigued.
The combat promises to be deeper than in the original Ark, featuring souls-like actions including target locking, dodges, staggers, and special attacks. It’s set up to promote player skill. You’ll also be able to make the most out of Santiago’s expert traversal skills such as free-climbing, swinging, and even dinosaur mounting.
Santiago can also craft different items and weaponry to use to his advantage against enemy creatures that can and will hunt you down. Use his skill tree and the environment to successfully hide from and defeat your hunters.
The game’s world promises to be massive, offering plenty to discover and explore in this time where humanity is all-but extinct and dinosaurs rule the lands. The map is complete with dynamic world events, cross-platform mods, and stunning environments powered by Unreal Engine 5.
Is there an Ark 2 trailer?
There is an Ark 2 trailer that shows off the game’s stunning visuals, world design, and, most importantly, Vin Diesel. Watch it below:
That’s everything there is to know about Ark 2 as of right now. We’ll update this page with new information as and when it becomes available.
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Authors
Toby Saunders is a freelance writer specialising in Video Game journalism. He has a wealth of experience in the field and is published on many different websites including PCGamesN, Nintendo Life and Pocket Tactics. He has a degree in Film Studies (he gets to write about Film and TV occasionally, too).
