The highly anticipated dinosaur survival game, Ark 2, which had sparked concerns about potential delays or cancellation, is back in the spotlight following an exciting announcement from developer Studio Wildcard. The studio unveiled a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended, titled Ark: Lost Colony, which not only breathes new life into the franchise but also sets the stage for the upcoming sequel.
Ark: Lost Colony marks the first original expansion pack for the Ark 1 remake, Ark: Survival Ascended. The reveal trailer, crafted by the renowned anime studio Mappa (known for hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man), features captivating voiceover work by Michelle Yeoh, who returns to her role as Mei Yin from Ark: The Animated Series.
Studio Wildcard promises that **Ark: Lost Colony** will include numerous cinema-grade anime story sequences produced by Mappa. The official description teases an immersive experience:In this new frozen world, players follow in the footsteps of legendary Ark survivor Mei Yin, on a soul-searching quest deep into the chilling heart of darkness to find answers to long-buried secrets of Ark’s past.
Ark: Lost Colony will present survivors with thrilling new challenges as they become the hunted in a vast occupied city, and gain access to powerful new kinds of character abilities, unique gear, building systems, and phenomenally exotic tames.
Will Survivors be able to face down the demons lurking in Arat Prime, and connect Ark's past and future?
Studio Wildcard emphasized that Ark: Lost Colony "directly connects" the narratives of Ark’s Extinction and Genesis expansions, paving the way for the events of Ark 2.
Ark 2, powered by Unreal Engine 5, is the sequel to the immensely popular Ark: Survival Evolved. Initially announced with a surprise appearance by Vin Diesel at The Game Awards 2020, the game was slated for a 2022 release but faced multiple delays, pushing its launch to late 2024. It was set to be an Xbox Series X and S console exclusive, available day-one on Game Pass, and also on PC via Steam and Windows.
Despite Studio Wildcard's assurances in December 2023 that **Ark 2** was on track for a late 2024 release, the game did not meet this deadline, causing fan concern. The recent announcement in March 2025, however, reassures fans that **Ark 2** is still in development, though no new release window was provided.For Ark: Lost Colony, more concrete details are available. Pre-orders will begin in June 2025, with immediate access to exclusive preview gameplay content. The full release is scheduled for November 2025, and Ark: Lost Colony will be priced at $29.99 for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
