Ever since the first reveal trailer dropped featuring Vin Diesel as the lead survivor, Ark 2 has been one of the most hotly anticipated survival games on the market. Fans of the original Ark: Survival Evolved, which boasted millions of monthly players at its peak, have been scouring official channels and community forums for any scrap of news about the sequel. If you’re one of those fans, you’ve almost certainly asked can you pre order Ark 2 already, and what you’ll get if you lock in your copy early. We’ve pulled together all the latest official updates, fan confirmed details, and important caveats to help you plan your purchase.
Can You Pre Order Ark 2 Right Now?
As of the latest official statement from Studio Wildcard, pre orders for Ark 2 are not yet open to the public. The development team has pushed the launch date back multiple times over the past three years to polish the Unreal Engine 5 gameplay, refine the new third-person only combat system, and expand the core survival loop to feel fresh for long-time franchise fans. They have confirmed that pre orders will go live roughly three months before the final, firm release date is announced. Official pre order listings will always be linked directly from Studio Wildcard's official website and social media channels, so you don’t have to go searching for legitimate links on random retailer sites.
Some unvetted third party retailers have posted placeholder pages for Ark 2 pre orders, but none of these are authorized by the studio as of now. Many of these listings ask for full payment upfront to "reserve" a copy, which is a common scam tactic for highly anticipated unreleased games. Never send payment to unvetted third party sellers for pre orders of unreleased games, as these are almost always scams. You can safely sign up for email alerts on trusted major retailer sites like Amazon or GameStop to get notified when official pre orders go live, no payment required until you actually place your order.
What to Expect From Ark 2 Pre Order Bonuses
Studio Wildcard has not shared exact pre order bonus details yet, but we can make very accurate guesses based on how they handled pre orders for the original Ark: Survival Evolved and its multiple expansion packs. Almost all AAA survival games follow the same tiered pre order structure, with different perks for different price points, and there’s no reason to expect Ark 2 will break that pattern. The most likely pre order perks you’ll have access to include:
Most AAA survival games split pre orders into standard, deluxe, and collector's editions, so you can pick the tier that fits your budget and how much extra content you want. Collector's editions usually come with physical goods like figurines, art books, and steelbook cases, but they sell out very quickly once pre orders go live. If you’re tired of refreshing official social media pages every hour waiting for pre order announcements, it’s a good idea to fill your downtime with low-stakes, casual games that don’t require a huge time commitment. Many survival game fans we’ve spoken to take short breaks from grind-heavy play sessions to play quick, social party games, and RummyLudo is a popular pick for groups of friends who want to hang out and compete without the stress of losing weeks of in-game progress. That way, you won’t burn out waiting for news, and you’ll be ready to jump on pre orders as soon as they drop.
Which Platforms Will Support Ark 2 Pre Orders?
Studio Wildcard has confirmed that Ark 2 will launch on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5, so pre orders will be available on all official platform stores first, plus approved third party retailers for physical copies. The game was originally announced as an Xbox console exclusive, but the studio expanded launch plans to include PlayStation 5 last year after fan outcry from PlayStation players who loved the original Ark. Xbox Game Pass subscribers will get day one access to Ark 2 at no extra cost, so you won't need to pre order the game if you have an active Game Pass subscription. You will still be able to purchase the game separately if you want to own a permanent copy, or pay extra for the deluxe edition bonuses if they appeal to you.
For PC players, pre orders will be available on Steam, Epic Games Store, and the official Microsoft Store, with cross-play support confirmed across all platforms. That means you can play with your friends no matter what console or PC store they buy the game from, which is a huge upgrade from the original Ark’s limited cross-play support at launch. If you pre order a physical copy, you'll usually get a disc with a partial download, plus a code for any pre order bonus content that has to be redeemed online. Note that cross-save support is also planned, so if you pre order on one platform, you can carry your progress over to another platform if you switch later, as long as you link your Studio Wildcard account.
How to Get Notified When Ark 2 Pre Orders Go Live
There are a few simple steps you can take right now to make sure you’re one of the first people to know when Ark 2 pre orders open, especially if you want to grab a limited collector’s edition before they sell out. First, follow the official Studio Wildcard and Ark 2 social media accounts on X, Instagram, and TikTok, as they'll post pre order announcements there first, often with exclusive discount codes for early buyers. Second, sign up for the official Ark newsletter on the Studio Wildcard website, they send email alerts 24 hours before pre orders go live to subscribers first, so you get a head start on other fans. Third, turn on notifications for trusted gaming news outlets, they often break pre order details a few hours before the official announcement for major releases.
If you want to guarantee a copy of the collector's edition, you should set up multiple alerts, as these usually sell out within minutes of going live. I’ve seen collector's editions for similar survival games sell out in less than 10 minutes in the past, so it’s worth having your payment details saved on your preferred retailer's site ahead of time if you’re set on getting a limited edition copy. Also, warn people not to sign up for sketchy "pre order alert" sites that ask for your credit card information or personal data beyond an email address, as these are often phishing scams designed to steal your information. Stick to official channels and trusted major retailers to avoid any issues.
At the end of the day, the answer to can you pre order Ark 2 right now is no, but that won't be the case for much longer as we get closer to the official launch date. Take the time now to decide which edition you want, set up your alerts, and fill your downtime with casual games to avoid burning out waiting for news. Once pre orders go live, you'll be ready to lock in your copy and get all the exclusive bonuses that come with early purchase. We'll update this guide as soon as official pre order details are announced, so check back regularly for the latest updates.