If you’re a long-time Ark: Survival Evolved fan like me, you’ve probably been counting down the days until Ark 2 drops, and one of the first questions on your mind is how much will Ark 2 cost on Steam. I’ve spent hours digging through official Studio Wildcard announcements, past pricing patterns for the franchise, and trends for similar Unreal Engine 5 survival games to put together all the details you need before you pull the trigger on a purchase. You don’t want to overpay for features you won’t use, or miss out on limited pre-order bonuses that save you money long term, so we’ll break down every possible pricing angle here.
How Much Will Ark 2 Cost on Steam: Base Game and Edition Breakdowns
Studio Wildcard hasn’t released official pricing for Ark 2 yet, but we can make extremely accurate projections based on their past launch strategies and the scope of the new game. Ark: Survival Evolved launched at $29.99 for its standard edition back in 2017, but Ark 2 is a far more ambitious project with higher development costs, so expect a slight price bump. When estimating how much will Ark 2 cost on Steam, it’s important to remember that these are just projections, and official pricing will be announced 2-3 months before launch.
We expect three main digital editions to be available on Steam at launch, each tailored to different player needs and budgets:
- Standard Edition: Expected to be priced between $29.99 and $39.99, including the full base game and no extra bonus content. This is the best pick for casual players who only want to try out the core gameplay without committing to extra content.
- Deluxe Edition: Likely priced between $59.99 and $69.99, including the base game, first year of expansion passes, exclusive in-game skins, and early access to new maps 2 weeks before they drop for standard edition players. This is the best value for long-time fans who plan to play regularly for the first year after launch.
- Collector’s Digital Edition: Projected to cost $89.99 to $99.99, with all Deluxe Edition content, official digital art book, original soundtrack, exclusive dinosaur mounts, and permanent in-game name tags for your character. This is only worth it if you’re a super fan who wants all the extra digital collectibles.
Regional pricing will apply for all editions, just like most Steam releases. Players in countries with lower purchasing power will see adjusted rates that are 30-70% lower than US prices, so you won’t have to pay the full US sticker price if you’re located in a supported region. There will also be a family sharing option, so you can share access to the game with up to 5 other Steam accounts on your device if you don’t want to buy separate copies for household members.
Factors That Will Impact Ark 2’s Steam Launch Price
A few key variables will change the exact price you pay for Ark 2 on launch day, and it’s worth keeping these in mind if you’re trying to stick to a budget. The biggest variable is whether Studio Wildcard decides to release the game in early access first, just like they did with the original Ark. Early access launches usually have a 20-30% lower price tag than full 1.0 launches, and if you buy during early access, you get the full final version of the game for free when it launches later.
Early access vs full launch isn’t the only factor, though. The game’s launch window will also play a role. If Ark 2 launches during a busy holiday season when lots of big games are coming out, Studio Wildcard may price it slightly lower to compete with other major releases. If it launches during a slower period with less competition, the price will likely land at the higher end of our projections.
Another thing to note is that Steam often runs launch week discounts for popular games if you have a Steam Points discount coupon, or if you own other games from the same publisher. If you already own Ark: Survival Evolved and all its DLC, you can expect a 10-15% loyalty discount on Ark 2 at launch, based on past promotions Studio Wildcard has run for their existing fan base.
Hidden Costs to Consider When Buying Ark 2 on Steam
The upfront purchase price isn’t the only cost you might incur when playing Ark 2, and it’s worth factoring these extra expenses into your budget if you plan to play long term. If you’re trying to calculate the total long term cost of playing, these extra expenses are worth factoring in alongside how much will Ark 2 cost on Steam upfront.
DLC and expansion packs are the biggest extra cost for most Ark players. The original Ark had 7 major expansion packs, each priced between $14.99 and $29.99, and Studio Wildcard has already confirmed that Ark 2 will get a similar steady stream of post-launch content over 3-4 years. You don’t have to buy these expansions to enjoy the base game, but if you want to access all new maps, dinos, and story content, you’ll end up paying more than the base game price over time.
Server hosting costs are another common extra expense for regular players. Public Ark servers are often plagued by toxic players, hackers, and long queue times on launch day, so many players choose to run private servers for their friend groups. Private server hosting costs between $10 and $30 a month depending on how many player slots you need, and that adds up quickly if you run a server long term. You can avoid this cost by playing on public servers, or by hosting a server locally on your own device for a small group of friends.
Optional cosmetic microtransactions are the last extra cost to consider. Studio Wildcard has confirmed that Ark 2 will have no pay-to-win microtransactions, but they will sell optional cosmetic skins for characters, dinos, and bases. These skins are purely decorative, so you don’t have to buy them to access any core gameplay features, but they are an extra cost if you like customizing your in-game experience.
Tips to Get the Best Deal on Ark 2 for Steam
You don’t have to pay full price for Ark 2 if you’re willing to plan ahead a little, and there are several easy ways to save money on your purchase without missing out on content. The first tip is to pre-order during the early bird pre-order window. Studio Wildcard usually offers 10-15% off pre-orders for the first two weeks after they go live, plus exclusive pre-order skins you can’t get after launch. Just make sure you only pre-order from the official Steam store page to avoid fake keys or scams.
Bundle with other Ark games if you don’t already own the original Ark and its DLC. Studio Wildcard almost always releases franchise bundles when they launch a new game, and you can get 30-40% off the total price if you buy a bundle that includes Ark 1, all its expansions, and Ark 2 together. Even if you only play a little bit of the original Ark, this bundle usually works out cheaper than buying Ark 2 alone if you don’t own any other franchise content.
Wait for post-launch sales if you don’t care about playing on day one. Studio Wildcard runs regular discounts on their games, and you can expect to see 20-30% off Ark 2 within 3 months of launch, and up to 50% off during the first Steam Summer or Winter Sale after release. By waiting for a sale, you’ll also get to play a more polished version of the game, since most launch bugs and performance issues will be fixed in the first few months after release.
You can also use Steam Points to get extra discounts. If you’ve accumulated Steam Points from past purchases, you can redeem them for discount coupons that apply to new releases like Ark 2. These coupons usually give you 10-20% off, and they stack with any existing launch discounts or loyalty offers, so you can save even more if you have points saved up.
At the end of the day, the answer to how much will Ark 2 cost on Steam depends entirely on what edition you buy and whether you pick it up at launch or wait for a sale. If you’re a diehard fan who wants to play the second it drops and access all future content, the Deluxe Edition will give you the best value for your money. If you’re a casual player who only plays a few hours a week, the Standard Edition or waiting for a sale is the smarter choice. No matter what you decide, make sure you only buy from the official Steam store page to avoid scams or fake game keys that won’t work at launch.