If you’ve spent dozens of hours taming dinosaurs, building fortified bases, and fighting off rival tribes in Ark, you’ve probably wondered at some point: is Ark gonna have a season 2 pass? After the massive success of the first season pass, which added three full expansion maps, dozens of new creatures, and hundreds of hours of extra gameplay, players are hungry for clarity on what’s next for the franchise. I’ve been playing Ark since its early access launch, and I’ve put over 1,200 hours into both official servers and modded community worlds, so I’ve kept a close eye on every developer announcement and leak related to future content drops. This guide breaks down everything we know so far, plus what you can expect if the pass does get released.
Is Ark Gonna Have a Season 2 Pass? What Official Announcements Say
First, let’s cut through the online rumors and get to the confirmed information first. Studio Wildcard has officially confirmed that a second season pass is in development for the Ark franchise, designed to support post-launch content for the latest core game release. The pass is not tied to the original Ark: Survival Evolved, but to the updated version that launched with cross-platform support in 2025, so you won’t be able to use it on the 2015 legacy version of the game. That means if you only play the legacy version on older consoles, you won’t get access to any content from the second season pass, even if you purchase it. We don’t have an exact release date yet, but developers have hinted the pass will drop within three months of the base game’s next major update, which is scheduled for the end of the current quarter. You don’t need to pre-order the pass to get access to free content updates, but it will grant you exclusive access to paid expansion content as it releases, at a discount compared to buying each expansion separately.
What Content Will Be Included in the Ark Season 2 Pass?
Based on leaked developer roadmaps and closed beta test notes, we have a pretty clear picture of what the season 2 pass will include for players who purchase it. The first season pass included three full expansion maps, so the second pass is following the same structure, with a few extra perks added to justify the slightly higher price point. Unlike the first pass, which only added PvE-focused content, the second pass will include both PvE and PvP exclusive content, which is a big win for players who spend most of their time on tribe vs tribe servers. Here’s a breakdown of the confirmed content so far:
- Three full-size expansion maps, each with 15+ new tamable creatures, unique biome hazards, and hidden lore collectibles
- Exclusive PvP game modes, including 5v5 tribe battle arenas with cross-platform ranking and exclusive cosmetic rewards
- Early access to all new core gameplay features, including the new taming system and base building automation tools, 30 days before they roll out to free players
- Permanent exclusive cosmetic items, including dinosaur skins, base building decor, and character emotes that won’t be available for purchase separately
None of the content in the season pass will give players a pay-to-win advantage, according to Studio Wildcard’s official content policy. All gameplay-affecting items that are added for pass holders will also be available to earn for free players through in-game challenges, just with a longer wait time. That’s a big relief for players who were worried the pass would break the fair balance of official servers.
Expected Pricing and Whether the Pass Is Worth Your Money
Right now, the rumored price point for the Ark season 2 pass is $39.99 USD, which is $10 more expensive than the first season pass that launched back in 2017. That price hike has a lot of players wondering if the extra content is worth the extra cost, especially if you only play a few hours a week. Let’s break down the value first: if you were to buy each of the three expansion maps separately, they would cost $19.99 each, so you’re saving almost $20 by buying the pass instead of purchasing content individually. If you also care about the exclusive cosmetic items and early access to new features, the value goes up even more. But that doesn’t mean the pass is a good purchase for every player. If you only play casual single player games and still haven’t finished all the content from the first season pass, you probably don’t need to buy the second pass right away. You can wait until all the expansion content is released and read reviews before purchasing, since the pass will be available for purchase permanently after launch, no limited time offer. On the other hand, if you play 10+ hours a week on official servers, run an active tribe, or love exploring new Ark content as soon as it drops, the pass is easily worth the cost. I bought the first season pass on launch day and got over 600 hours of gameplay out of it, which works out to less than 10 cents per hour of entertainment, that’s a way better value than most other games on the market.
Important Things to Know Before You Buy the Ark Season 2 Pass
Before you rush to pre-order the pass as soon as it becomes available, there are a few key details you should keep in mind to avoid wasting your money. First, the pass is platform-locked, so if you buy it on Steam, you won’t be able to access the content on your Xbox or PlayStation account, even if you own the base game on both platforms. Studio Wildcard has confirmed there are no plans for cross-platform pass sharing, so you’ll need to buy a separate pass for each platform you play on. Second, the pass does not include the base game, so you’ll need to own the latest version of Ark to use it. If you only own the legacy 2015 version of the game, you’ll have to upgrade to the new version first to access any of the season 2 pass content. Pre-order bonuses are only cosmetic, so there’s no real benefit to pre-ordering the pass unless you want the exclusive pre-order dinosaur skin. You won’t miss out on any gameplay content if you wait to buy the pass after all the expansions are released. You can refund the pass within 14 days of purchase if you haven’t activated any of the expansion content, so if you buy it and realize it’s not for you, you won’t be stuck with it. Finally, make sure you check which version of the pass you’re buying. There will be a standard version that only includes the season pass content, and a deluxe version that includes extra cosmetic items and a month of free official server hosting for private tribes. Don’t accidentally buy the deluxe version if you don’t need the extra perks, since it’s $20 more expensive than the standard pass.
At the end of the day, the answer to is ark gonna have a season 2 pass is a clear yes, and it’s shaping up to be one of the best content drops the franchise has ever released. It offers great value for regular players, adds a ton of new content for both PvE and PvP fans, and stays true to the fair gameplay balance that made Ark so popular in the first place. Take some time to think about how much you play Ark and what content you actually enjoy before you decide to buy, and don’t feel pressured to pre-order if you’re on the fence. No matter what you choose, there’s still going to be tons of free new content rolling out for all players over the next year, so you’ll have plenty of new things to do in the Ark world either way.