If you’re a fan of the original Ark: Survival Evolved’s chaotic mix of dinosaur taming, base building, and open-world chaos, you’ve probably already asked what consoles is Ark 2 on ahead of its full launch. The long-awaited sequel promises bigger maps, more dynamic creature AI, and a full story campaign featuring Vin Diesel’s character Santiago, so picking the right platform to play on can make or break your early game experience. We’ve pulled together all confirmed supported platforms, plus key details on crossplay, performance differences, and platform exclusives to help you plan your first playthrough.
What Consoles Is Ark 2 On? Full List of Confirmed Platforms
As of the latest developer updates from Studio Wildcard, Ark 2 has a confirmed launch lineup across three core platforms, with additional releases planned for later in its launch window. Don’t fall for fake leaks claiming support for older generation consoles like the PS4 or Xbox One — the devs have repeatedly stated the game’s custom Unreal Engine 5 build is too demanding for last-gen hardware to run at acceptable framerates or feature parity.
If you’re hoping to play as soon as the game drops, you’ll need to stick to Xbox or PC for the first year of release. PS5 players will get access to all the same content as other platforms once the exclusivity window closes, with no cut features or delayed content updates after launch.
Key Performance Differences Across Supported Consoles
Not all platforms will run Ark 2 the same way, so it’s worth weighing performance priorities before you pre-order. The original Ark was notorious for poor framerate and buggy launches on consoles, so Studio Wildcard has promised far better optimization for the sequel across all supported hardware.
Xbox Series X players can expect 4K resolution at a locked 30fps in quality mode, or 1440p at 60fps in performance mode, with support for variable refresh rate for compatible displays. Series S players will get 1440p at 30fps in quality mode, or 1080p at 60fps in performance mode, with no compromise to core gameplay features like creature count or draw distance.
PS5 players can expect identical performance specs to the Xbox Series X when the game launches on Sony’s platform, with the addition of DualSense controller haptic feedback for actions like taming dinosaurs or taking damage in PVP fights. PC players will have the most flexibility, with support for up to 8K resolution, uncapped framerates, and custom graphics settings to tweak performance to their hardware.
If you’re waiting for the PS5 release and need a low-stakes game to pass the time between now and then, there are plenty of casual titles you can jump into for 10 or 15 minute breaks between replay runs of the original Ark. Many players in the Ark community enjoy quick, casual games between long taming sessions, and Rummy77 is a popular pick for anyone who wants a fun, low-pressure game to unwind with without straying too far from their gaming setup. It fits perfectly into the gaps between checking on your tamed dinos or waiting for your base to finish building, so you don’t have to commit to a full new game while you wait for Ark 2’s PS5 launch.
Crossplay Support and Multiplayer Platform Limits
One of the biggest questions players have besides what consoles is Ark 2 on is whether they can play with friends on other platforms. Studio Wildcard has confirmed full crossplay support across all day one platforms first, with PS5 crossplay added as soon as the game launches on that console.
That means Xbox Series X/S players can team up with PC friends for PVE base building or PVP fights, no extra setup required. You’ll just need to link your Studio Wildcard account across all platforms to keep your progression, tamed dinos, and base builds if you switch platforms later down the line. Cross-progression is supported across all platforms, so you won’t lose any progress if you start playing on Xbox and later pick up the PS5 version once it launches.
There are a few small limits to crossplay, though. Console players will be placed in separate PVP queues from PC players by default, to avoid mouse and keyboard players having an unfair advantage over controller users. You can turn this limit off in your settings if you want to play against all players, but the default setting is designed to keep PVP matches fair for everyone.
Tips for Picking the Right Platform for Your Playstyle
Now that you know what consoles is Ark 2 on, you can pick the best platform for your playstyle and budget with a few simple considerations. You don’t have to drop money on a new console if you already have one of the supported platforms, but there are a few perks to each option worth weighing.
If you already have an Xbox Game Pass subscription, the Xbox Series X/S version is easily the best value, since you won’t have to pay extra for the game on launch day. If you’re a big fan of modding, the PC version is the only one that will support full user-created mods, custom maps, and private server tweaks at launch. Mod support will not be available on consoles for at least the first two years of launch, per Studio Wildcard’s latest roadmap.
If most of your friends play on PS5, you’re better off waiting the extra year for the PS5 release instead of buying an Xbox just to play early, unless you don’t mind playing alone for the first 12 months. You’ll still get all the same content, and the devs have promised that all seasonal updates will launch on PS5 at the same time as other platforms once the exclusivity window ends.
At the end of the day, no matter which platform you pick, Ark 2 is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious survival games of the decade. Now that you know what consoles is Ark 2 on, you can plan your pre-order, coordinate with friends, and get ready to explore the new alien world full of dinosaurs, dangerous creatures, and endless base building possibilities. Keep an eye on official Studio Wildcard updates for any last-minute changes to launch dates or platform support ahead of release.