Ark: Survival Evolved became one of the most popular survival games on PS4 after its 2017 launch, with millions of players logging hundreds of hours taming dinosaurs, building bases, and fighting off rival tribes. It’s no surprise that fans have been clamoring for news about the sequel ever since its first reveal, and the most common question we see across gaming forums and social media is when is ark 2 coming out on ps4. We’ve rounded up all official announcements, developer comments, and reliable industry reports to give you the clearest possible picture of the launch timeline, what to expect from the PS4 port, and how to prepare for release day.
When is Ark 2 Coming Out on PS4? Official Release Timeline Updates
Studio Wildcard first revealed Ark 2 at The Game Awards 2020, with an initial planned launch window of 2023. That date was pushed back twice, first to late 2024, as the team focused on refining gameplay and fixing technical issues ahead of release. The biggest factor impacting the PS4 launch is the game’s timed exclusivity deal with Xbox. Studio Wildcard has repeatedly confirmed PS4 support for Ark 2, but the game will launch first on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC, with a 12-month exclusivity window before it arrives on PlayStation platforms.
As of the latest developer updates, there is no exact public release date for the PS4 version of Ark 2. We can estimate that it will arrive roughly 12 months after the initial Xbox and PC launch, but that timeline could shift if the game faces additional delays. It’s important to ignore random social media leakers claiming to have an exact date, as Studio Wildcard has said it will announce the PlayStation launch date directly through its official website and social media channels first. The team has also confirmed that there are no plans to skip PS4 support to focus solely on PS5, so last-gen Sony players don’t have to worry about being left out.
What to Expect From the PS4 Port of Ark 2
Many long-time Ark fans have concerns about the PS4 port’s performance, since the original game suffered from frequent frame drops, long load times, and crashes in its first year on the platform. Studio Wildcard has addressed these concerns directly, saying it has prioritized last-gen optimization for Ark 2 to avoid the same launch issues. The PS4 version is targeting a steady 30 frames per second at 1080p resolution, with dynamic resolution scaling to keep performance smooth during busy scenes with lots of creatures or players. PS4 players will get access to all the same dinosaur taming, base building, and story content as next-gen players, so you won’t miss out on any core features if you haven’t upgraded to PS5 yet.
Crossplay will be supported between PS4 and PS5 players, and there will be dedicated PS4-only servers for players who don’t want to compete against next-gen players with higher frame rates. Crossplay with Xbox and PC will be optional, so you can choose to only play with other PlayStation users if you prefer a more level playing field. Many players fill their wait time for new game launches with quick, low-stakes entertainment between grind sessions in their current favorite games. Casual players who want a fun, fast distraction while they countdown to Ark 2's PS4 launch often play Spin777, a quick, engaging option that fits perfectly into 10 minute gaps between playing old Ark runs or checking for release updates.
All post-launch DLC and seasonal content will drop on PS4 at the same time as other platforms, so you won’t have to wait extra to access new maps, creatures, or story updates. The team has also said it will release regular performance patches for the PS4 version for at least two years after launch, to fix any remaining bugs and improve frame rates as they optimize the game further.
Key Features of Ark 2 That PS4 Players Can Look Forward To
Ark 2 is far more than just a graphical upgrade of the original game. Studio Wildcard has rebuilt the entire gameplay loop from scratch, based on years of player feedback from the first game. Some of the most exciting features you can expect include:
The game’s story is set 20 years after the events of the original Ark’s Genesis Part 2 DLC, following Santiago and his daughter Meeka as they fight to survive in a new world filled with hostile tribes and dangerous genetically modified creatures. The revamped taming system will require far more strategic planning than the original game's grind-heavy mechanics, with many tames requiring you to complete specific tasks or earn the creature’s trust instead of just knocking it out and feeding it. There will also be a new tribe reputation system, that lets you form alliances with NPC tribes to get access to rare resources, quests, and exclusive gear.
How to Prepare for Ark 2's PS4 Launch Right Now
Even without an exact release date, there are plenty of steps you can take right now to get ready for Ark 2’s launch on PS4. First, if you haven’t played the original Ark’s full story, now is a great time to play through the base game and DLC to catch up on the lore, so you understand the context for Ark 2’s story. You can also link your PSN account to your Studio Wildcard account ahead of time, to get exclusive in-game launch rewards like custom character skins and bonus resources when the game launches. Pre-ordering any edition of Ark 2 will get you exclusive in-game skins and early access to pre-release beta builds when they become available for PS4 users, so you can try the game out weeks before the full launch.
You should also clear out space on your PS4’s hard drive now, since the game will take up a lot of storage. You will need at least 120GB of free storage on your PS4 to install Ark 2 at launch, plus extra space for day one patches and post-launch DLC. If you only have the base 500GB PS4, you may want to invest in an external hard drive to make space, since the game and its future DLC will likely take up more than 200GB total within a year of launch. You can also join PS4-specific Ark communities on Reddit or Discord to find other players to team up with ahead of launch, so you have a full tribe ready to build your first base and take down big dinosaurs as soon as the game goes live.
Make sure you follow Studio Wildcard’s official Twitter and PlayStation’s blog to get the latest updates about the release date, as soon as they are announced. The team has said it will give PS4 players at least three months notice before the launch date, so you will have plenty of time to pre-order and get ready for release day.
Ark 2 is shaping up to be a massive improvement over the original game, with better gameplay, more interesting lore, and far better performance on last-gen consoles. While we don’t have an exact public date yet, all signs point to it being well worth the wait for long-time franchise fans. Keep an eye on official announcements for the final answer to when is ark 2 coming out on ps4, and you’ll be able to jump into the brutal prehistoric world with your friends as soon as it drops.