If you're a long-time Ark: Survival Evolved fan who's spent hundreds of hours taming dinosaurs, building bases, and fighting off rival tribes on PC, you've almost certainly asked will Ark 2 be on PC at launch. The original Ark's PC community is one of the largest and most active in the survival game space, driven heavily by mod support, custom servers, and smooth performance on high-end rigs. We've pulled together every official announcement, developer comment, and leaked detail to give you the clearest possible picture of Ark 2's PC plans, no rumors or unsubstantiated guesswork included.
Will Ark 2 Be on PC? Confirmed Official Release Details
Studio Wildcard has been clear about its platform plans for Ark 2 since the game was first announced, and PC players have no reason to worry about being left out. Studio Wildcard has confirmed PC will be a day-one launch platform for Ark 2, no delays planned for the platform relative to console releases. The game will launch on both Steam and the Epic Games Store, with identical content and pre-order bonuses across both storefronts, so you can pick whichever you prefer without missing out.
Unlike some recent multi-platform releases, there are no plans for a timed console exclusivity period that would lock PC players out for months after launch. The game will also be available for Xbox Game Pass for PC subscribers on launch day at no extra cost, which is a huge win for casual players who don't want to pay full price upfront. The devs have repeatedly noted that the original Ark sold over 70% of its launch copies on PC, so supporting that audience has always been a top priority for the team.
Exclusive PC Features You Can Expect From Ark 2
The PC version of Ark 2 will have a long list of features that won't be available on console, most of them built specifically for the franchise's massive modding and custom server community. Full cross-mod compatibility will be supported for player-hosted servers, so you can mix and match content packs without running into constant crashes. The new modding toolkit is built directly into Unreal Engine 5, with a user-friendly interface that makes it easier for new creators to build content without advanced coding knowledge.
Some of the most exciting confirmed exclusive PC features include:
That means you don't have to stick to the official server rules if you want to mess around with friends, whether you want to make taming take 10 seconds or turn all dinosaurs into flying, fire-breathing variants. A lot of casual players prefer custom PC servers because they can avoid the toxic PVP that plagues many official servers, and that option will be available the day Ark 2 launches. You'll also be able to install quality-of-life mods that fix small annoyances, add new content, or completely overhaul the core gameplay loop if you want a fresh experience.
Expected Minimum and Recommended PC System Requirements for Ark 2
Official system requirements for Ark 2 haven't been released as of now, but we can make very accurate estimates based on Unreal Engine 5's base requirements, the game's public gameplay demos, and developer comments about optimization priorities. The devs have stated they're prioritizing better optimization than the original Ark, so you won't need a top-tier rig to run the game at 1080p 60fps on medium settings.
Based on available info, the minimum expected specs for 1080p 30fps on low settings are an Intel Core i5-10600K or AMD Ryzen 5 5600 CPU, 16GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super or AMD RX 6600 GPU, and 100GB of free SSD storage. For 1080p 60fps on high settings, you'll want an Intel Core i7-12700K or AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU, 32GB of RAM, an NVIDIA RTX 3080 or AMD RX 7800 XT GPU, and 100GB of free NVMe SSD storage. The game will not support HDDs at launch, so you'll need to make sure you have enough space on an SSD if you want to play. I've run modded Ark 1 servers for my friend group for years, and the biggest mistake new players make is skimping on RAM when they plan to use lots of mods, so keep that in mind if you want to run heavily modded lobbies.
What to Do If You Want to Prepare for Ark 2's PC Launch
There are a few simple steps you can take right now to make sure you're ready to play Ark 2 the second it launches, no last-minute hassle required. First, if you still have games stored on an HDD, move them over to an SSD and clear at least 150GB of space to be safe, since post-launch patches and mod files will add to the base game's storage requirements. If you're subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you'll get access to Ark 2 on PC for no extra cost the day it launches, so you don't need to pre-order unless you want the exclusive cosmetic bonuses.
If you want to get into modding for Ark 2 early, you can start learning the basics of Unreal Engine 5 now, since the official modding toolkit is built directly on the engine and all skills will transfer over. You can also join the official Ark Discord server to sign up for closed playtests, get early access to modding resources, and get updates as soon as they're announced by the dev team. If you do plan to pre-order, you can do so on both Steam and Epic Games Store right now, with all pre-orders coming with a set of exclusive cosmetic skins for your character and first tamed dinosaur.
At the end of the day, there's no need to stress about will Ark 2 be on PC, as it's been a core part of Studio Wildcard's launch plan from the very beginning. The PC community is the backbone of the Ark franchise, and the devs are putting extra work into making the PC version the best way to play, with exclusive features that just aren't possible on console. Whether you're a casual player who wants to play with friends on a custom server, or a modder who wants to create entirely new game modes, Ark 2's PC release will have something for you. Keep an eye on official announcements for final spec details and exact launch times as we get closer to release.