If you’re a long-time fan of the Ark: Survival Evolved franchise, you’ve almost certainly asked will there be a Ark 2 at least once in the last few years. First announced back in 2020 with a flashy trailer featuring Vin Diesel, the sequel has faced more delays and vague updates than almost any other recent survival game, leaving many players wondering if it will ever actually launch. We’ve compiled all official announcements, credible community leaks, and developer comments to cut through the noise and give you the clearest possible picture of the game’s current status.
Confirmed Official Details We Know About Ark 2
Studio Wildcard has shared small, consistent updates about the game’s development since its original announcement, even as release dates have been pushed back multiple times. Studio Wildcard has repeatedly stated the game is not canceled, even amid multiple public delays. The team has switched to Unreal Engine 5 for development, which will allow for far more detailed environments, better lighting, and smoother performance across all supported platforms.
Vin Diesel is not just the face of the game’s marketing, he’s also an executive producer on the project and will voice the main protagonist of the story campaign, Santiago. The game will feature a fully revamped third-person combat system, unlike the first Ark’s primarily first-person focus. Devs have also confirmed full crossplay support across all launch platforms, so you can play with friends no matter what hardware they own.
Plans for post-launch support are already in the works too, with multiple paid and free DLC expansions planned for the first three years after launch. The team has also promised better anti-cheat support for official servers, a common pain point for players of the original Ark game.
Common Rumors About Ark 2 (And Which Are Credible)
If you’re still asking will there be a Ark 2 after all these delays, you’re far from alone. The lack of regular official updates has led to a lot of unsubstantiated rumors spreading across community forums and social media, so we’ve sorted through the most common ones to separate fact from fiction. The most persistent rumor is that the game will launch with a 6-month exclusive window on Xbox consoles, which is partially true: Microsoft helped fund development, so console launch will be exclusive to Xbox, but PC will launch on the same day as Xbox.
Many players who log hours grinding tames and base builds in the original Ark will take 10 to 15 minute breaks between big raids or resource runs to play low-stakes casual games to reset their focus. Casual card games are a popular pick for these short breaks, as they don’t require the same level of intense focus as survival PvP. A lot of players we’ve spoken to in official Ark community servers prefer 334 Rummy for these quick breaks, as it’s easy to pick up and finish a round in just a few minutes before jumping back into their game.
Another common rumor is that the game will launch with over 100 playable creatures, including all the most popular dinos from the original game plus 50 brand new creatures. That rumor is credible, as devs mentioned expanding the creature roster in a 2023 development update. Any rumor claiming Ark 2 will be free-to-play is entirely unsubstantiated, as devs have confirmed it will be a premium paid title.
What Features Can Players Expect If Ark 2 Launches?
While exact details are still scarce, devs have shared a long list of planned features that will make it into the final game if development stays on track. Many of these features are direct responses to fan feedback from the original Ark, addressing common complaints about clunky mechanics, server performance, and limited content variety. Some of the most anticipated confirmed features include:
Modding support is another big focus for the development team, as the original Ark’s active modding community is one of the biggest reasons the game has stayed popular for so long. Modders will even be able to create fully standalone games using the Ark 2 engine tools, with full permission from Studio Wildcard. The team is also working on a built-in mod browser that will make it easier to find and install mods directly from the game’s main menu, no external launcher required.
Will There Be a Ark 2 That Lives Up to Fan Expectations?
The biggest concern among long-time Ark fans isn’t just whether the game will launch, but whether it will feel like a worthy successor to the original. Many players worry that the focus on third-person combat and a story campaign will take away from the open-world sandbox feel that made the first game so popular. Devs have addressed these concerns repeatedly, stating that the sandbox survival mode will still be the core of the game, and the story campaign will be an optional extra for players who want more structured content.
Closed alpha testing has been running for selected community creators and long-time players since late 2023, and most public feedback from testers has been overwhelmingly positive. Testers have praised the smooth combat, detailed world design, and massive performance improvements over the original Ark, even in the early alpha state. Devs have stated they will not launch the game until it meets both their internal quality standards and fan expectations, so we’re unlikely to see a rushed, buggy launch like many other recent big-budget games.
If you want to stay updated on the game’s progress, you can follow the official Studio Wildcard social media accounts, join the official Ark Discord server, or sign up for beta testing opportunities on the studio’s website. The team usually shares new development updates every 2 to 3 months, so you won’t have to wait too long for new information if you follow official channels.
At the end of the day, the answer to will there be a Ark 2 is a clear yes, even if we don’t have an exact launch date yet. The game is actively in development, with regular progress updates coming from the studio, and it’s shaping up to be a worthy successor to one of the most popular survival games of all time. If you’re eager to jump into the new world of Ark 2, you can always spend the wait time replaying the original game, trying out community mods, or joining one of the thousands of active unofficial servers for fresh gameplay experiences.