ARK 2 is the upcoming sequel to the popular dinosaur survival game ARK: Survival Evolved, developed by Studio Wildcard. The game was announced at The Game Awards in 2020, with a cinematic trailer featuring Vin Diesel as the protagonist Santiago. Since then, fans have been eagerly waiting for more details about the game, its release date, its gameplay features, and its modding support. In this article, we will summarize everything we know so far about ARK 2, and what we can expect from it when it launches.
Release Date
Unfortunately, ARK 2 does not have a definitive release date yet. However, we do know that it is coming sometime in 2024, after being delayed twice from its original launch window of 2022. In a community post, Studio Wildcard explained the reason for the delay:
We’ve put much thought into delaying ARK 2 for the betterment of the final product and the team’s well-being… So why the delay? Our goal is to make ARK 2 the best game it can be and provide a truly exceptional and rewarding experience for players.
Platforms
ARK 2 is one of the most anticipated upcoming PC games of 2024, but it will also be available on Xbox Series X/S as a launch exclusive. This means that ARK 2 will only be on PC and Xbox Series X/S for an undetermined amount of time, before coming to other platforms — such as the PS5. Studio Wildcard has not confirmed whether ARK 2 will come to PS5 or not, but given that ARK: Survival Evolved found success on PS4, it would not be surprising to see this sequel head to PlayStation once its exclusivity window with Xbox expires.
ARK 2 will also be added to the Xbox Game Pass list from day one, which means that subscribers of the service will be able to play the game without paying extra. This is a great deal for Xbox players who want to experience the dinosaur survival adventure without breaking the bank.
Gameplay Features
ARK 2 promises to deliver a whole new level of gameplay features that will enhance the survival experience and challenge the players in new ways. Here are some of the gameplay features that have been revealed or hinted at so far:
- Dark Souls-like combat: ARK 2 will feature “Souls-like melee combat” that will emphasize player-skill-based action1. The game will have target-lock, blocks, dodges, combos, staggers, special attacks, and more. The combat system will also be influenced by the choice of weapons and modules that players can craft and customize.
- Weapon modding system: ARK 2 will introduce a weapon modding system that will allow players to create their own unique weapons from a range of diverse modules. The modules will affect both the form and function of the weapons, unlocking tons of possible combinations. The choice of materials will also affect the appearance and character of the weapons, with unique resources found in different regions of the world.
- Advanced character traversal: ARK 2 will feature advanced character traversal mechanics that will enable players to move around the world in more dynamic ways. The game will have mantling, free-climbing, parkour, sliding, and swinging. These mechanics will add more verticality and fluidity to the exploration and combat.
- Mysterious and chaotic world: ARK 2 will take place in a mysterious and chaotic world where native flora and fauna are being overrun by invasive primeval creatures from an extinct Earth. The game will have natural and unnatural occurrences that are always happening across the game world, independent of the player’s presence. The player’s choices in deciding whether to interact with these events will yield rewards or challenges.
- Hostile Aratai: ARK 2 will feature hostile Aratai as one of the main antagonists of the game. The Aratai are a faction of humans who hunt and attack other humans riding their own tamed creatures. They seek to drive human interlopers from their world and claim it as their own. The player will have to face them in combat and diplomacy.
Story and Characters
ARK 2 will follow the story of Santiago, a legendary hero who wakes up on a strange primal world filled with dinosaurs and humans struggling for dominance. He must piece together his past and protect his daughter Meeka from the ghosts of his ancient past and visions of a new future.
Santiago is voiced by Vin Diesel, who is also an executive producer of the game. Meeka is voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, who is best known for her role as Moana in the Disney animated film of the same name1. The game will also feature other characters from the ARK lore, such as Helena, Rockwell, Mei-Yin, and Nerva1.
ARK 2 will also have an animated series that will run parallel to the game. The series is called ARK: The Animated Series, and it will release in 2022. The series is co-created and produced by Studio Wildcard and director Jay Oliva, who has worked on Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. The animation studio behind the series is Lex + Otis, who are also working on an Army of the Dead spinoff anime with Zack Snyder. The series will feature an impressive cast of voice actors, including Russell Crowe, Gerard Butler, Michelle Yeoh, David Tennant, Elliot Page, Malcolm McDowell, and more.
Modding Support
ARK 2 will feature cross-platform modding support that will enable players to create and share their own content for the game. The game will use mod.io as the platform for distributing mods across all platforms, including Xbox. This means that players will be able to access mods for new creatures, items, gameplay features, and maps on any device they play on.
Modding has been a huge part of the ARK community since the first game, and Studio Wildcard wants to continue supporting it in the sequel. The developer has said that modding is “one of the pillars of ARK 2” and that they want to “empower our community to create amazing things” with the game.
Conclusion
ARK 2 is shaping up to be an ambitious and exciting sequel that will take the dinosaur survival genre to new heights. With a star-studded cast, a revamped combat system, a weapon modding system, a mysterious world, a hostile faction, an animated series, and cross-platform modding support, the game has a lot to offer for fans and newcomers alike. We can’t wait to see more of ARK 2 as it gets closer to its release date in 2024.
