If Studio Wildcard may have a bad reputation, it’s not for nothing. Indeed, the company has accustomed players to making them wait ever longer and offering its poorly optimized games. Despite everything, ARK Survival Evolved and ARK: Survival Ascended are still played a lot, and fans are impatiently awaiting the release of ARK 2, which should already be in our hands.
Where is ARK 2?
Big announcement from the 2020 Game Awards ceremony, ARK 2 excited players with its first trailer featuring actor Vin Diesel and confirming a release window for 2022. Ultimately, it was not until 2022 that the title had shown up again, this time during the Xbox Games Showcase. Unfortunately, we learned on this occasion of its postponement to the year 2023.
We had to wait until 2023 for the Studio Wildcard title to undergo a second postponement, this time for the end of 2024. Following this, we learned via a report from the Digital Domain studio that ARK 2 would finally be planned for 2025, information denied by Studio Wildcard.
At the end of 2023, a large roadmap was shared, in which the release for the end of 2024 was once again confirmed. We also learned that the game would be followed until 2029. Since then, radio silence.
Xbox created frustration this summer, notably by announcing that ARK 2 would be playable at Gamescom. It ended up being a mistake.
For its part, Studio Wildcard continues to power ARK: Survival Ascended, the remake of ARK: Survival Evolved under Unreal Engine 5, as if nothing had happened. While ARK 2 is still officially scheduled for release in late 2024, the company remains completely silent about its next game.
At this point, it’s safe to say that this is a disrespect to the fans, who are eagerly waiting to learn more. The least we could have done was to make a postponement official well in advance. It seems unlikely that the game will be released by December 31, so we are certainly facing a third delay. We had every right to hope for new information during the Game Awards ceremony last week.
While waiting for a speech, you can enjoy ARK Survival Evolved and ARK Survival Evolved in Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. ARK 2 is planned exclusively for Xbox Series X|S and PC. It will integrate Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass upon launch.
Everything we know about ARK 2
ARK 2 will immerse the player in an epic adventure, where they will embody Santiago, a legendary hero played by Vin Diesel, to protect his daughter Meeka against the dark forces of the past and visions of an uncertain future. The game will introduce innovative elements including a dynamic melee combat system and advanced traversal mechanics like climbing and parkour, all exclusively in third person. With dynamic world events and a vast, alien world to explore, ARK 2 promises to redefine the action-survival experience.
The game will also be marked by a very in-depth customization aspect, with the possibility of manufacturing weapons and tools from distinct modules. This system will allow players to create their unique equipment, influenced by the specific resources found in different regions. In addition to this, a cross-platform modding system will allow players to create and share mods across platforms, thus enriching the experience.
ARK 2 will fully harness the power of Unreal Engine 5 to deliver impressive graphics and realistic physics effects. The game’s creatures, now able to detect players by sight, hearing and smell, will make combat and survival even more intense and strategic. With a comprehensive character progression system and unique skills, every player decision and action will have a significant impact in this universe.
