The much-anticipated dinosaur survival game, Ark 2, which had sparked concerns about potential delays or cancellation, is back on track. Developer Studio Wildcard has unveiled a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended, the remake of the original Ark, titled Ark: Lost Colony. This expansion not only breathes new life into the franchise but also paves the way for the sequel, Ark 2.
Ark: Lost Colony marks the first original expansion pack for Ark: Survival Ascended. Its reveal trailer, showcased below, was masterfully produced by the renowned anime studio Mappa, known for hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man. The trailer features the iconic voice of Michelle Yeoh, who returns to her role as Mei Yin from Ark: The Animated Series.
Studio Wildcard has promised that Ark: Lost Colony will include numerous cinema-grade anime story sequences crafted by Mappa. Here's the official description:
In this new frozen world, players follow in the footsteps of legendary Ark survivor Mei Yin, on a soul-searching quest deep into the chilling heart of darkness to find answers to long-buried secrets of Ark’s past.
Ark: Lost Colony will present survivors with thrilling new challenges as they become the hunted in a vast occupied city, and gain access to powerful new kinds of character abilities, unique gear, building systems, and phenomenally exotic tames.
Will Survivors be able to face down the demons lurking in Arat Prime, and connect Ark's past and future?
According to Studio Wildcard's press note, Ark: Lost Colony "directly connects" the storylines of the Extinction and Genesis expansions, seamlessly leading into the events of Ark 2.
Ark 2, powered by Unreal Engine 5, is the sequel to the highly successful Ark: Survival Evolved. Initially announced with a surprise cameo by Vin Diesel at The Game Awards 2020, it was slated for a 2022 release. However, it faced multiple delays, first to 2023, and then again to late 2024, positioning it as an Xbox Series X and S console exclusive, available day-one on Game Pass, and also on PC via Steam and Windows.
As recently as December 2023, Studio Wildcard reassured fans that Ark 2 was on track for a late 2024 release. However, that timeline did not materialize, causing concern among the fanbase. The announcement of Ark: Lost Colony in March 2025 serves as a reassuring sign that Ark 2 is still in development, though no new release window was provided.
For Ark: Lost Colony, more concrete details are available. Pre-orders will begin in June 2025, with immediate access to exclusive preview gameplay content upon purchase. The full release is scheduled for November 2025, and the expansion will be priced at $29.99 for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
