ARK 2 Release Date On PS5, Xbox Series X/S, And PC
ARK 2, the sequel to the dinosaur survival game ARK: Survival Evolved, has been hit with several delays, but the most recent news coming from Studio Wildcard is that it is still set to hit its late 2024 launch date. The game has been beset with delays, having meant to be released in 2022, leaving a lot of fans guessing at an actual ARK 2 release date.
ARK 2 Release Date Delays
ARK 2 was first announced in 2020 and given a 2022 release date. It caused something of a stir featuring Vin Diesel in the trailer. The Fast and Furious actor will star as the hero Santiago in the game and it has been announced he will produce, too. However, since the announcement, the game has had several delays.
It was first delayed until 2023 and further pushed back to 2024, with many wondering whether the game will launch at all. In December 2023, Snail Games CEO Jim Tsai has said that the game is still set for a late 2024 release.
While we’re willing to cross our fingers and hope, we’re less willing to hold our breath. Especially considering the delays that ARK: Survival Ascended underwent.
ARK Survival Ascended Delays
ARK: Survival Ascended is a remastered version of the original title. While ARK: Survival Evolved used Unreal Engine 4, Ascended used the upgraded Unreal Engine 5. Which is also being used in the development of ARK 2.
Ascended’s delays were attributed to the development team struggling to fully get to grips with the new architecture and even when it did finally release, ARK: Survival Ascended had awful performance issues. 2023 was not a good year for Studio Wildcard, the team behind the game.
ARK 2 Launch Platforms
Delays aren’t the only problems that have given the upcoming sequel bad press, either. When the game was first announced, it was slated for a simultaneous launch on PC as well as both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
More recently, it has been listed as launching on PC and Xbox exclusively. It will launch on Game Pass on day one, which is good news for subscribers to the service, but it also appears that that exclusivity means that owners of Sony’s console will have to wait a little longer. There’s no indication of how long the exclusivity deal will run, but it is likely to be at least three months.
More From The ARK Universe
2024 should also see the launch of the ARK animated series. The series, which was also initially set for a 2022 release, has been delayed likely so that it can launch around the same time as the new title. It follows Helena Walker as she first arrives on The Island. Players of the first game will know her well, from the seemingly endless explorer notes that granted XP and filled in the lore of the game.
Studio Wildcard is getting a reputation for delaying games and offering titles with some serious issues on launch. They will have to go some way to improve that reputation, first with improvements to ARK: Survival Ascended, and then with ARK 2 release date.
