Studio Wildcard has finally shed light on the future of ARK 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Ark: Survival Evolved.  A new DLC expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended (the remaster of the original game), called Lost Colony, will not only bridge the storyline between the Extinction and Genesis expansions but also directly lead into the world of ARK 2.

ARK 2 was initially revealed at The Game Awards 2020 with a CGI trailer starring Vin Diesel.  Developed in Unreal Engine 5, the sequel was originally slated for a 2023 release.  However, it has faced several delays since its announcement, leaving fans concerned about its future. The Lost Colony DLC confirms that the project is still actively in development.

Announced on March 18th, Lost Colony is slated for a November 2025 release and will feature the voice acting talents of Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh.  The DLC's official description indicates it will connect the narratives of the Extinction and Genesis DLCs (originally released for Ark: Survival Evolved in 2018 and 2019, respectively) and will serve as a precursor to the events of ARK 2. Studio Wildcard has reassured fans via Twitter of their continued commitment to both Ark: Survival Ascended and ARK 2.

The last significant update on ARK 2 came in 2023, when Studio Wildcard announced its delay to late 2024, a target that was ultimately missed. This announcement coincided with the reveal of Ark: Survival Ascended, a remastered version of the original game that has faced controversy due to performance issues and mixed reviews.  A planned bundle including both Ark: Survival Ascended and ARK 2, called Ark: Respawned, was eventually scrapped due to community backlash.

Despite the lack of recent updates, ARK 2 remains among the top ten most wishlisted games on Steam, alongside titles like Hollow Knight: Silksong, Subnautica 2, and Borderlands 4.  While the release date remains unknown, fans eager for more Ark content can look forward to Lost Colony, launching for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in November 2025. Pre-orders, which will include exclusive preview gameplay content, begin in June.