The highly anticipated dinosaur survival game, Ark 2, is back in the spotlight after concerns about its development status. Developer Studio Wildcard has announced a new expansion for the Ark: Survival Ascended remake, titled Ark: Lost Colony, which not only revitalizes interest in the franchise but also sets the stage for the upcoming sequel.
Ark: Lost Colony marks the first original expansion pack for Ark: Survival Ascended. The reveal trailer, produced by the renowned anime studio Mappa (known for Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man), features voiceover by Michelle Yeoh, who reprises her role as Mei Yin from Ark: The Animated Series.
Studio Wildcard promises that the expansion will include numerous cinema-grade anime story sequences crafted by Mappa. The official description teases an immersive experience: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, Ark: Lost Colony directly bridges the narratives of Ark’s Extinction and Genesis expansions, paving the way for the events of Ark 2.
Ark 2, powered by Unreal Engine 5, is the sequel to the immensely popular Ark: Survival Evolved. Initially announced with a Vin Diesel cameo at The Game Awards 2020 and slated for a 2022 release, it faced multiple delays, pushing its launch first to 2023 and then to late 2024. As an Xbox Series X and S console exclusive, it will be available day-one on Game Pass and on PC via Steam and Windows.
Despite Studio Wildcard’s assurance in December 2023 that Ark 2 was on track for a late 2024 release, the game did not meet this deadline, raising concerns among fans. The recent announcement in March 2025 helps to reassure the community that Ark 2 remains in development, though no new release window was provided.For Ark: Lost Colony, more concrete information is available. Pre-orders will begin in June 2025, offering immediate access to exclusive preview gameplay content. The full release is scheduled for November 2025, with the expansion priced at $29.99 for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
