The highly anticipated dinosaur survival game, Ark 2, which had sparked concerns among fans due to prolonged silence, is now back in the spotlight. Developer Studio Wildcard has recently unveiled an exciting new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended, the remake of the original Ark game, which serves as a bridge to the forthcoming sequel.
The expansion, titled Ark: Lost Colony, marks the first original content pack for Ark: Survival Ascended. The reveal trailer, crafted by the renowned anime studio Mappa, known for hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man, features captivating voiceover work by Michelle Yeoh. She returns to her role as Mei Yin from Ark: The Animated Series, adding a familiar touch to the new content.
Studio Wildcard has promised that Ark: Lost Colony will include numerous high-quality anime story sequences, enhancing the narrative experience. According to 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?
The expansion directly links the storylines of Ark’s Extinction and Genesis expansions and sets the stage for the narrative of Ark 2.
Ark 2, powered by Unreal Engine 5, is the sequel to the wildly popular Ark: Survival Evolved. Initially announced with a surprise appearance by Vin Diesel at The Game Awards 2020 and slated for a 2022 release, the game faced multiple delays. It was first pushed back to 2023 and then further delayed to late 2024, planned as an Xbox Series X and S console exclusive, available day-one on Game Pass, and on PC via Steam and Windows.
Despite Studio Wildcard's reassurances in December 2023 that Ark 2 was on track for a late 2024 release, the game did not meet this deadline, causing concern among fans. The recent announcement in early 2025, while reassuring fans that Ark 2 remains in development, did not include an updated release window.
On a more concrete note, Ark: Lost Colony will begin accepting pre-orders in June 2025, with purchasers immediately gaining access to exclusive preview gameplay content. The full release is scheduled for November 2025, and the expansion will be available for $29.99 on Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
This latest update not only rekindles excitement for Ark 2 but also introduces a compelling new chapter with Ark: Lost Colony, promising fans a rich and immersive experience in the evolving world of Ark.
