The highly anticipated dinosaur survival game, Ark 2, which had sparked concerns about potential delays or even cancellation, is back in the spotlight. Developer Studio Wildcard has unveiled a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended, titled Ark: Lost Colony, which serves as a bridge leading directly into the sequel.
Ark: Lost Colony marks the first original expansion pack for the Ark: Survival Ascended remake. The reveal trailer, produced by the renowned anime studio Mappa—known for hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man—features voiceover work by Michelle Yeoh, who returns to her role as Mei Yin from Ark: The Animated Series.
Studio Wildcard promises that *Ark: Lost Colony* will include numerous cinema-grade anime story sequences crafted by Mappa. The official description offers a glimpse into what players can expect: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?
Studio Wildcard emphasized that Ark: Lost Colony directly links the narratives of the Extinction and Genesis expansions, setting the stage for the events in Ark 2.
Ark 2, powered by Unreal Engine 5, is the sequel to the immensely popular Ark: Survival Evolved. Initially unveiled with a surprise appearance by Vin Diesel at The Game Awards 2020, it was slated for a 2022 release but faced delays, first to 2023, and then to late 2024. The game is set to be an Xbox Series X and S console exclusive, available on day one through Game Pass, and also on PC via Steam and Windows.
As recently as December 2023, Studio Wildcard maintained that *Ark 2* was on schedule for a late 2024 release. However, this did not come to fruition, raising concerns among fans. The recent announcement in March 2025 should reassure fans that *Ark 2* remains in development, though no new release window was provided.More concrete details are available for Ark: Lost Colony. Pre-orders will begin in June 2025, with immediate access to exclusive preview gameplay content. The full release is scheduled for November 2025, with Ark: Lost Colony priced at $29.99 for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
