The creators and kings of construction, simulation games are back with their next installment for player creativity and management. Frontier Development, well known for their titles like Zoo Tycoon and Planet Coaster, have shown off little bits of their upcoming game Planet Zoo. This new zoo simulation will stand apart from its predecessor, Zoo Tycoon, by bringing all new features and improved graphics into play. From how the animals are born and raised to the enclosed habitats that they reside in, Planet Zoo should give managing players even more choices to make. Check out the latest trailer from Frontier:
As usual for a Frontier game, Planet Zoo will include a full single player campaign with its own set of challenges as well as an unobstructed Sandbox mode. But what makes Planet Zoo stand apart from their previous titles is how the player “zoo keeper” interacts with the animals and park. Interactions with animals are much more in depth as players will notice more options and unique personalities that will develop for each individual beast. Adding to those relationships that can build, players will be able to create and personalize the environments for their animals like never before. Instead of placing a boilerplate environment for a species, details like the landscape for each exhibit can be customized and these customizations will be felt and experienced by the animals too. This is implemented through a piece-by-piece construction system and the carving out of the land for rivers and other features.
Frontier wants Planet Zoo to feel like meaningful management to potential players. They’ll allow for big picture processes or taking part in small tasks day-to-day to nurturing the animals. The big picture scheme of things will incorporate research on site that will benefit different species and perhaps ultimately lead to players releasing certain animals back into the wild. Most notably, players will eventually be able to share their successes and designs on an online community page where they may even see their designs pop up around parks in the world.
Planet Zoo will be making its way to the Steam store at some point this year with its release date listed simply as “Coming Soon” at some point this Autumn.