Developers at Wildcard had released a press statement, alongside a road map containing the ARK series. In this statement, they announced that ARK 2 will be delayed until the end of 2024. It will still be able to launch on platforms such as Xbox, Game Pass, and Steam. Additionally, the developers had shared concept art for the sabertooth tiger that will be in ARK 2.
Wildcard had given an explanation for the delay stating, “Our goal is to make ARK 2 the best game it can be and provide a truly exceptional and rewarding experience for players. Unreal Engine 5 is incredibly new technology to us (and all developers), and we aim to use this cutting-edge tech to its fullest potential while creating a game with a never-before-achieved scope at Studio Wildcard. As we learn more about the engine and develop the sequel, we have adapted our workflows and adjusted our pipelines to accommodate this new next-generation paradigm, and because of everything that involves, we need more time for development.”
The road map includes ARK: Survival Ascended, a complete remaster of ARK: Survival Evolved. It will be made with Unreal Engine 5 and is planned to be released in August 2023. Some of the additional features of ARK: Survival Ascended will be cross-platform multiplayer and modding. Wildcard will also add changes to the game mode, Survival of the Fittest, and include it in the remake. They will also plan on making a story-based DLC to be released in Quarter 4, 2023. Additionally, Wildcard had included months for DLC releases for the Nintendo Switch.
ARK: The Animated Series has wrapped up its recording and is currently in post-production. “We’re delighted with how the show turned out — it’s an epic melodramatic love letter to dinosaurs, fantasy/sci-fi, and of course ARK itself,” said Wildcard. Although it’s uncertain what platform it will be released on.