The much-anticipated dinosaur survival game, Ark 2, which had sparked concerns about potential development troubles or even cancellation, is now back in the spotlight. Developer Studio Wildcard has unveiled a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended, the remake of the original Ark, titled Ark: Lost Colony. This expansion not only breathes new life into the franchise but also sets the stage for the eagerly awaited sequel.

Ark: Lost Colony marks the first original expansion pack for Ark: Survival Ascended. The reveal trailer, produced by the acclaimed anime studio Mappa, known for hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man, features voiceover work by Michelle Yeoh, who reprises 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. Here’s 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?

In their press release, Studio Wildcard noted that Ark: Lost Colony "directly connects" the storylines 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 surprise appearance by Vin Diesel at The Game Awards 2020, it was slated for a 2022 release but faced multiple delays. After a shift to a 2023 release, Ark 2 was postponed again to late 2024, planned as an Xbox Series X and S console exclusive, day-one on Game Pass, and available on PC via Steam and Windows.

As late as December 2023, Studio Wildcard confirmed that Ark 2 was still on track for a late 2024 release. However, that timeline did not materialize, causing concern among fans. The announcement of Ark: Lost Colony in March 2025 reassures fans that Ark 2 is indeed still in development, though Studio Wildcard did not provide a new release window.

More concrete information is 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, and Ark: Lost Colony will be priced at $29.99 for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC.