The long-awaited sequel to the popular dinosaur survival game, Ark 2, has reignited hope among fans as developer Studio Wildcard unveils an exciting new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended. This expansion, titled Ark: Lost Colony, serves as a bridge leading directly into the events of the sequel.
Ark: Lost Colony marks the first original expansion pack for the Ark 1 remake, Ark: Survival Ascended. The reveal trailer, crafted by the acclaimed anime studio Mappa—known for hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man—features voiceover work by the talented 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 created by Mappa. Here's the official description of the expansion: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?
According to Studio Wildcard's press note, Ark: Lost Colony "directly connects" the narratives from Ark’s Extinction and Genesis expansions, setting the stage for Ark 2.
Ark 2, powered by Unreal Engine 5, is the sequel to the highly successful Ark: Survival Evolved. It was initially announced with a surprise appearance by Vin Diesel at The Game Awards 2020, with an expected release in 2022. However, it faced multiple delays, first to 2023 and then to late 2024 as an Xbox Series X and S console exclusive, available day-one on Game Pass, and on PC via Steam and Windows.
As recently as December 2023, Studio Wildcard reaffirmed that *Ark 2* was on track for a late 2024 release. However, this timeline was not met, causing concern among fans. The announcement of *Ark: Lost Colony* in March 2025 reassures fans that *Ark 2* remains in development, although no new release window was provided.For Ark: Lost Colony, more concrete details are available. Pre-orders will commence in June 2025, with immediate access to exclusive preview gameplay content upon purchase. The full release is scheduled for November 2025, with the expansion priced at $29.99 for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
