The development team anticipates that a full-scale sequel to Ark: Survival Evolved is still several years away from completion.
Jeremy Stieglitz, co-founder of Studio Wildcard, has detailed a comprehensive two-year roadmap for Ark: Survival Ascended, the 2023 remaster of the original survival hit. The expansion cycle kicks off this week with the “Lost Colony” update, while the “Legacy of Santiago” DLC is slated for the fourth quarter of 2027 to wrap up the roadmap. This extended support period serves as a vital laboratory for experimenting with the ambitious ideas planned for the upcoming sequel.
This content functions as a prequel to Ark 2, bridging the narrative gap while allowing us to field-test numerous mechanics and systems destined for the sequel.
When questioned about whether this timeline suggests a 2028 debut for Ark 2, Stieglitz confirmed, “That is currently our objective.”
He further elaborated:
As we worked on Ark 2, we realized we needed a deeper understanding of how to construct a title of this caliber through a phased development cycle. Refining the tech and core gameplay within an existing environment felt much safer than rushing a standalone release.
Ark 2 was originally unveiled at The Game Awards 2020 via a cinematic trailer featuring Vin Diesel. According to Stieglitz, the exact scope of Diesel’s contribution is still being finalized, which will have a direct impact on the sequel’s narrative arc.
Source: iXBT.games