Day 1 Xbox Game Pass Game Confirmed for 2028
During an investor meeting, Studio Wildcard co-founder Jeremy Stieglitz gave an update on the release plans for Ark 2 as well as the franchise as a while, and it seems like fans will have to wait a bit longer before the Vin Diesel starring title becomes available. It’s already been a long journey for the anticipated sequel, though fans have been able to keep up in that universe thanks to consistent updates to Ark: Survival Evolved as well as its availability on services like Xbox Game Pass.
Studio Wildcard’s Ark: Survival Evolved is slowly approaching its 10th anniversary in 2027 and in that time, the game has seen plenty of growth and changes. Originally, Ark was never intended to be a 10-year game, with a dedicated sequel set to arrive a few years later and the servers shut down. However, the news didn’t sit well with players, forcing Studio Wildcard to pivot and release ARK Survival Ascended, essentially a remaster of the original game using Unreal Engine 5. News on the sequel continues to be scarce, but fans have finally gotten an answer as to when they can expect to see it.
Ark Survival Ascended is Officially Adding a Creature From One of Its Best Mods
Ark: Survival Ascended developer Studio Wildcard prepares to add another highly requested creature to the game from one of its most popular mod packs.
Ark 2 Release Window Revealed
Just 3 years after the initial launch of Survival Evolved, Studio Wildcard surprised a lot of fans by announcing Ark 2 at the 2020 Game Awards. However, the biggest reveal for many was that Hollywood actor Vin Diesel was not only attached to the project, but seemingly having a starring role in it. While Vin Diesel has certainly appeared in many video games over the years, this one was a surprise as the trailer showcased his character Santiago riding a T-Rex alongside his daughter Meeka who is being played by Auli’i Cravalho.
While the game was initially scheduled for a 2023 launch, delays have pushed that date further back than expected. While details on Ark 2 have been scarce, Studio Wildcard co-founder Jeremy Stieglitz finally shed a bit of light on the project with the intention of launching the title by 2028. The main question now relates to how much time Diesel will have for the project, to which Stieglitz admitted that the team has different plans depending on “how much performance we are going to get.”
The question is: How much performance are we going to get from him? Are we going to get one day, five days, eight hours? You don’t know. And the scope of how much performance we are going to get determines just how the narrative is going to play out. We have a narrative that’s if we get a lot of Vin Diesel, this is what we will do, and if we get a little Vin Diesel, this is what we will do.
Even though Ark 2 is still years away, Studio Wildcard revealed ambitious plans to fill the next two years with content, including some that will help link both Ark: Survival Ascended to the sequel. While the Ultimate Survival Edition of Ark just received a big update for Switch 2 players back in October, the launch of The Lost Colony DLC is the starting point for the game’s next 2 years and eventual transition to Ark 2.
Studio Wildcard, with the help of support studios like Studio Sirens and Grove Street Games, has laid out plans to release new content in each quarter of 2026, including the pirate-themed Tides of Fortune, a World Creator to help modders, and Dragontopia. In 2027, three new content packs have been announced from Ark Atlantis, Galaxy Wars, and then the Legacy of Santiago set for Q4 2027. As the title hints, Legacy of Santiago is Studio Wildcard’s bridge to connect both games, as this content serves as a prequel story to Ark 2‘s narrative while also bringing forward some of the new mechanics and features to let players try them out before the sequel launches.