After rumors of potential delays or even cancellation, fans of the dinosaur survival game Ark 2 can breathe a sigh of relief. Developer Studio Wildcard has unveiled a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended that not only reignites excitement but also serves as a precursor to the much-anticipated sequel. Ark: Lost Colony, the first original expansion pack for the Ark 1 remake, promises to bridge the narrative gap leading directly into Ark 2.

The reveal trailer for Ark: Lost Colony, produced by the renowned anime studio Mappa—known for hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man—features stunning cinema-grade anime sequences. Adding to the excitement, the legendary Michelle Yeoh reprises her role as Mei Yin from Ark: The Animated Series, lending her voice to the expansion.

According to Studio Wildcard, Ark: Lost Colony will immerse players in a frozen world, where they will follow Mei Yin on a soul-searching journey into the chilling heart of darkness. This quest aims to uncover long-buried secrets of Ark's past. The expansion promises thrilling new challenges, including becoming the hunted in a vast occupied city, accessing powerful new character abilities, unique gear, innovative building systems, and exotic tames.

The expansion is set to connect the storylines of Ark's Extinction and Genesis expansions, leading directly into the events of Ark 2. This narrative bridge is crucial for fans eager to see how the story evolves.

Ark 2, powered by Unreal Engine 5, is the sequel to the massively successful Ark: Survival Evolved. Initially announced with a surprise appearance by Vin Diesel at The Game Awards 2020, Ark 2 was slated for a 2022 release but faced multiple delays, pushing its launch to late 2024. Despite assurances as recent as December 2023, the game missed its 2024 release window, causing concern among fans. However, this recent announcement in early 2025 reaffirms Studio Wildcard's commitment to the project, although no new release date for Ark 2 has been provided.

For Ark: Lost Colony, Studio Wildcard has set a clearer timeline. Pre-orders will begin in June 2025, granting immediate access to exclusive preview gameplay content. 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. This detailed roadmap offers fans a tangible next step in the Ark universe, keeping the excitement alive as they await Ark 2.