So, erm, the place the heck is Ark 2?

From As soon as Human, to Palworld, to Enshrouded, it’s been a reasonably superior yr for brand spanking new survival video Games. Whereas current juggernauts of the style additionally stay well-liked, the category of 2024 is a powerful one however there appears to be one pupil that’s flunking. Nonetheless technically billed to be launching by the top of this yr, Ark 2 is not only a sequel to one of many largest survival video Games round, however a transformational sequel at that – so the place the heck is it?

First revealed all the best way again in 2020, there was fervent pleasure that one of many finest survival video games ever could be getting a sequel. Nevertheless, within the time since, we’ve obtained two cinematic trailers starring Vin Diesel, a 2022 weblog put up laying out an bold gameplay imaginative and prescient, and an announcement that the Ark 2 launch date could be delayed till “late 2024,” largely resulting from its swap to Unreal Engine 5. Nicely, I’m my calendar proper now, and it’s wanting fairly late in 2024 to me. The truth is, Ark 2‘s acquired simply eight weeks to look earlier than it’s formally overdue.

The optimists on the market could hope for some sort of shock shadow drop of Ark 2, however I simply wish to hone in on that aforementioned weblog put up for a second, as a result of its contents counsel to me that in all probability received’t be the case. It’s a prolonged put up on Xbox Wire that goes over among the radical gameplay modifications being made in Ark 2. And once I say radical, I imply it.

A swap from first-person to third-person. Fight that “attracts closely from Soulslike motion for its human-scale fight.” Traversal impressed by Murderer’s Creed’s seamless parkour. “World occasions” involving stampeding herds of dinosaurs or situations the place it can save you injured creatures. Huge overhauls to key techniques like crafting. All of this, plus way more I’m positive, goes to make Ark 2 a massively completely different and extra bold sport than its predecessor. The co-founders of Studio Wildcard who wrote the weblog put up even describe it as “the way forward for survival video games” – this isn’t the kind of challenge you simply shadow drop. This wants gameplay trailers, deep dives, and extra to promote each current Ark followers and newcomers on its huge transformation.

Given we’ve heard no extra particulars since that weblog over two years in the past, and we’ve seen no Gameplay footage in any respect, it appears virtually inevitable to me that Ark 2 goes to get pushed again and miss its late 2024 window. That’s probably not a difficulty – disappointing, positive, however it’s unsurprising to see initiatives of this dimension getting delayed. What’s peculiar is that Snail Video Games and Studio Wildcard have made no bulletins about its progress and have left it tremendous late to verify a delay.

There’s a slim probability I’m completely mistaken and that the optimists win this time round. Perhaps there’s a world the place Vin Diesel struts out at The Sport Awards, tells Geoff Keighley he’s acquired one thing cool to indicate him, and the phrases ‘Ark 2, out now’ seem on a display screen behind him. I’d eat all of the hats I personal if it did occur.

As a substitute, the chances are we’ll be ready a little bit longer. A fast look on the Steam stats present that there’s nonetheless effectively over 30,000 individuals enjoying Ark Survival Developed and Survival Ascended collectively proper now, so it’s not like there’s a dire want for Ark 2. Like I mentioned, a delay isn’t an issue – the weird radio silence undoubtedly is although.

Remember to try much more nice dinosaur video games when you look ahead to Ark 2, or dive into our checklist of the finest co-op video games to see what else you would be enjoying together with your buddies.

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