ARK 2 will arrive Day One on Xbox Game Pass and is already targeting 2028

Studio Wildcard confirms release window and details the immediate future of the ARK saga.

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The survival saga with dinosaurs now has a clear long-term roadmap. During the Snail Games Investor Day held at the Nasdaq in New York, the team responsible for the franchise has offered new hints about the future of the series and, especially, about the expected sequel.

The most relevant fact for Xbox players is that ARK 2 will arrive Day One on Xbox Game Pass, although we’ll still have to wait. According to Jeremy Stieglitz, co-founder of Studio Wildcard, the release is currently scheduled for 2028, with a major update prior to that, which will serve as a narrative prelude at the end of 2027.

ARK 2 and the future of the saga on Xbox Game Pass

Before the arrival of the sequel, ARK: Survival Ascended will continue to be the central axis of the ARK ecosystem for the next two years. The studio has presented a roadmap that will culminate with Legacy of Santiago, a large-scale expansion that will not only expand the game’s story but also introduce mechanics and systems that will serve as a testing ground for ARK 2.

During the event, some data on the current state of the game were also highlighted:

• Over 4 million copies sold of Survival Ascended.

• Full mod support on PC, Xbox Series, and PS5.

• Over 5,000 mods created by the community and 750 million accumulated downloads.

In addition, this same week sees the launch of the ARK: Lost Colony expansion, which will expand the game’s universe and add new features that, according to the studio, will notably change the gameplay experience.

With ARK 2 already confirmed to be part of the Xbox Game Pass catalog from day one, the franchise strengthens its bond with Xbox and positions itself as one of the major survival launches that will mark the next generation.