Ark Lost Colony Trailer Drops & Signs of Ark 2 Remain!
The Ark Lost Colony trailer has officially dropped, and the Steam page is now live, coinciding with the release of Ark: The Animated Series Part 2. But that’s not all—there are strong indications that Ark 2 is still in the works, despite the lack of recent updates. Additionally, Wildcard surprised everyone by revealing Ark Aquatica a day earlier than expected, stirring speculation within the community.
Wildcard’s Recent Announcements
While Studio Wildcard was absent from GDC 2024, they made sure to keep the Ark community engaged with new trailers and teasers, marking the game’s 10-year anniversary (coming up in June). The Lost Colony DLC appears to incorporate gameplay mechanics initially planned for Ark 2, giving fans renewed hope that the sequel is still in development.
One of the most intriguing reveals is the presence of vampires in Ark! This feature was once considered for a Fear Evolved event, and speculation suggests these creatures may be the result of genetic experiments, possibly involving Element infusion. Lost Colony is currently scheduled for a November 2025 release, with pre-orders expected to open next month—although no pre-order bonuses have been announced yet.
Lost Colony’s Ark 2 Connections
The Steam description for Lost Colony hints at major Ark 2 gameplay mechanics making their way into the DLC. Features such as:
- Character ability trees
- Cursed-tier crafting system
- Advanced building mechanics
These were all originally part of Ark 2’s roadmap, leading many to believe that Lost Colony could be a testing ground for Ark 2 features before the full sequel launches.
Another significant element is the mention of a “war-torn battleground between Element-powered factions.” This suggests the inclusion of NPC factions, something that was a key feature in the original Ark 2 announcement but hasn’t been seen in previous Ark DLCs.
Wildcard’s Response to Ark Aquatica
A cryptic announcement about Ark Aquatica left the community puzzled. Wildcard clarified that Snail Games USA Colorado is behind this project and emphasized that Wildcard remains dedicated to Ark Survival Ascended and Ark 2.
This preemptive clarification suggests Wildcard anticipated a backlash if players assumed they were diverting resources from ASA and Ark 2 to a new title. However, the lack of official information from Snail Games fuels speculation. Some theories suggest that Ark Aquatica could be a Unreal Engine 5 upgrade of Atlas, given the lack of updates for that game in recent years.
The Future of Ark 2
Despite the community’s frustration with the lack of Ark 2 updates, Wildcard’s recent announcements hint that development is still ongoing. Lost Colony’s gameplay elements, the studio’s reaffirmation of Ark 2, and their strategic response to Ark Aquatica suggest they are still committed to the sequel.
On top of that, Wildcard’s Dollie mentioned that they have heard the community’s concerns about Unreal Engine 5.5 and promised more information in an upcoming Community Crunch. Whether this is good news or bad remains to be seen, but at least some communication is coming soon.
Ark: The Animated Series Update
A new trailer for Part 2 of Ark: The Animated Series has been released, featuring Russell Crowe prominently. While there is no confirmed release date, it is expected to launch in June 2025 in celebration of Ark’s 10th anniversary.
Looking Ahead
With Lost Colony bringing in Ark 2 mechanics, Wildcard doubling down on Ark’s future, and upcoming news on Unreal Engine 5.5, the Ark community has a lot to look forward to. Whether or not Ark 2 will see the light of day soon remains a mystery, but these recent reveals provide hope that the sequel is still on the horizon.