Ark 2 Development Has Been Paused Because of Work on Ark: Survival Ascended

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Initially, Studio Wildcard unveiled their follow-up to Ark: Survival Evolved in 2020, but after multiple postponements, there has been little information shared about it since then. Recently, co-founders Jesse Rapczak and Jeremy Stieglitz gave an interview with PCGamesN to discuss the progress of the Vin Diesel-led sequel.

During the interview, Stieglitz disclosed that Studio Wildcard had created a sample, or demonstration slice, for “Ark 2”, which demonstrated how its multiple gameplay components would interconnect. Since then, the team has been focusing on “Ark: Survival Ascended“. As per Stieglitz, “we realized as a team that it would be quite challenging to carry that concept all the way to a fully-fledged game given our current level of expertise and the scale of our company.

Stieglitz shared that we temporarily paused development on a specific project about two years ago to focus on creating [Ark: Survival Ascended]. Since then, we’ve only made small progress on it. However, a part of our team has been dedicated to perfecting the combat mechanics for [Ark 2]. It’s quite challenging to design soulslike combat that works well in a multiplayer Player-versus-Player (PvP) setting. In fact, there are likely just a few games out there that have even tried this approach in an actual PvP environment.

As a passionate fan, I’ve been eagerly waiting for updates on “Ark 2”. Recently, Stieglitz shared some insights about the project. He mentioned that due to current circumstances, the studio can’t yet dive back into creating the vertical slice. However, he’s optimistic, stating that if we all keep our focus, it could take approximately 18 months for this vertical slice to transform into an Early Access game once the team is fully dedicated to it again. After they finish working on “Survival Ascended”, we might be able to get our hands on “Ark 2” within the next two years. Exciting times ahead!

As an enthusiast, I’m grappling with the challenge of striking a balance: on one hand, maximizing our resources to ensure we consistently earn enough to reach the end with Ark 2, but simultaneously allocating sufficient development resources to create Ark 2 concurrently. That’s the crux of the matter, as I see it.

Due to rapid technological advancements, Studio Wildcard often encounters challenges as innovative methods and equipment are continually developed. As a result, a game may be released that’s generally good, but might feel somewhat obsolete in certain aspects, much like Stieglitz observed.

Sometimes you encounter games that are quite good, but they seem outdated compared to current trends, as if they were developed several years ago. It’s like saying ‘if only this game had been released earlier, it could have been a massive success.’ You don’t want your game to be one of those.

During the interview, Stieglitz disclosed some fresh insights about the game. Among these, he mentioned that NPC adversaries, which were glimpsed in the trailer, would be part of the game. Although player-versus-player (PvP) remains a key aspect, he hinted at an increase in environmental perils, potentially resulting in more engaging gaming experiences.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my excitement about the prospect of non-player character (NPC) antagonists in Ark 2. This has been hinted at in the trailer and is part of our design plan for quite some time, serving as an opposing force within the game world. Stieglitz explained that this addition could significantly increase the danger level in the environment and offer a player-versus-player (PvP) like experience without actually fighting against other players.

The latest news regarding Ark 2 came in 2023, when the studio intended to release it during the Spring of 2025. Since then, there hasn’t been much information shared. In the interim, explore details about Ark 2’s upcoming launch on Game Pass. Additionally, delve into details about the Scorched Earth update from last year for Ark: Survival Ascended.

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2025-06-26 15:42