Michelle Yeoh Stars in Ark: Survival Ascended's Lost Colony, Teasing Ark 2

The highly anticipated dinosaur survival game, Ark 2, which had sparked concerns about potential delays or cancellation, is back in the spotlight following an exciting announcement from developer Studio Wildcard. The studio unveiled a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended called Ark: Lost Colony, which serves as a bridge to the sequel.

Ark: Lost Colony marks the first original expansion pack for the Ark 1 remake, Ark: Survival Ascended. The reveal trailer, showcased below, is a stunning production by the acclaimed anime studio Mappa, known for works like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man. Adding to the excitement, the trailer features voiceover by the renowned Michelle Yeoh, who reprises her role as Mei Yin from Ark: The Animated Series.

Studio Wildcard has promised that Ark: Lost Colony will include numerous cinema-grade anime story sequences crafted by Mappa. Here’s the official description:

In this new frozen world, players follow in the footsteps of legendary Ark survivor Mei Yin, on a soul-searching quest deep into the chilling heart of darkness to find answers to long-buried secrets of Ark’s past.

Ark: Lost Colony will present survivors with thrilling new challenges as they become the hunted in a vast occupied city, and gain access to powerful new kinds of character abilities, unique gear, building systems, and phenomenally exotic tames.

Will Survivors be able to face down the demons lurking in Arat Prime, and connect Ark's past and future?

Studio Wildcard emphasized in their press note that Ark: Lost Colony “directly connects” the storylines of Ark’s Extinction and Genesis expansions, paving the way for the events in Ark 2.

Ark 2, powered by Unreal Engine 5, is the sequel to the immensely popular Ark: Survival Evolved. Initially announced with a surprise appearance by Vin Diesel at The Game Awards 2020, the game was slated for a 2022 release. However, it faced multiple delays, first to 2023 and then to late 2024. It was set to be an Xbox Series X and S console exclusive, available day-one on Game Pass, and also on PC via Steam and Windows.

Despite Studio Wildcard's assurance in December 2023 that Ark 2 was on track for a late 2024 release, the game did not meet this timeline, leading to fan concerns. The recent announcement of Ark: Lost Colony in early 2025 reassures fans that Ark 2 is still in development, although no updated release window was provided.

For Ark: Lost Colony, more concrete details are available. Pre-orders will commence 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.