Studio Wildcard is betting its future on ARK 2, the highly-anticipated sequel to the open-world survival hit ARK: Survival Evolved. Facing immense pressure to deliver a polished and technically sound experience,the developers have openly admitted the project is a critical turning point for the company-a failure to launch could mean its end. To mitigate risk, growth has been restarted utilizing Unreal engine 5.7, and a phased release strategy prioritizing expansions for ARK: Survival Ascended will serve as a vital testing ground before the 2028 launch.
The stakes are incredibly high in the current video game industry, where missteps can be fatal. Studio Wildcard recognizes this reality and considers ARK 2 to be a pivotal project – a “do or die” moment for the company. As a result, the highly anticipated open-world survival game will launch eight years after its initial announcement.
ARK 2 is an All-or-Nothing Proposition
Studio Wildcard recently confirmed that ARK 2 is slated for release in 2028, but the team is prioritizing the release of expansions for ARK: Survival Ascended in the interim. This strategy will allow the studio to refine the sequel’s launch and ensure a polished experience for players. The continued popularity of survival games demonstrates the demand for immersive, challenging experiences, and ARK 2 aims to capitalize on this trend.
In a recent interview with Wccftech, the studio admitted that releasing a game that doesn’t meet technical expectations wouldn’t just be a mistake – it could mean “the end of the company.” To mitigate this risk, development has been restarted, built upon the latest versions of Unreal Engine, specifically 5.7. This isn’t simply an engine upgrade; it represents a complete restructuring of the project.
The team has revealed that a significant amount of previous work has been discarded to achieve a technical ceiling only Unreal Engine 5.7 can enable. The goal is to make the sequel, starring Vin Diesel, a definitive generational leap for the franchise, completely redesigning dinosaur physics, combat, and interaction within a denser, more reactive world. The 2028 release date wasn’t chosen arbitrarily; it’s a safety measure designed to prevent any last-minute collapses.
Studio Wildcard co-founder Jeremy Stieglitz explained that it’s “much safer to learn in phases” than to launch an independent product blindly. To that end, they’ve designed a technical testing strategy, utilizing the Legacy of Santiago expansion in 2027 as a testbed for ARK 2’s mechanics. This approach allows them to gather feedback from millions of players on a well-established game, rather than risking a failed launch that could damage the franchise’s reputation and jeopardize the company’s future. This decision aims to build a solid foundation for ARK 2.
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