Ark 2 Developer Admits It Could Be Years Before It Releases On Xbox & Game Pass

We first heard all the way back in 2020 that Ark 2 would be coming to Xbox and Xbox Game Pass as a console launch exclusive, but unfortunately we've never had a concrete release date in the five years since that announcement.

Now, speaking to PCGamesN this week, Studio Wildcard co-founders Jesse Rapczak and Jeremy Stieglitz have advised that Ark 2 has essentially been pushed to the side while development has centred around Ark: Survival Ascended, and therefore it's going to take around 18 months of "hardcore" focus to build an early access version of Ark 2.

"[It would take] 18 months of hardcore team focus to [turn] that vertical slice into an early access game, when we get to put the vast majority of our team back on it."

There's a prediction in this interview that Ark 2 could be released "hopefully" within the next two years in an early access state, but Studio Wildcard is still trying to figure out how to ease its focus on Ark: Survival Ascended and pivot more heavily towards the new game - which sounds like something that isn't going to be figured out just yet.

Nevertheless, there is still a little bit of work being done on Ark 2 behind the scenes, and Ark: Survival Ascended is going from strength to strength, having released a massive free map on Xbox Game Pass last week.

But yeah, it's best not to go expecting Ark 2 anytime soon - don't be surprised if it's many years away yet!

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