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

The much-anticipated dinosaur survival game, Ark 2, which had sparked concerns about potential delays or cancellation, is back in the spotlight. Developer Studio Wildcard has announced a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended, the remake of the original Ark, titled Ark: Lost Colony. This expansion not only breathes new life into the franchise but also sets the stage for the upcoming sequel.

Ark: Lost Colony marks the first original expansion pack for Ark: Survival Ascended. The reveal trailer, crafted by the renowned anime studio Mappa, known for hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man, features voiceover work by 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 produced 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?

According to Studio Wildcard's press note, Ark: Lost Colony "directly connects" the storylines of Ark’s Extinction and Genesis expansions, paving the way for the events of Ark 2.

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

As recently as December 2023, Studio Wildcard maintained that Ark 2 was on track for a late 2024 release. However, that timeline did not materialize, causing concern among fans. The announcement of Ark: Lost Colony in March 2025 reassures fans that Ark 2 is still in development, though no new release window was provided.

More concrete details are available for Ark: Lost Colony. Pre-orders will begin in June 2025, with immediate access to exclusive preview gameplay content. The full release is scheduled for November 2025, priced at $29.99 for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC.