Ark 2 on Vacation Without Xbox

The long wait for Ark 2, the Xbox-exclusive survival sequel starring Vin Diesel, has left players stranded in limbo since its 2020 announcement.

The delay boils down to Unreal Engine 5 optimization and studio distractions. Shifting to a next-gen engine to handle souls-like combat and complex dinosaur AI proved highly challenging. Furthermore, developer Studio Wildcard paused to build Ark: Survival Ascended in 2023 a remake of the first game that served as an engine testing ground but pushed the sequel onto the back burner.

Is it still coming?

Yes, the game is officially active. Ark 2 remains a day-one Xbox Game Pass exclusive targeted for a late 2026 or early 2027 release window according to parent company Snail Games. Vin Diesel is still fully attached as both the lead character and an executive producer, meaning Xbox players will just have to endure the wait a little longer.