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

The highly anticipated dinosaur survival game, Ark 2, which had sparked concerns about potential delays or cancellation, has been reignited with the announcement of a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended. This expansion, named Ark: Lost Colony, marks the first original expansion pack for the Ark 1 remake and promises to bridge the narrative to the upcoming sequel.

The reveal trailer for Ark: Lost Colony, crafted by the renowned anime studio Mappa (known for hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man), features voiceover work by the acclaimed actress Michelle Yeoh, reprising her role as Mei Yin from Ark: The Animated Series. Studio Wildcard has confirmed that the expansion will include numerous cinema-grade anime story sequences, adding a unique visual flair to the game.

Here's the official description from Studio Wildcard:

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 that Ark: Lost Colony directly connects the storylines of Ark's Extinction and Genesis expansions, setting the stage for the events of Ark 2.

Ark 2, powered by Unreal Engine 5, is the sequel to the wildly successful Ark: Survival Evolved. Initially announced with a surprise cameo by Vin Diesel at The Game Awards 2020, the game was slated for a 2022 release but faced multiple delays. The latest delay pushed it to late 2024, planned as an Xbox Series X and S console exclusive, available day-one on Game Pass, and on PC via Steam and Windows. Despite assurances in December 2023 that the game was on track for a late 2024 release, the absence of an updated release window in the recent announcement has left fans eager for more information.

On a more concrete note, Ark: Lost Colony is set to launch pre-orders in June 2025, with immediate access to exclusive preview gameplay content for all purchasers. The full release is scheduled for November 2025, priced at $29.99 for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC. This expansion not only promises to enrich the Ark universe but also reassures fans that Ark 2 remains a priority for Studio Wildcard.