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

The much-anticipated dinosaur survival game, Ark 2, has reignited excitement among fans after developer Studio Wildcard unveiled a new expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended that sets the stage for the sequel. This expansion, named Ark: Lost Colony, is the first original expansion pack for the Ark 1 remake and promises to be a thrilling addition to the franchise.

The reveal trailer for Ark: Lost Colony is a visual spectacle, produced by the renowned anime studio Mappa, known for hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, and Chainsaw Man. The trailer features voiceover work by Michelle Yeoh, who reprises her role as Mei Yin from Ark: The Animated Series. Studio Wildcard has assured fans that the expansion will include numerous cinema-grade anime story sequences crafted by Mappa.

According to the official blurb, Ark: Lost Colony transports players to a new frozen world where they follow the legendary Ark survivor Mei Yin on a soul-searching journey into the chilling heart of darkness. The expansion promises thrilling new challenges as players navigate a vast occupied city as the hunted, gain access to powerful new character abilities, unique gear, innovative building systems, and exotic tames. The narrative aims to unearth long-buried secrets of Ark's past and connect the dots between Ark's Extinction and Genesis expansions, leading directly into the events of Ark 2.

Ark 2, powered by Unreal Engine 5, is the highly anticipated 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, pushing its launch 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. Despite Studio Wildcard's assurances in December 2023 that Ark 2 was on track for a late 2024 release, the game missed that window, causing concern among fans. However, the announcement of Ark: Lost Colony in March 2025 reassures fans that Ark 2 is still in development, though no updated release window was provided.

For Ark: Lost Colony, pre-orders will begin in June 2025, offering immediate access to exclusive preview gameplay content. The full release is scheduled for November 2025, with the expansion priced at $29.99 for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC. This new expansion not only bridges the narrative gap between Ark: Survival Ascended and Ark 2 but also promises to deliver a rich, immersive experience for players eager to dive deeper into the Ark universe.