Jurassic World Evolution 2 is promising to improve upon what was an already great game in several ways, and from its larger maps to its expanded scope in terms of dinosaurs and modes (among other things) have got fans excited about what the game will have in store for players. But the real joy of Jurassic World Evolution, of course, is getting to see those majestic beasts out in the open, seeing them interact with the environment and with each other.
And that in particular is an area where Frontier Developments are looking to introduce some major improvements. For instance, speaking with Game Informer, game director Richard Newbold explained that one of the biggest factors that will affect the behaviour of dinosaurs and how different species interact with each other will be territory. When a new dino is hatched, it will explore the habitat it is released in to find an area that suits it comforts and needs, and will then claim that territory based on that.
“This system is dynamic,” Newbold explained. “It’s building up as the dinosaurs walk around this enclosure. As the Triceratops moves, it will move its territory in a new direction as the old territory it created long ago starts to decay. It’s walking toward things it needs – water, forest, and ground fiber.”
This, however, will also affect how different dinos interact with each other. “It’s not just about that, but also the territory of other dinosaurs in the area,” Newbold said. “Sometimes the species are complementary and they live together harmoniously; but other times the species will have conflicts. If there’s an overlap in their territories, there may be behaviors between those two dinosaurs. They’ll try to build their territory to their size. It’s a dynamic system that puts a realistic connection between dinosaurs.”
And dino behaviour has seen improvements in other areas as well. For instance, if the new flying dinosaur species get agitated in their habitats, they will try and break out of their enclosures and attempt to go after guests. Meanwhile, how dinosaurs fight each other has also seen improvements, with Newbold explaining: “Predators, when taking after their prey, will chase after them dynamically. There’s no stopping and starting. There’s improvements to the fighting system as well.” This also means that smaller species will form packs when taking on larger animals.
It certainly seems like there’s plenty here to look forward to for fans, and thankfully, we won’t have to wait too long to experience these improvements ourselves. Jurassic World Evolution 2 is out later this year for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.