After creating less of a splash than it hoped for with Planet Coaster 2, Frontier Developments has returned to Planet Zoo. The sequel, Planet Zoo 2, launches on October 13th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, with the Standard Edition costing $49.99 and the Deluxe Edition at $64.99. Check out the mix of in-engine and PC beta footage below in its first trailer.
As the name indicates, Planet Zoo 2 involves running your own zoo. There’s a wide variety, from zebras and chimpanzees to alligators and tigers, including new additions like the Toco Toucan and Secretary Bird. They look better than ever thanks to “high-fidelity fur, feathers and scales” and “authentic breathing and sounds,” delivering a “generational leap” in graphics quality.
Of course, you need to take care of and raise them while meeting their various needs, but Planet Zoo 2 goes even further with the new Wildlife Reserves. These essentially start as conservation projects but expand into full-blown habitats worldwide, where you can release animals. It’s a long-term effort (made even more so by the longer years in-game), so you’ll need to deal with seasons and changing weather conditions.
With five returning and four new themes alongside modes like Career, Sandbox, Franchise, and the new Planet Hub for tracking your worldwide network of zoos from a single menu, Planet Zoo 2 promises a hefty amount of content. Stay tuned for more details and gameplay in the months to come.