Planet Zoo 2 Launches October 13 on PC, PS5 and Xbox From $49.99

Zoo builders tend to be patient people, and the wait for a proper follow up to the 2019 original is almost over. Frontier Developments has set Planet Zoo 2 for October 13, 2026, on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, which means it lands in less than a week.

The first game was a big step up for the genre, and the sequel is clearly not trying to reinvent it. It is trying to fill the two biggest gaps fans pointed at, which are water and sky.

What is actually new

The headline additions are aquariums and aviaries, both firsts for the series. Aquariums let you keep fully aquatic species such as Black-tipped Reef Sharks and Hawksbill Turtles, with customizable habitats and filtration systems to manage. Aviaries are built for flying birds like Toco Toucans and Secretary Birds, and guests can walk through them rather than just look from outside.

That sounds like a cosmetic change, but we think it is more than that. In a management sim, a new habitat type means a new set of problems: water quality, space, enrichment, and how guests move around. Frontier says animals can now interact with their environments more naturally, and calls the game "a generational leap" in animation and behavior over the original. We cannot judge that from a press description, and it is the claim we would most like to see in real gameplay before trusting it.

The other change is conservation work that reaches beyond your zoo walls. You can restore natural habitats and release animals into Wildlife Reserves. For players who treated the first game as a creative sandbox, this gives the long game a purpose besides ticking up a profit number.

Editions, prices and what to buy

The Standard Edition has a suggested retail price of $49.99, £39.99 or €49.99. The Deluxe Edition is $64.99, £54.99 or €64.99, and includes a Deluxe Upgrade Pack with six additional animal species and exclusive animal signs. Pre-orders also come with a Bonus Content Pack at launch, with themed shops, animal donation bins and a photo stand-in wall.

Our advice is simple. If you loved the first game, Standard is the sensible buy, because the new habitats and reserves are in the base game and the Deluxe extras are extra animals and decoration rather than new systems. Pick Deluxe only if you know you will want every species on day one. If you never played the original, there is no need to go back first, since this is a standalone game that explains itself.

Frontier's announcement does not mention Game Pass or PlayStation Plus, so for now assume you are paying full price. Nor did we find system requirements in the material we checked, so PC players should wait for the official Steam or Epic page before buying.

Our take

We like the direction. Aquariums and aviaries are exactly what fans asked for, and a lower launch price than many $60 releases makes this an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys building things and watching them run. The risk is the usual one for sequels in this genre: a strong first version of a familiar game can feel thin next to a mature predecessor with years of updates. If Planet Zoo 2 ships with enough species and polish, it should be the new default for zoo fans. If it feels light, it is a game to pick up after a few patches.

Either way, you will not have long to wait. Official trailer below, and the game is out on October 13.

Video: Planet Zoo 2 on YouTube