Frontier Developments has announced that ‘Planet Zoo 2’ will launch this October, bringing the beloved zoo management sim back with a rather sizeable evolutionary leap, including fully aquatic species, flying birds, and a new conservation system which expands the game beyond the boundaries of your zoo.
Now, full disclosure before we go any further: I adored the original ‘Planet Zoo’. According to Steam, I have somehow clocked up 1,320.6 hours in Frontier’s first zoo sim, which is either a ringing endorsement of the game’s longevity or a worrying indictment of my ability to walk away from a half-finished flamingo habitat. Possibly both.
The sequel to 2019’s much-loved ‘Planet Zoo’ once again lets players build and manage zoos around the world, crafting habitats, caring for animals, keeping guests happy, and desperately trying not to lose three hours of their life perfecting the pathing around a meerkat enclosure. Only this time, the roster is getting a major upgrade, with aquariums and aviaries joining the mix for the first time.
Frontier is promising a “generational leap” in lifelike animal behaviours, with returning favourites such as the African Lion and Western Chimpanzee joined by new species including Hawksbill Turtles and the Toco Toucan. Players will be able to create fully customisable habitats, aquariums and aviaries, with animals interacting with their surroundings in more authentic ways.
The new trailer also gives a first look at one of the biggest additions to the sequel: Wildlife Reserves. These take the conservation side of the game further, allowing players to work on projects across the globe, revitalising large natural spaces and releasing animals back into the wild. It sounds like a smart expansion of the first game’s conservation themes, and a way to give players something meaningful to do beyond simply building increasingly elaborate snack kiosks next to the flamingos.
On the creative side, ‘Planet Zoo 2’ will include multiple globe-spanning biomes, four brand-new scenery themes, and five returning themes from the original game. Frontier is also promising improved building tools, including scaling, flexi-colour options, terrain and foliage brushes, and easier-to-use pathing systems. Anyone who spent half their time in the first game wrestling with paths can now cautiously exhale.
For those who would rather get going quickly, ready-to-place blueprints return, while players who enjoy the full construction sandbox can still build piece by piece. Alongside the creative tools, the sequel keeps the management layer intact, with day-to-day zoo operations, educational opportunities for guests, animal welfare, zoo ratings, and earning money to fund future expansion all still playing a key role.
Pre-orders are now open, with a Bonus Content Pack available at launch for those who pre-purchase. That pack includes the Toucan Eat Shop and Signage, three unique Animal Donation Bins, and a Tiger Photo Stand-In Wall.
There is also a Deluxe Upgrade Pack, which includes the bonus content plus six additional species: Golden Eagle, Golden Lion Tamarin, Great Hammerhead Shark, Axolotl, Blue and Gold Fusilier, and Longfin Batfish, along with exclusive animal signs to decorate your park.
‘Planet Zoo 2’ launches Tuesday, 13th October 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Find more info at planetzoogame.com.
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