Frontier Developments officially announced Planet Zoo 2 on May 28, 2026, setting an October 13, 2026 release date across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S simultaneously. The sequel to the critically acclaimed 2019 zoo management simulation delivers two features the franchise has never offered before: fully buildable aquariums for aquatic animals and customizable aviaries for flying species. Pre-orders opened the same day across all platforms.
For fans who have spent years requesting sharks, turtles, and birds in flight, the wait ends this fall. Planet Zoo 2 is Frontier's answer to the most persistent items on the community wishlist — and it arrives with a same-day console launch, meaning players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S will no longer need to wait for a separate port as they did with the original game.
Aquariums Introduce Fully Aquatic Species for First Time in Series
The most significant new feature is the aquarium system, which Frontier describes as fully customizable habitats rather than pre-built tanks dropped into an environment. Players will be able to design freshwater and saltwater enclosures, add glass viewing panels and underwater observation areas, and choose from a confirmed aquatic species lineup that includes Black-tipped Reef Sharks, Hawksbill Turtles, and shoals of colorful fish. Zookeepers in the game will don wetsuits and pass through airlocks to tend to aquatic animals — a level of simulation detail consistent with what made the original game's land-animal mechanics so distinctive.
Aviaries Let Flying Animals Roam Custom Enclosures
Aviary construction works through a system of support poles and dynamic mesh covers, letting players define the shape and scale of each enclosure rather than selecting from preset templates. Confirmed flying species include the Toco Toucan and Secretary Bird. Where habitat conditions are appropriate, zoo guests will be able to walk directly through an aviary — a feature that adds the kind of immersive guest experience that was technically out of reach in the original game.
What Does Planet Zoo 2 Add Beyond the Original?
Wildlife conservation in Planet Zoo 2 extends beyond the zoo's perimeter for the first time. Players who meet specific conservation requirements will be able to release animals into fully customizable Wildlife Reserves around the world, restoring natural habitats as a long-term game objective. The feature gives players a meaningful goal that connects zoo management to real-world ecological themes — something the original encouraged thematically but did not offer as a direct gameplay mechanic.
Frontier is also promising a significant visual upgrade. The studio describes the sequel as representing a generational leap forward in animation and animal behavior, with high-fidelity rendering of fur, feathers, and scales alongside improved animal AI designed to make individual creatures feel more behaviorally distinct. Four new scenery themes covering iconic world architecture join five returning themes from the original game, giving players an expanded library of building options.
Planet Zoo 2 supports four game modes: a Career mode that sends players on a globe-spanning story with the Fauna and Ecosystems Network conservation organization, a Franchise mode for building a global connected zoo network, a Challenge mode for testing management skills, and a Sandbox mode for unrestricted creative building.
How Much Does Planet Zoo 2 Cost?
Planet Zoo 2 will be available in two editions at launch. The Standard Edition is priced at $49.99 / £39.99 / €49.99 and includes the base game. The Deluxe Edition is priced at $64.99 / £54.99 / €49.99 and includes a Deluxe Upgrade Pack with six additional animal species — the Golden Eagle, Golden Lion Tamarin, Great Hammerhead Shark, Axolotl, Blue and Gold Fusilier, and Longfin Batfish — plus a set of exclusive decorative animal signs.
Players who pre-order either edition will receive a Bonus Content Pack that adds a Toucan Eat shop and signage, three unique animal donation bins, and a Tiger photo stand-in wall. Both editions are available for pre-order now on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The Frontier Workshop, the community creation hub that accumulated years of user-generated content for the original game, will also return in the sequel, with cross-platform blueprint sharing supported.
Planet Zoo 2 at Summer Game Fest: What's Coming June 6 and 7
More detail on Planet Zoo 2 is scheduled to arrive before the October launch. Frontier confirmed the game will appear at the Wholesome Direct on June 6 at 12 p.m. ET and the PC Gaming Show on June 7 at 3 p.m. ET, both part of the Summer Game Fest 2026 season.
Planet Zoo Built Seven Years of Community Content Before This Sequel
Planet Zoo launched on PC on November 5, 2019, and went on to receive more than 20 downloadable content packs over its seven-year lifespan. The game sold over one million copies within its first six months, earned strong critical reviews for its depth of animal simulation and habitat construction tools, and expanded to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S as a Console Edition in March 2024. Critics praised its realistic animal portrayals and conservation-themed design; the game was also noted for the complexity of its management mechanics, which some players found steep.
Planet Zoo 2 is Frontier's bid to build on that foundation with features the original's technical constraints did not allow — flying and aquatic animals chief among them — while bringing those tools to console players from day one rather than as a delayed port.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Planet Zoo 2 come out?
Planet Zoo 2 is scheduled to launch on October 13, 2026, on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. All platforms share the same release date.
What is new in Planet Zoo 2?
Planet Zoo 2 introduces aquariums and aviaries for the first time in the series, allowing players to house fully aquatic species such as Black-tipped Reef Sharks and flying birds such as the Toco Toucan. It also adds Wildlife Reserves — global conservation habitats where players can release animals — and brings a visual overhaul with high-fidelity fur, feathers, and scales alongside improved animal behavior.
Is Planet Zoo 2 on PS5 and Xbox?
Yes. Unlike the original Planet Zoo, which launched on PC in 2019 and did not reach PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S until March 2024, Planet Zoo 2 will be available on all three platforms simultaneously on October 13, 2026.
What editions of Planet Zoo 2 are available?
Planet Zoo 2 launches in a Standard Edition ($49.99 / £39.99 / €49.99) and a Deluxe Edition ($64.99 / £54.99 / €49.99). The Deluxe Edition adds six animal species — including the Golden Eagle, Great Hammerhead Shark, and Axolotl — plus exclusive animal signs through its Deluxe Upgrade Pack. Pre-ordering either edition also includes a Bonus Content Pack with a Toucan Eat shop, donation bins, and a Tiger photo stand-in wall.
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