Planet Zoo 2 adds aquariums and aviaries this October

Frontier Developments is launching Planet Zoo 2 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on October 13. The sequel adds fully functional aquariums and aviaries to the management sim.

The original game came out in 2019 for PC and only recently made the jump to consoles in early 2024. Frontier is aligning the sequel's release across all current-generation platforms from day one. The standard edition costs $49.99. The developer showed off the first gameplay footage during today's PC Gaming Show.

Glass boxes for birds

The most obvious additions are the new habitat types. Players can build deep-sea aquariums and enclosed netted aviaries. These environments require specific maintenance routines. Keepers must actively scrub the inside of aquatic tanks to maintain cleanliness levels.

Habitat design now accounts for water flow and specialized vegetation. The new tools support species like hawksbill turtles and white-tailed sea eagles. The expanded terrain editor includes options specifically for carving out deep water basins and erecting massive vertical nets.

Frontier is running the sequel on a new version of its proprietary Cobra Engine. The lighting system has been completely overhauled. This improves shadows and occlusion across the park. The visual upgrades are most noticeable in the animal details. The engine renders individual feathers on a toco toucan and tracks how light refracts through the water in a coral reef tank. You can see the high-fidelity scales on a fish up close. Even the park visitors have received a geometry bump.

The rewilding pipeline

The management layer extends beyond building a commercial zoo. The game introduces the Fauna & Ecosystems Network (or FEN). FEN chairman Eric Ashford and operations manager Alys Jones guide the player through global conservation projects. They act as the narrative voice for the campaign mode.

The end goal of these projects is releasing captive-bred animals back into the wild. Players will prep environments like a Scottish Highlands wildlife reserve before releasing eagles.

This shifts the late-game focus away from simply maximizing ticket sales. You have to balance the commercial needs of the primary zoo with the ecological requirements of the off-site reserves. The UI overlays track terrain suitability, plant coverage, and drinking water access in real time. If a Masai giraffe does not have enough shade or fresh water, the system flags the habitat as unsuitable.

The confirmed animal roster is already growing. Alongside the eagles and turtles, Frontier has shown off the red deer, Masai giraffe, blackspotted puffer, great hornbill, Eurasian beaver, grey wolf, and Sumatran tiger.

Deluxe edition extras

Frontier is offering a Deluxe Edition with six extra species. The bonus roster includes the golden eagle, golden lion tamarin, axolotl, hammerhead shark, blue and gold puffer, and longfin catfish.

Pre-ordering any version unlocks a tiger photo wall and a toucan hat shop for park guests.

The piece-by-piece construction system returns with thousands of scenery objects and blueprints. The granular control over custom food courts and pathways remains intact.

The original game took five years to reach consoles. Putting the sequel on PlayStation and Xbox alongside the PC release means controller support is baked into the UI from the start. Console players won't have to wait half a decade to build a penguin enclosure this time around.