Planet Zoo 2 Officially Revealed with Aquariums, Aviaries, and a Global Conservation Mission

Frontier Developments has officially pulled back the curtain on Planet Zoo 2. Announced on May 28, 2026, the sequel to the acclaimed zoo management simulator is set to launch on October 13, 2026, bringing long-requested features like customizable aquariums and walk-through aviaries to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S simultaneously .

This is a significant departure from the original Planet Zoo's staggered release. The first game launched exclusively on PC in 2019, with console ports not arriving until 2024 . This time, the studio is delivering a day-one, cross-platform experience.

Aquariums and Aviaries: The Long-Awaited Additions

The headline features for Planet Zoo 2 are its aquariums and aviaries. While previous games limited players to terrestrial and semi-aquatic animals, the sequel introduces fully aquatic and flying species for the first time .

Frontier has emphasized that these are not simple pre-built exhibits. Aquariums are fully customizable habitats, meaning players will control their size, shape, location, and internal scenery. They will also need to manage practical zoo-keeping elements, such as maintaining aquarium filtration systems . Aviaries are similarly robust, offering the ability to create walk-through habitats where guests can be immersed among the birds .

The integration of this feature is a generational leap for the simulation, allowing for underwater viewing galleries and free-flying bird exhibits that fundamentally change how a zoo can be designed .

Expanding the Zoo: The New Wildlife Reserves System

The sequel also significantly expands its conservation gameplay with a new feature called Wildlife Reserves. The system extends the player's responsibilities beyond the zoo's front gate to a global scale. Players will lead restoration projects in degraded natural habitats around the world, eventually releasing their animals back into these revived ecosystems .

This feature builds on the conservation theme that was central to the first Planet Zoo, framing it as a deeper, more hands-on campaign system that connects the zoo directly to the wild .

Pricing, Editions, and Pre-Order Bonuses

Planet Zoo 2 is available in two digital editions. The Standard Edition is priced at $49.99 (£39.99/€49.99) . A Deluxe Edition is available for $64.99 (£54.99/€64.99), which includes the Deluxe Upgrade Pack .

That upgrade pack adds six specific animal species to the roster: the Golden Eagle, Golden Lion Tamarin, Great Hammerhead Shark, Axolotl, Blue and Gold Fusilier, and Longfin Batfish .

All digital pre-orders, regardless of edition, come with a Bonus Content Pack. This includes a Toucan Eat shop with matching signage, three unique animal donation bins, and a tiger photo stand-in wall for guests . Pre-orders went live alongside the announcement on May 28 .

The Road to Announcement: From Tease to Trailer

The official reveal on May 28 did not come out of nowhere. Frontier first confirmed that Planet Zoo 2 was in development during a Planet Zoo 6th Anniversary Celebration video on November 5, 2025. At that time, the developer only stated that a full reveal and a 2026 release window were coming, with no trailer or gameplay to show .

The May 28 announcement is therefore the official full reveal, delivering a launch date, a detailed feature set, and the first gameplay footage in the announcement trailer . While no specific live showcase events have been scheduled yet, the in-depth breakdowns from sources like the official Xbox news channel suggest that more detailed previews are on the horizon between now and the October launch .