Sometimes you just want to look at something beautiful. You might even want to build something beautiful. Planet Zoo 1 was for gamers who don’t always need first-person shooters, fighting games and sports titles. Perhaps you just want a break from those genres. In any case, the sequel, Planet Zoo 2’s release is coming next week. Here are the 10 things you should know about Planet Zoo 2. Let’s talk video games.

1. When Does Planet Zoo 2 Release?

Planet Zoo 2 launches digitally on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. Physical copies for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S follow a week later, on Oct. 20.

The PlayStation Store lists a 10 a.m. ET unlock. Frontier hasn’t confirmed one universal launch time for Steam, Epic and Xbox.

I remember a time when all the games dropped on Tuesdays. Somewhere along the line that changed. Planet Zoo is such a throwback kind of franchise, so it’s only right it would go back to an OG release day.

2. What Platforms Is Planet Zoo 2 On?

The sequel launches at the same time on PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The original Planet Zoo started on PC in 2019, and console players waited years for a port.

There are no announced PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch 2 versions.

This game feels like a great fit for Switch. However, because visuals are such a part of the package, I wonder if Switch 2 has the guns to run it as designed.

3. How Much Does Planet Zoo 2 Cost?

The Standard Edition costs $49.99, and the Deluxe Edition costs $64.99. Deluxe adds six species: the golden eagle, golden lion tamarin, great hammerhead shark, axolotl, blue and gold fusilier, and longfin batfish, plus exclusive animal signage.

Pre-orders of either edition include a Bonus Content Pack with a Toucan Eat shop, three animal donation bins and a tiger photo stand-in wall. Neither edition offers early access.

4. Can You Build Aquariums in Planet Zoo 2?

Fully aquatic species are playable for the first time in the series. Players build freshwater or saltwater aquariums for animals such as black-tipped reef sharks and hawksbill turtles.

Users who played the original wanted fully aquatic animals. PZ2 delivers.

5. Are There Flying Animals?

Birds such as the toco toucan and secretary bird can now fly. Players build customizable aviaries from barriers, support poles and mesh covers, and the Deluxe Edition’s golden eagle fits right into the new system.

6. What Are Wildlife Reserves?

Wildlife Reserves take conservation beyond the zoo. Players restore natural habitats and can release animals once they complete conservation projects.

Wildlife Reserves is one of the biggest new additions. Pushing on the sandbox feature, animals can be released in customizable reserves.

7. What’s New in the Building Tools?

Frontier added object scaling, flexi-color customization, new foliage and terrain brushes, and an updated pathing system. Ready-to-place blueprints sit alongside piece-by-piece construction, and the game ships with four new scenery themes and five returning from the original.

Customization tools have seen some quality-of-life improvements. Some of these enhancements aren’t necessarily back-of-the-box features, but if you’ve created anything in the original, you’ll appreciate the ease of use in PZ2.

8. What Game Modes Does Planet Zoo 2 Have?

Career Mode runs through the Fauna and Ecosystems Network, known as FEN. Franchise Mode lets players trade animals with others, and Sandbox Mode offers unlimited building.

I thought I was researching a sports game for a second. We have career, franchise and sandbox modes. That’s great.

9. Can You Share Creations Across Platforms?

The Frontier Workshop lets players download and subscribe to community blueprints and creations from other platforms. On Xbox, the game also supports Xbox Play Anywhere , so one purchase covers console and PC.

Sharing across platforms seems almost standard at this point. PZ2 will support it.

10. What Are the PC Requirements?

Planet Zoo 2 needs Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), 16 GB of RAM and 40 GB of storage, with an SSD recommended at minimum and required at the recommended spec. Frontier notes it can’t guarantee ongoing Windows 10 compatibility, since Microsoft has ended support.

The PC requirements for PZ2 are reasonable and they don’t shut many users out.

Planet Zoo 2 PC Requirements

Requirements per the Steam store page.

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