Planet Zoo 2 First Look: Aquariums, Aviaries and Everything We Know
Everything You Need to Know
- By Pratik Pol
- October 12, 2026
Table of Content
Planet Zoo is one of the best zoo builders ever made, and fans have wanted more from it for years. Now Frontier is back with Planet Zoo 2. It adds the two things players have asked for since day one: animals that swim and animals that fly.
Launch day is close, so let’s look at what the game promises.
What Is Planet Zoo 2?
Planet Zoo 2 is a zoo building and management game from Frontier Developments, the studio behind Jurassic World Evolution. It launches on October 13, 2026, on PC (Steam and the Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, all on the same day.
That last part matters. The first game came to consoles much later, so console players do not have to wait this time. Frontier calls the sequel its most advanced zoo simulation game so far.
Planet Zoo 2 Aquariums: Freshwater and Saltwater
Aquariums are the biggest new feature. You can build both freshwater and saltwater habitats, and the confirmed animals include blacktip reef sharks, hawksbill turtles and ocean sunfish.
Frontier has also shared a few fun details. Your zookeepers need to wear wetsuits and pass through airlocks to work with these animals. That tells us the game is not just adding fish tanks. It wants water to feel like its own system.
Here is what should change when you build:
- Water volume. Aquatic habitats need enough water to suit the animals.
- Viewing angles. Guests need good spots to see the animals, so the layout matters more.
- Staff work. Wetsuits and airlocks suggest keepers have new jobs and new rules.
This could change how you design a whole zoo. The open question is how deep the systems go once you start playing.
Planet Zoo 2 Aviaries: Walk-Through Bird Habitats
Birds are the other big addition. Guests can walk through aviaries, and the confirmed flying animals include the keel-billed toucan and the secretarybird.
Flying animals need vertical space, which the old building tools were never made for. A walk-through aviary also means guests can get close to the animals, which should make these habitats a highlight of any zoo.
Wildlife Reserves and Conservation
Conservation was always part of Planet Zoo, but mostly as a number on a screen. In Planet Zoo 2 it becomes a real goal. You can take on global conservation projects, and when you meet the requirements, you can release your animals into large Wildlife Reserves.
These reserves are customisable, and Frontier says they form living ecosystems that you help create. A new dashboard called the Planet Hub tracks your performance, research and conservation work across a worldwide network of zoos
In simple words, the reserves look like the new endgame. Instead of only making your zoo bigger, you also work toward returning animals to the wild.
Building and Management Tools
The building tools are the reason many people stayed in the first game for hundreds of hours, and they are returning. Here is what we know:
- Two ways to build. Use ready-to-place blueprints for speed, or build piece by piece when you want full control.
- More scenery. There are four new scenery themes with famous architecture from around the world, plus five themes from the original game.
- Frontier Workshop. It returns, and player-made blueprints will work across platforms.
- Managing people and animals. You will deal with staff morale and training, and you must balance guest happiness with animal welfare.
Frontier also says animal behaviour, animation and simulation have taken a big step forward. That is a bold promise, and we will need real play time to judge it.
What We Still Do Not Know
The announcements are exciting, but some questions are still open:
- How deep are the new systems? We know aquariums and aviaries exist, but not how much work they really are to manage.
- How will large zoos run? Many fans of the first game wanted better performance in very big zoos.
- What is the full animal list? Only some animals have been confirmed so far.
We will have much better answers once players and reviewers get their hands on the finished game.
Planet Zoo 2 vs Planet Zoo: Is It Worth It? Our Early Take
On paper, it looks like a strong sequel.
Aquariums, aviaries and Wildlife Reserves are not small extras. They add new kinds of habitats and a new long-term goal. Add the return of the building tools and the Workshop, and this looks like more than a coat of paint.
Here is who might want it:
- Likely a good fit if you always wanted fish and birds in your zoo.
- Likely a good fit if you love conservation themes and long-term goals.
- Likely a good fit if you play on console and want the sequel at launch.
- Think twice if you are happy with the first game and its DLC. You may want to see more before you buy again.
- Consider waiting for reviews if you want to be sure about performance and bugs. Big sim launches often need patches.
We are not giving a score yet, because that needs real play time. We will update this article when reviews and patch notes arrive.
