In addition to lending his voice and motion-capture performance, it has been confirmed that actor Vin Diesel is actively working on the development of ARK 2. The game is the sequel to ARK: Survival Evolved, a recently announced title expected to launch at some point in 2022.

Studio Wildcard's first graphics card-punishing dinosaur survival game has evolved over the years. Launching in Early Access in 2015, the game didn't see a full launch until two years later. However since then the game has flourished with a series of popular DLC, the latest of which sees a Doctor Who actor join the ARK cast.

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Gamers got their first look at The Fast and the Furious star's involvement via ARK 2's trailer at The Game Awards 2020. Playing a new character named Santiago, the group leader defends his people with a dino-sized distraction that enables a quick escape to safety. While Diesel's inclusion in the game may have been unexpected, even more surprising is the extent of his involvement. According to PC Gamer, Vin Diesel has joined Studio Wildcard as an executive producer on ARK 2, and is serving as an executive producer on the ARK animated series coming in 2022.

 

This dual role explains Diesel's new title as Studio Wildcard's "President of Creative Convergence." However, this is not the actor's first time being featured in a video game. Diesel lent his voice to a pair of well-received Chronicles of Riddick games in the early 2000s, and reprised his role as Dominic Toretto in Fast and Furious: Crossroads earlier this year. However, the latter was panned, earning it a spot as one of the most disappointing games of 2020.

While there are some who may believe the actor's involvement is a marketing ploy, Studio Wildcard insists Diesel has an intimate understanding of ARK. The actor has allegedly logged thousands of hours into the first game, providing "direct feedback" to the game developers. For example, the official Twitter for ARK: Survival Evolved posted a bug with berries taming the Ferox that Diesel apparently pointed out. Given his newfound position, it'll be interesting to see what kind of effect the actor will have on the franchise's future.

The content planned for ARK: Survival Evolved in addition to its upcoming sequel and animated series show that Studio Wildcard is investing in its IP for the long run. However, an important last thing to note is the game won't be on PS5, as ARK 2 will be an Xbox exclusive.

ARK 2 is currently in development, expected to launch in 2022.

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Source: PC Gamer