News and patch notes
Every official Planet Zoo 2 update in one place, newest first. From launch on October 13, 2026 we add each patch the day Frontier posts it; before launch, this is how the game was revealed: the dates, the features Frontier showed in detail and every weekly Zoopedia update with the animals it added.
Last updated Game version: Pre-launch (official Zoopedia, October 2026)
Dates
Planet Zoo 2 unlocks at 3 PM BST (14:00 UTC) on 13 October 2026.
Players who pre-purchased it on Steam can pre-load the game, planned from 3 PM BST on 12 October.
Planet Zoo 2 release time in your time zoneFrontier's post on Steam
Between June 30, 2026 and October 6, 2026, Frontier added animals to the online Zoopedia in 15 weekly updates, 111 animals in all. The full Planet Zoo 2 animal list has every species with its biome and habitat type.
Planet Zoo 2 has a Photo Mode for pictures of your zoo and animals. Frontier shared tips for better shots and a photography collaboration with WWF UK.
Zoopedia
The last weekly Zoopedia update before launch. Frontier said a few species were still to be revealed.
Zoopedia
Frontier began revealing the final 12 species for launch one at a time across its channels, so that the whole roster is known before launch day.
It also said Planet Zoo 2 will keep growing, with more species to come in future.
Zoopedia
The last feature article before launch: day-to-day zoo management, and the Planet Hub, a new screen for running all your zoos and Wildlife Reserves from one place.
what Planet Zoo 2 changes from Planet ZooFrontier's post on Steam
Zoopedia
Zoopedia
Planet Zoo 2 is rated Steam Deck Verified, so it is confirmed to run well on Valve's handheld PC.
Zoopedia
A video on Wildlife Reserves: natural areas you design, rewild and watch over, where animals from your zoo can be released.
how Planet Zoo 2 Wildlife Reserves workFrontier's post on Steam
Zoopedia
A video of Wildlife Reserves and the new Research Vehicle you drive around them, followed by a Sandbox gameplay stream on 28 August.
Zoopedia
How building works in Planet Zoo 2: the creative tools, themed scenery and Workshop blueprints, in a video and a feature article the next day.
Zoopedia
Birds that fly freely in roofed aviaries, how they nest and which other animals can share their space (a video on 6 August, the feature article on 14 August).
Zoopedia
Zoopedia
Fully aquatic animals for the first time in the series, and what running an aquarium involves (a video on 21 July, the feature article on 30 July).
Zoopedia
Zoopedia
The Zoopedia no longer lists the Spotted Eagle Ray named in this post. It does list an Ocellated Eagle Ray; Frontier has not said whether that is the same animal under a new name.
The first feature article: a new behaviour system in which animals react to what happens around them, and show how they feel.
Zoopedia
Zoopedia
Zoopedia
Zoopedia
Frontier put the Zoopedia on the Planet Zoo 2 website with the animals shown so far, and began adding more every week.
what the official Zoopedia tells youFrontier's post on Steam
The first gameplay trailer, shown at the PC Gaming Show: building and running zoos, Wildlife Reserves, and the new fully aquatic animals and flying birds.
Dates
Frontier announced Planet Zoo 2 for 13 October 2026, with flying birds, fully aquatic animals and Wildlife Reserves as the headline additions.
A Deluxe Edition adds six more species and exclusive animal signs.
Planet Zoo 2 release date, price and platformsFrontier's post on Steam
Frontier posts them in the Planet Zoo 2 news on Steam and on the official website. We add each one to this page the same day, in our own words and with a link to Frontier's post. There were none before launch; the game comes out on October 13, 2026.
Frontier has not announced any update or add-on for after launch yet. In its final reveals post it said Planet Zoo 2 will keep growing, with more species and corners of the world to come. (Checked October 12, 2026.)
Yes. Frontier announced on September 14, 2026 that Planet Zoo 2 is Steam Deck Verified.
Yes. Frontier revealed Photo Mode on October 7, 2026, with tips for better pictures and a photography collaboration with WWF UK.
Frontier opened the online Zoopedia on June 23, 2026 and added animals in 15 weekly updates up to October 6, 2026, 111 animals in all. From October 2, 2026 it revealed the last 12 species one at a time, so the whole roster is known before launch.
Checked against the official pages on October 12, 2026. Before launch, everything here comes from Frontier's own Zoopedia and announcements, which Frontier says may still change; we update the page once the game is out and details can be checked in play.