Planet Zoo 2 opened its gates on October 13, and the first patch landed in under a day.
Frontier Developments’ sequel launched on October 13, 2026 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. This guide covers what time it unlocked in the US, how reviews and Steam players have reacted, what Update 1.0.4 fixed, the Standard and Deluxe prices, the official PC requirements and how to check your PC.
Updated October 22, 2026, after launch. Originally checked October 11 against the Steam page, Frontier’s help page, Gematsu and Forbes. Review and Steam figures change daily. We have not played the game, so nothing here is hands-on.
Planet Zoo 2 Release Date and Unlock Time
The game released on October 13, 2026 on PC (Steam and the Epic Games Store), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Frontier lists no plans for PS4, Xbox One, Switch or Mac. Before launch, Forbes reported that the PlayStation Store listed a 10 a.m. Eastern unlock (7 a.m. Pacific), and that Frontier had not confirmed one time for Steam, Epic or Xbox. We never found an official single time, so treat that as a PlayStation figure. Forbes also reported physical PS5 and Xbox copies for October 20.
On preload: Steam’s page said the game planned to unlock in about three days and did not mention a preload window. Some sites claimed a preload, which we could not verify. It has no bearing now that the game is out.
The takeaway: it is out on all three platforms, and the unlock time only matters if you are still checking a regional storefront.
Planet Zoo 2 Reviews and Steam Rating
A GameDaily roundup published October 15 reports a Metacritic score of 85 from 15 reviews, with the lowest at 60 from PC Gamer, and a Steam rating of Mostly Positive at roughly 70% (1,779 of 2,534 reviews). Players and some critics named crashes, animals clipping through each other, camera problems, delayed inputs, lost key bindings and objectives that could not be completed. Another outlet, Newsy Today, described Steam reviews as mixed in the first week, so the label may differ depending on when you look. Check Steam for the current figure.
Update 1.0.4: What the First Patch Fixed
Insider Gaming reported Update 1.0.4 on October 14, less than 24 hours after launch, across all platforms.
- Crashes: scenery groups, quickly entering and exiting the hub, and multiselecting blueprints.
- Franchise Mode: stability fixes, juvenile shoals tradeable again, wider starting trade volumes and corrected Community Challenge rewards.
- Career: save slot medal totals, scenario data resetting and the next scenario not unlocking after save-and-quit.
- Graphics and controls: FSR and DLSS apply when selected, and custom keybindings no longer reset when opening the Hub, Animal Trading or Animal Storage.
- Animals: changes aimed at habitat escapes, automatic boxing, climbing, enrichment interactions, breeding rates and temperature handling.
The developers listed animal traversal, animals not lining up with enrichments, erroneous escapes and feedback on the creative toolset as ongoing work. We have only read the patch through Insider Gaming, not Frontier’s own notes.
The takeaway: update before you play, and expect more patches.
Standard vs. Deluxe: Price and What You Get
On Steam the Standard Edition was $49.99 and the Deluxe Edition $64.99 when we checked before launch. The Deluxe Upgrade Pack adds six species (golden eagle, golden lion tamarin, great hammerhead shark, axolotl, blue and gold fusilier and longfin batfish) and exclusive animal signs, according to Gematsu. A pre-purchase bonus (Toucan Eat shop, donation bins and a tiger photo wall) applied to both editions, so check the store page to see whether it is still offered. Prices may have changed since.
Planet Zoo 2 System Requirements
These are the Steam page figures from before launch.
| Tier | OS | CPU | RAM | GPU | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) | Core i7-8700K or Ryzen 5 3600 | 16 GB | RTX 2060 (6 GB), RX 5600 XT (6 GB) or Arc A750 (8 GB) | 40 GB, SSD recommended |
| Recommended | Windows 11 | Core i7-10700K or Ryzen 7 5800X | 16 GB | RTX 3070 (8 GB), RX 6700 XT (12 GB) or Arc A770 (16 GB) | 40 GB, SSD required |
- Windows version: Steam lists Windows 10 or 11, but Frontier’s help page lists Windows 11, and Steam notes ongoing Windows 10 compatibility is not guaranteed.
- Performance target: Frontier says minimum specs run above 30 FPS on Medium and recommended specs at 30 FPS on High. Larger zoos need more CPU power.
- Anti-tamper: the Steam page lists Denuvo.
How to Check Your PC
- Windows version: press Windows + R, type
winverand press Enter. - GPU and VRAM: open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to Performance and select your GPU.
- RAM and drive type: the same Performance tab shows both.
- Free space: keep at least 40 GB plus room for saves and updates.
A Gamemeca headline mentions the game rejecting an RTX 5070 at launch. We did not open the full report, so we cannot say how widespread or whether it was fixed.
What the Game Adds
- Aquatic species in freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
- Flying birds in customizable aviaries.
- Wildlife Reserves with conservation goals and animal releases.
- Building tools: blueprints, scaling, flexi-color customization and updated pathing.
- Modes: Career, Franchise and Sandbox, plus the Frontier Workshop.
What Is Not Confirmed
- Single official unlock time. Only the PlayStation Store figure was reported.
- Current Steam score. It moves daily.
- Next patch date. Frontier has not given one in the sources we checked.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Playing unpatched. Make sure you are on 1.0.4 or later.
- Buying Deluxe by default. The extra is six animals and signs.
- Ignoring the SSD note. The recommended tier requires one.
- Trusting one FPS number. Large zoos stress your CPU.
FAQ
What time did Planet Zoo 2 come out?
October 13, 2026. The PlayStation Store reportedly listed 10 a.m. Eastern, and no single official time was confirmed for every platform.
Is Planet Zoo 2 good?
Metacritic showed 85 from 15 critics in one roundup, while Steam players were around 70% positive and reported bugs.
Is there a Planet Zoo 2 preload?
We could not verify one. Look for a download button on your store page.
How much is Planet Zoo 2?
$49.99 Standard and $64.99 Deluxe on Steam before launch.
Is Planet Zoo 2 on Switch or older consoles?
No. Frontier lists PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only.
Final Thoughts
Critics like the animals and the building tools, while Steam players are dealing with bugs that Frontier is patching quickly. If you are on the fence, waiting for another patch or two is a fair option. Playing something else this month? See our Enshrouded 1.0 launch guide.
Sources: Steam store page, Frontier help, GameDaily, Insider Gaming, Gematsu, Forbes, Gamemeca.
2 Comments