Frontier Developments has shared the first major deep dive into Planet Zoo 2, releasing its first “Feature Focus” video that highlights the highly anticipated sequel’s advanced animal welfare mechanics and dynamic behaviours, as well as the West African Lions.
The premier episode, titled “Awe-inspiring Animals”, spotlights a pair of West African Lions named Zuri and Tao to showcase how individual animals will interact with their environments and caretakers.
The core of the showcase centers on Planet Zoo 2’s overhauled emotion system. Unlike the static stat trackers of the past, animals in the sequel will display visible behavioural shifts based directly on their mood, which is dictated by the quality of their habitat and overall care.
According to Frontier, keeper management will have immediate, visible consequences:
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Poor Welfare: Neglecting basic needs – such as failing to provide adequate enrichment, fresh food, or clean drinking water will result in animals becoming noticeably lethargic and unhappy.
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Optimal Welfare: High-quality care allows animals to thrive, unlocking a much wider, more vibrant range of natural behaviours and social interactions.
Planet Zoo 2 will be available on Xbox Series X|S for a suggested retail price of £39.99/$49.99/€49.99 for the Standard Edition, and £54.99/$64.99/€64.99 for the Deluxe Edition.