Autumn 2024 DLC Speculation

[NachoB]

Makes sense to jump to Autumn/Fall since we're probably not getting a summer pack (though it's still summer until the 21st?/22nd? of September).

If it's not a Latin America-New World/Americas type of pack or a zookeepers finale pack, I'm probably going to be disappointed since it's very very possible this is the final pack. However:

We know for nearest-to-possible-certain that it won't be flying birds or aquariums. So no need to hope for this only to be let down.

Please no focus on Africa or Asia, unless it's a few animals each in a zookeeper's collection (Secretary Bird, Hamadrayas Baboon, Honey Badger, Markhor, Blackbuck, Cobra seem decent picks IMO). OTOH, Africa and Asia have had no animals this year, but neither has North America and South America has the Alpaca. But last year we got a lot from the Old World. Time to move over to the New World one last time.

We can hope and PraEy there will not be a focus on ungulates, more than 2 would be getting to bloat mark.

We want more primates and habitat birds, but realistically, it's probably very unlikely we'd get more than 2 of either, if even that much. New World Monkey, Baboon, Secretary Bird, Duck/Pelican

We can barely bear the fact that there is a bare minimum of bears from the Americas in the game, time to add at least one more.

So to summarize You are expecting something like:

Hamadryas baboon
Secretary bird
Honey badger
Blackbuck
Markhor
Howler/spider monkey
Great White/Brown pelican
Spectacled/ AB bear

And to get to 13 animals we complete with SA...

Patagonian mara
Rhea
Coati

Add the tree ro...

And cobra as exhibit l...

And done. You got a finales pack with 13 animals.

 

[jcp011c]

So to summarize You are expecting something like:

Hamadryas baboon
Secretary bird
Honey badger
Blackbuck
Markhor
Howler/spider monkey
Great White/Brown pelican
Spectacled/ AB bear

And to get to 13 animals we complete with SA...

Patagonian mara
Rhea
Coati

Add the tree ro...

And cobra as exhibit l...

And done. You got a finales pack with 13 animals.

Essentially yes. I'd gladly forgo the Honey Badger for another Latin American animal, but with that lineup being 3 Africa, 3 Asia, and 6 From the Americas combined and one from Oceania, it works. I still think it's very possible we'll get one bear in this pack and one as the Anniversary animal, but that's just wishful thinking, but I also don't think it's a ridiculously out there speculation. But yeah, this is probably something I could see us getting. wild card removal of the Tree Kangaroo to stick in some other popular animal like the Muskox or Walrus. .


ETA: of course i'd love more animals from Latin America, but as long as we got a Howler (or other NWP), Coati and the Spectacled Bear I'd be moderately happy. Mara and Rhea would be icing on the cake. Brazilian Porcupine is a pipe dream that ain't happening but there's a lovely mod for it when official content's done.

 

[synthetase]

So to summarize You are expecting something like:

Hamadryas baboon
Secretary bird
Honey badger
Blackbuck
Markhor
Howler/spider monkey
Great White/Brown pelican
Spectacled/ AB bear

And to get to 13 animals we complete with SA...

Patagonian mara
Rhea
Coati

Add the tree ro...

And cobra as exhibit l...

And done. You got a finales pack with 13 animals.

Here's a finale pack I would like that follows the meta wishlist closely enough...

Hamadryas Baboon
Grey-crowned Crane
Honey Badger
Blackbuck
Musk Ox
Black Howler Monkey
Great White Pelican
Spectacled Bear
Patagonian Mara
Greater Rhea
White-nosed Coati
Pallas' Cat
Panther Chameleon (E)

 

[IndianRhino19]

Makes sense to jump to Autumn/Fall since we're probably not getting a summer pack (though it's still summer until the 21st?/22nd? of September).

I would suggest that we wait until the last day of August and if the steamDB isn’t by then, we could switch over to this thread for good since a summer release is still possible.

 

[Spiderhawk]

I’m moving off of the summer speculation
I didn’t watch the stream and I’m not sure how seriously I should take people
I heard: from what people sow in the pc2 footage, suggesting that the hypothetical planet aquarium is possible or pz2 would be a major improvement.
Someone said there was a hint that the next dlc is definitely the last.
It seems like the new faces of frontier really don’t care about PZ or throwing us a bone.
A new planet game is happening.

Anyway.
I didn’t have much interest in pc, with what little I have seen with pc2 I am more interested.
My vision of planet aquarium coming to life makes me excited as I originally came up with the hypothetical name and game when I joined these forums and hope that it really separates its self from PZ.
I am annoyed that we still have nothing for PZ.

 

[AlexSea]

I think it's safe to assume that this DLC, especially considering Frontier has seemingly skipped the summer DLC entirely, will be the last one for the game. Regarding what it will be, it might be something similar to the last DLC for JWE2, something like a Zookeeper's Choice Animal Pack. I don't know when it will come out, Frontier broke the cycle, and considering that I have no interest in the Barnyard Animal Pack, I haven't bought any new DLCs since the Eurasia Animal Pack. Sure, it was only the one right before the Barnyard Animal Pack, but I've been waiting eight months for a DLC that I want to get. I'm tired, guys.

 

[RightWhale]

So to summarize You are expecting something like:

Hamadryas baboon
Secretary bird
Honey badger
Blackbuck
Markhor
Howler/spider monkey
Great White/Brown pelican
Spectacled/ AB bear

And to get to 13 animals we complete with SA...

Patagonian mara
Rhea
Coati

Add the tree ro...

And cobra as exhibit l...

And done. You got a finales pack with 13 animals.

I’m gonna do mine a bit differently, I’m assuming that we could get up to 16 animals. We normally get something like 26 animals in a year, and this year we have only got 7 so far. I think we will get 16 over something like 19-20, it just seems like a more realistic number for a final pack for me. I mean they can advertise it as a “double” of a regular animal pack.

Likewise, I think this is the final opportunity for some last minute roster fixes. Am I making this to be realistic? No. My thoughts are pretty much just to fill what people have been begging for in the roster, on top of providing some popular meta wishlist animals.

Zookeeper Collection Pack

1. Hamadryas baboon
2. Tree kangaroo
3. Black howler monkey
4. Peere David’s deer
5. Spectacled bear
6. White nosed coati
7. Patagonian Mara
8. Secretary bird
9. Great White Pelican
10. Greater Rhea
11. American flamingo
12. Golden pheasant
13. White faced whistling duck
14. Nile crocodile
15. Exhibit: King Cobra
16. Exhibit: Panther chameleon

7 mammals, 6 birds, 3 reptiles. Of the mammals we have two from Carnivora, two primates, a rodent, a marsupial, and an ungulate. Of the birds we have one bird of prey, one pelican, one new waterfowl, one new pheasant, a new flamingo, and a new ratite. We also finally get an African crocodile and arguably two of the most popular exhibit reptiles.

Besides popularity the reason I chose the American Flamingo is both due to popularity, and also with how easy it would be to implement. Though if someone wanted to say it should be a Chilean flamingo, or the roseate spoonbill I wouldn’t disagree. I choose the Peere David’s deer due to conservation and thinking Asia could use another deer, once again if someone said blackbuck I wouldn’t disagree. Spectacled bear was chosen over ABB due to popularity and SA needs a boost more. Likewise this pack would also:

1. Give South America a boost to the roster with 7 new animals.
2. Africa would get 5 animals.
3. Asia would get 3 animals.
4. Oceania, North America, and Europe would all get 1 animal.

 

[RightWhale]

I will say though, I still think there is a chance that the next dlc pays no attention to the meta wishlist or “what we asked for”. Remember a year ago one people brought up domestic/farm animals? Remember how that would constantly get shot down? Remember how barnyard shocked us so much the forums had a meltdown?

I’m genuinely open to anything, I don’t think it’s 100% likely to be a zoo keeper pack, I still think the door is open to anything. Coastal, rainforest, Latin America, it’s all still likely. Yes JWE2 ended with a “Zoo Keeper Pack” but it also had a carnivore pack we never got.

I think if we start allowing any form of new speculation will:

1. Keep conversations more fresh
2. Keep us prepared for anything no matter how “far out there” it seems

 

[AndyZoos]

I will say though, I still think there is a chance that the next dlc pays no attention to the meta wishlist or “what we asked for”. Remember a year ago one people brought up domestic/farm animals? Remember how that would constantly get shot down? Remember how barnyard shocked us so much the forums had a meltdown?

I’m genuinely open to anything, I don’t think it’s 100% likely to be a zoo keeper pack, I still think the door is open to anything. Coastal, rainforest, Latin America, it’s all still likely. Yes JWE2 ended with a “Zoo Keeper Pack” but it also had a carnivore pack we never got.

The key difference with the Barnyard pack, though, is that the pack content was driven by the update feature. When adding the "petting zoo" mechanic they pretty much had to slot in the barnyard animals. And, similarly, the additional farm/barnyard props were pretty necessary for the related theming.

We may be surprised by the specific name, pack roster, or whatever... But I really doubt they just throw the meta wishlist out the window at this point. If anything, I'm thinking they lean into it harder this time around. Frontier has consistently used it to drive pack rosters for 2+ years.

That said, if somebody can throw out a similar "Barnyard" scenario where a free feature update would drive pack content beyond the wishlist in a way that would feel like a final update feature and lend itself to a worthy final pack roster? I could be swayed. That's how I'm thinking about it: What feels like a good way to send the game off? And what would appeal to the most people? For me, that's why I'm leaning toward more general packs. The last PlanCo pack was super specific but the one before that was very general if I recall. This almost feels like the flip. I just think, whatever the last theme is, it's going to feel like a proper send-off.

Most of the specific themes tossed out there feel like it would run the risk of leaving a lot of people out. Some themes are actually "okay" despite that (Latin America and/or rainforest would add enough highly-requested critters that it would be excusable, IMHO; especially with strong update features) but others would just leave things so severely lacking that it would truly look like Frontier was asleep at the wheel (Coastal would force them to ignore the majority of the top 20 and would feel like a pretty big waste for me without adding a pretty unrealistic number of birds, TBH).

 

[RightWhale]

That said, if somebody can throw out a similar "Barnyard" scenario where a free feature update would drive pack content beyond the wishlist in a way that would feel like a final update feature and lend itself to a worthy final pack roster? I could be swayed. That's how I'm thinking about it: What feels like a good way to send the game off? And what would appeal to the most people? For me, that's why I'm leaning toward more general packs. The last PlanCo pack was super specific but the one before that was very general if I recall. This almost feels like the flip. I just think, whatever the last theme is, it's going to feel like a proper send-off.

Most of the specific themes tossed out there feel like it would run the risk of leaving a lot of people out. Some themes are actually "okay" despite that (Latin America and/or rainforest would add enough highly-requested critters that it would be excusable, IMHO; especially with strong update features) but others would just leave things so severely lacking that it would truly look like Frontier was asleep at the wheel (Coastal would force them to ignore the majority of the top 20 and would feel like a pretty big waste for me without adding a pretty unrealistic number of birds, TBH).

I’m getting to the point I think it’s likely possible that the final pack will be divisive, I just think it’s not likely to appeal to everyone equally at this point. Or the final pack is a “jack of all trades and master of none” where it doesn’t make everyone happy, but no one hates it either. A lot of people want aquatic animals, so I honestly can see a Coastal pack as it’s pretty heavily requested. Same with stuff like Latin America. Yes it’s “unfair” to people who have wanted more old world animals and they wouldn’t get them in the final pack. But that’s just as “unfair” as Latin America having cruddy representation to begin with.

But if we are gonna go the “Barnyard route” where the free update drives the feature, maybe we get a fix to climbing/ a “light aviary system”.

So the dlc would have what people have been asking for: birds and arboreal animals. Besides offering basic fixes to climbing, maybe it adds some enrichment items birds can “fly to”. Kind of like what we saw with the new hornbill mod?

 

[RightWhale]

I’m getting to the point I think it’s likely possible that the final pack will be divisive, I just think it’s not likely to appeal to everyone equally at this point. Or the final pack is a “jack of all trades and master of none” where it doesn’t make everyone happy, but no one hates it either. A lot of people want aquatic animals, so I honestly can see a Coastal pack as it’s pretty heavily requested. Same with stuff like Latin America. Yes it’s “unfair” to people who have wanted more old world animals and they wouldn’t get them in the final pack. But that’s just as “unfair” as Latin America having cruddy representation to begin with.

But if we are gonna go the “Barnyard route” where the free update drives the feature, maybe we get a fix to climbing/ a “light aviary system”.

So the dlc would have what people have been asking for: birds and arboreal animals. Besides offering basic fixes to climbing, maybe it adds some enrichment items birds can “fly to”. Kind of like what we saw with the new hornbill mod?

Also not to spam too much but I just thought if this: if it is something like a coastal dlc and it somehow contains a sea turtle and a manatee, I think it would be pretty clearly the big send off.

 

[AlexSea]

Also not to spam too much but I just thought if this: if it is something like a coastal dlc and it somehow contains a sea turtle and a manatee, I think it would be pretty clearly the big send off.

The manatee would have to be a fully aquatic species, and the chances of us getting a single fully aquatic animal and no others is very low. It would also be a bizarre decision on Frontier's part, considering semi-aquatic animals got their own DLC when they were introduced.

 

[RightWhale]

The manatee would have to be a fully aquatic species, and the chances of us getting a single fully aquatic animal and no others is very low. It would also be a bizarre decision on Frontier's part, considering semi-aquatic animals got their own DLC when they were introduced.

Very true that would be weird. But they also did that to Pteranodons in JWE1, then had a full system in JWE2. Manatees are popular enough they would be the animal to get special treatment, like how macaws are special enough to be the only WTE bird.

 

[CharlieXGaming]

A lot of people want aquatic animals, so I honestly can see a Coastal pack as it’s pretty heavily requested.

Its only requested because general players think it'll include fully aquatic animals which it wont.

Obviously frontier can't please the people that want free flying birds and aquatics, so that automatically should eliminate a coastal or aviary pack. Plus I'm pretty sure coastal would be a scenery pack and we know the next one is an animal pack.

I don't think the regional packs are impossible, especially South America but it just doesn't feel like a finale pack to me. The JWE2 last pack purpose was to give players their top requests, that being the Meg and Micoceratus. I would assume frontier would do the same with PZ, setting aside birds and aquatics, they can look at the meta wishlist to see what a fair chunk of the community wants, just like they did with the 2023 packs. If they want the community to be pleased (which I'm sure they do since we've waited 6 months) their best shot at giving us what we want is the meta wishlist, so I find it very unlikely that they don't take it into account.

 

[CharlieXGaming]

But they also did that to Pteranodons in JWE1, then had a full system in JWE2. Manatees are popular enough they would be the animal to get special treatment, like how macaws are special enough to be the only WTE bird.

But thats not really comparable. Pteranodons in the first JWE were on a loop, then got a full moving system in JWE2. For putting manatees in PZ1, they can't be on a loop, they would need to work like regular habitat animals. It works for the macaws because the WTE already basically is like the aviary from JWE. Put a bird in the WTE (a looped system), then in PZ2 make it like a habitat animal.

 

[RightWhale]

But thats not really comparable. Pteranodons in the first JWE were on a loop, then got a full moving system in JWE2. For putting manatees in PZ1, they can't be on a loop, they would need to work like regular habitat animals. It works for the macaws because the WTE already basically is like the aviary from JWE. Put a bird in the WTE (a looped system), then in PZ2 make it like a habitat animal.

Which only makes it weirder that the WTE system has seemingly been ditched.

 

[PlanetSoyJak]

I believe the last DLC is 13 animals, a scenery and animal pack into one to bring a new world/zoology scenery and 13 animals to the game.
If they did it that way. It would result in the big total of 200 animals. A site to see indeed!

 

[PlanetSoyJak]

Planet Zoo: Zoo Keeper Collection Pack

Roster:
Hamadryas Baboon [Headliner]
Black Howler Monkey/Geoffrey's Spider Monkey
Mastchie's Tree Kangaroo
South American Coatimundi
Markhor
Musk Ox
Great White Pelican
Greater Rhea
Scarlet Ibis/Roseate Spoonbill
Mandarin Duck
Pacific Walrus
King Cobra/Jackson's Chameleon [E]

Ice Platform [Play Enrichment] [King Penguin, Walrus, Gray Seal]
Tree Bed [Play Enrichment] [All Primates, Tree Kangaroo, All arboreal Species]

The problem with this pack is there's only 4 birds and 2 primates. I don't see them even doing 3 but I hope it comes to this outcome, most of the animals I choose only 2 I like Irl, but the community wants it as a whole, so I added them pretty much. All of the animals I chose are under 30 in SusieSkyz Meta Wishlist. This in my opinion is the most realistic outcome as I don't see even any more birds or primates then this. The 2 ungulates I choose are very liked as a whole. The Pacific Walrus brings a 3rd and very liked pinniped and the Tree Kangaroo, Hamadryas, Rhea and Coatimundi I dont need to explain.

 

[NachoB]

Planet Zoo: Zoo Keeper Collection Pack

Roster:
Hamadryas Baboon [Headliner]
Black Howler Monkey/Geoffrey's Spider Monkey
Mastchie's Tree Kangaroo
South American Coatimundi
Markhor
Musk Ox
Great White Pelican
Greater Rhea
Scarlet Ibis/Roseate Spoonbill
Mandarin Duck
Pacific Walrus
King Cobra/Jackson's Chameleon [E]

Ice Platform [Play Enrichment] [King Penguin, Walrus, Gray Seal]
Tree Bed [Play Enrichment] [All Primates, Tree Kangaroo, All arboreal Species]

The problem with this pack is there's only 4 birds and 2 primates. I don't see them even doing 3 but I hope it comes to this outcome, most of the animals I choose only 2 I like Irl, but the community wants it as a whole, so I added them pretty much. All of the animals I chose are under 30 in SusieSkyz Meta Wishlist. This in my opinion is the most realistic outcome as I don't see even any more birds or primates then this. The 2 ungulates I choose are very liked as a whole. The Pacific Walrus brings a 3rd and very liked pinniped and the Tree Kangaroo, Hamadryas, Rhea and Coatimundi I dont need to explain.

Hamadryas
Howler
Mara
Rhea
Pelican
Secretary
Musk ox/markhor
Blackbuck
Serval/Palla's cat
ABB/Spectacled bear
Coati
Walrus
Ex: cobra / Chameleons

There fixed.

Three birds (one clone, one pretty unique, one heavily modified rig) rest are Mammals, 2 clone ungulates, 2 clone carnivores (cat and bears that Frontier loves) plus another one with a modified rig, 1 NWM and and 1OWP (Baboon), 1 rodent, 1 pinniped.

2 arboreal, 2 Aquatic. All highly requested animals but not all top 10 meta wishlist.

Finally the most requested snake for exhibit boxes (Chameleons are also possible). We could get another habitat reptiles like a tortoise oe african crocs.

 

[Doran]

I think it is time to accept hamadryas baboon is the last primate first version of PZ will get.