One step closer to birds for 2024

[Milurian]

Going off of this ..
I don't think it would make business sense to have a Planet Zoo 2 with all existing animals of Planet Zoo 1 thrown in as a base or initial DLC version without the hefty price tag.

However, if this possible Planet Zoo 2 had plenty that is new - say, flying birds - small aquariums, the ability to have multiple staff doors on habitats for those HUGE habitats we love to build but have problems with feeding and cleaning because of the one entry gate limitation improved graphics/animations etc and I am sure many other things that Planet Zoo 1 doesn't have, they could include the favourite mammals and insects from Planet Zoo 1 in the base game and then include the others over time in DLCs similar to PZ1.

Or thinking outside the box .. have Planet Zoo 1 items be compatible with Planet Zoo 2 so that the old DLCs will still have relevance in the new game. All dependant on how PZ2 would work.

In an ideal world it would have all the animals from planet zoo 1 plus more but that is very unrealistic because it will make the game really expensive to both frontier and the players it will also make dlc even harder to make.

Besides that another really good but I have no idea how feasible scenario is animal transfers so if you have planet zoo 1 and any of its dlc those animals are then compatible with planet zoo 2. This would keep old players and may even bring traffic to the old game but I have no idea if steam is capable of this.
This combined with an almost remake style where they essentially re release planet zoo 1 with a bunch of improvements, new mechanics and new animals to the base game alongside the same dlc would be the ideal scenario.
Existing players get to keep the dlc animals they payed for and are essentially just paying an upgrade price new players will have a multitude of dlc to buy straight away if they choose and frontier could continue to make more dlc focusing on animals that fit whatever new mechanics they added.

I know this scenario is almost impossible but its what I want because I dont want to lose any of the animals between games.

 

[Firestar97]

In an ideal world it would have all the animals from planet zoo 1 plus more but that is very unrealistic because it will make the game really expensive to both frontier and the players it will also make dlc even harder to make.

Besides that another really good but I have no idea how feasible scenario is animal transfers so if you have planet zoo 1 and any of its dlc those animals are then compatible with planet zoo 2. This would keep old players and may even bring traffic to the old game but I have no idea if steam is capable of this.
This combined with an almost remake style where they essentially re release planet zoo 1 with a bunch of improvements, new mechanics and new animals to the base game alongside the same dlc would be the ideal scenario.
Existing players get to keep the dlc animals they payed for and are essentially just paying an upgrade price new players will have a multitude of dlc to buy straight away if they choose and frontier could continue to make more dlc focusing on animals that fit whatever new mechanics they added.

I know this scenario is almost impossible but its what I want because I dont want to lose any of the animals between games.

Sounds awesome. Did a Game ever have a Feature like that?

 

[Xrystal]

Sounds awesome. Did a Game ever have a Feature like that?

I don't recall one myself but then I am not really an avid game follower.

In an ideal world it would have all the animals from planet zoo 1 plus more but that is very unrealistic because it will make the game really expensive to both frontier and the players it will also make dlc even harder to make.

Besides that another really good but I have no idea how feasible scenario is animal transfers so if you have planet zoo 1 and any of its dlc those animals are then compatible with planet zoo 2. This would keep old players and may even bring traffic to the old game but I have no idea if steam is capable of this.
This combined with an almost remake style where they essentially re release planet zoo 1 with a bunch of improvements, new mechanics and new animals to the base game alongside the same dlc would be the ideal scenario.
Existing players get to keep the dlc animals they payed for and are essentially just paying an upgrade price new players will have a multitude of dlc to buy straight away if they choose and frontier could continue to make more dlc focusing on animals that fit whatever new mechanics they added.

I know this scenario is almost impossible but its what I want because I dont want to lose any of the animals between games.

Yeah this is along the lines I meant. Apart from the Planet Zoo 1 remake idea, but I am sure I have seen a large number of complaints when developers do this, so I suspect it might not be one considered due to that potential backlash.


Looking at things as they are now and the player base.
1. Some people will be mad if they had recently bought PZ1 DLCs to find PZ2 is coming the following year or two. ( Nope, didn't happen to me at all - rofl )
2. Some people will be mad if they release a bare bones PZ2 game ( granted with extra functionality and visual extras ) and then have practically the same DLCs that have to be bought all over again. ( No this didn't happen to me in another game famous for doing this .. nope .. never crosses fingers behind back )

Repeating some of what's been said already, but what they could do to mitigate this somewhat
1. Having PZ2 be designed to have the PZ1 DLCs be compatible but have the PZ2 shaders etc handle the visual upgrade to the old school graphics ( where possible ).
2. And where not possible, bring out a DLC that literally just uses those new school skins for each of those animals which get applied when the old school DLC is added to the game. If you don't plan on getting old school animals - no need to get the upscale DLC and if you have already got them all ( nah, I haven't got them all .. nope hides steam Planet Zoo 1 DLC list ) an extra DLC to make them viable for a new and improved version of the game would be acceptable.
I am sure these are feasible changes - and Frontier - if you are reading this and considering a PZ2, consider some of these thoughts and concerns as well.

 

[Milurian]

Sounds awesome. Did a Game ever have a Feature like that?

The only game I can think that has done something similar is hitman 3 letting you port over content from the first 2 which you could also just buy for hitman 3.

 

[Firestar97]

what if they would make Remakes of the Planet Zoo DLCs as Day 1 DLCs for Planet Zoo 2 and you could get them for free if you already own the originals?
This might work

 

[Narwhaler]

Planet Zoo 2 is going to kill me, like I don't have that kind of money for frivolous spending lol

Something that really rubs me the wrong way about people saying pz2 is coming is that that basically means all the creations on the workshop and all the zoos people spent hours on are just gonna be for nothing, I am not sure if Frontier will willingly kill the workshop when people are still creating endlessly and there are thousands of creations. Besides, announcing PZ2 basically means cutting all revenue from PZ1 and its numerous DLCs, that is not very smart to do.

Anyways... Birds, yes. The swan is a huge step, this opens windows for pelicans and ducks and geese. So that's something for sure! I fully expect the secretary bird and the shoebill as well given their popularity and for the shoebill it is specially easy to do thanks to the crane. I have also noticed that the wings of the swan are translucent unlike those of the peafowl and the ostrich. They might be onto something?

 

[Firestar97]

Something that really rubs me the wrong way about people saying pz2 is coming is that that basically means all the creations on the workshop and all the zoos people spent hours on are just gonna be for nothing, I am not sure if Frontier will willingly kill the workshop when people are still creating endlessly and there are thousands of creations. Besides, announcing PZ2 basically means cutting all revenue from PZ1 and its numerous DLCs, that is not very smart to do.

Anyways... Birds, yes. The swan is a huge step, this opens windows for pelicans and ducks and geese. So that's something for sure! I fully expect the secretary bird and the shoebill as well given their popularity and for the shoebill it is specially easy to do thanks to the crane. I have also noticed that the wings of the swan are translucent unlike those of the peafowl and the ostrich. They might be onto something?

I'm pretty sure, usually when something like this happens, the Server will still stay online for at least a few Years. Also isn't the Workshop run by the Steam Servers anyways?

 

[Tinou97]

Something that really rubs me the wrong way about people saying pz2 is coming is that that basically means all the creations on the workshop and all the zoos people spent hours on are just gonna be for nothing, I am not sure if Frontier will willingly kill the workshop when people are still creating endlessly and there are thousands of creations. Besides, announcing PZ2 basically means cutting all revenue from PZ1 and its numerous DLCs, that is not very smart to do.

Anyways... Birds, yes. The swan is a huge step, this opens windows for pelicans and ducks and geese. So that's something for sure! I fully expect the secretary bird and the shoebill as well given their popularity and for the shoebill it is specially easy to do thanks to the crane. I have also noticed that the wings of the swan are translucent unlike those of the peafowl and the ostrich. They might be onto something?

What bothers me is people talking about a PZ2 game when in fact we know nothing about it. For me at this point it feels like players just want the original PZ to stop there... this is clearly not the way I feel. I don't want to talk about how a PZ2 would work and what we would have in the base game as long as we keep getting DLCs in PZ1. I'm not bored of the first game and I continue to hope (in a rational and moderate way) that we will get new DLCs with exciting stuff. I know people here love the game and want the best for it but I don't want the fanbase to give the impression that now is the time to turn this page and write a new chapter.
And yeah, also I don't want to have a new game if it doesn't include all the species we have in the actual one.

 

[Firestar97]

What bothers me is people talking about a PZ2 game when in fact we know nothing about it. For me at this point it feels like players just want the original PZ to stop there... this is clearly not the way I feel. I don't want to talk about how a PZ2 would work and what we would have in the base game as long as we keep getting DLCs in PZ1. I'm not bored of the first game and I continue to hope (in a rational and moderate way) that we will get new DLCs with exciting stuff. I know people here love the game and want the best for it but I don't want the fanbase to give the impression that now is the time to turn this page and write a new chapter.
And yeah, also I don't want to have a new game if it doesn't include all the species we have in the actual one.

At least it shows though that Interest would be there when Support stops

 

[FoxyDee]

What bothers me is people talking about a PZ2 game when in fact we know nothing about it. For me at this point it feels like players just want the original PZ to stop there... this is clearly not the way I feel. I don't want to talk about how a PZ2 would work and what we would have in the base game as long as we keep getting DLCs in PZ1. I'm not bored of the first game and I continue to hope (in a rational and moderate way) that we will get new DLCs with exciting stuff. I know people here love the game and want the best for it but I don't want the fanbase to give the impression that now is the time to turn this page and write a new chapter.
And yeah, also I don't want to have a new game if it doesn't include all the species we have in the actual one.

Thank god someone finally wrote this, I thought I was the only one.

Highly doubtful any serious development started on PZ2 when the current version is still being actively worked on. I do not think we will see PZ2 in at least 5 years ahead (IF ever), I do not want to bother with it at the moment.

 

[Xrystal]

Thank god someone finally wrote this, I though I was the only one.

Highly doubtful any serious development started on PZ2 when the current version is still being actively worked on. I do not think we will see PZ2 in at least 5 years ahead (IF ever), I do not want to bother with it at the moment.

I agree, I doubt it isn't being considered at the moment. My part in the earlier conversations was based more on if and when they do rather than oh my gosh .. they're stopping work on Planet Zoo 1 now .. type thing. The only thing I can think of that would make them consider it is when they start running out of animal spots for their own animals AND an update won't solve that problem. Or some other technical block stopping an addition they want to make that a new design from the ground up would resolve.

They have said that there are 2 Creative Management Simulations ( that they put Planet Zoo, Planet Coaster and the Jurassic World Evolution games into the group of ) coming in the next 2 years but no details as to what games they are. I am willing to wait to see what comes. Who knows, maybe they will be new games that I will want to play as much as I do Planet Zoo and not the 2nd versions of Coaster and Zoo as some people have been thinking ( which is understandable ).

From the FY23 Financial Results document in September. (https://otp.tools.investis.com/clie...regulatory-story.aspx?cid=1725&newsid=1714896)
These four game selection pillars (Strategic Selection, Player's Experience, Layered Complex Gameplay, Longevity of Project Support) align strongly with our most successful segment, which we call creative management simulation (CMS). We consider ourselves to be leaders in CMS games, as evidenced by our success with Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo, Jurassic World Evolution and Jurassic World Evolution 2. This is a market space where we know we can find opportunities to deliver genre-leading games, and we will continue to focus on this segment. We are in full development for a CMS game for release in FY25 and we have another CMS game scheduled for FY26.

 

[NZFanatic]

For me at this point it feels like players just want the original PZ to stop there

There are clearly features that haven't been included in PZ1 on purpose that have a good chance of showing up in a sequel. Flying birds. Aquariums. Covered habitats. More comprehensive exhibits/small animal enclosures. So on and so forth. It's not about people "wanting the original PZ to stop" (and saying otherwise is just plain disingenuous), it's about people more or less accepting that these long-requested features simply aren't going to happen with support ending probably right around the corner.

I don't want to talk about how a PZ2 would work and what we would have in the base game as long as we keep getting DLCs in PZ1.

Two things;
- You don't have to engage in PZ2 discussions if you don't want to.
- "As long as we keep getting DLCs in PZ1" is probably not that long anymore, as Xrystal quoted below from the FY23 financial report:

We are in full development for a CMS game for release in FY25

FY25 runs from May 2024 to May 2025 (or thereabouts). Both Coaster and Zoo were released in November, which creates a pattern. If this release plan is still on schedule, then theoretically we will have a new game being launched in November 2024, which means Planet Zoo will wrap up in 2024 as well.

The only saving grace is that we haven't heard anything about this FY25 game yet. I don't remember when Coaster or Zoo were announced prior to their release dates, but I'm pretty sure it was before now (relatively speaking). So it could be that the planned game has been delayed, or due to the myriad financial problems at Frontier there's been a reshuffle. Whatever the case, we know they have plans for new games within this franchise, so support (including DLC development) will cease, probably in the near future.

So what then? Keep in mind that discussion here typically dies when there isn't a new DLC on the close horizon. New content is the singular driving force of like 90% of chatter here. When there's no new content coming, there's nothing to talk about, except what might come much later.

And yeah, also I don't want to have a new game if it doesn't include all the species we have in the actual one.

That's just an incredibly unrealistic expectation considering no game developer does that sort of thing. IIRC JWE2 came close, but dinosaurs are a different kettle of fish compared to zoo animals.

Anyway, I've said it before and I'll say it again: I fully expect everyone saying "I won't buy PZ2 unless it has X, Y, Z!" to be first in line when it is eventually announced. It's not really an honest statement; it's just an emotional reaction to the idea that PZ1 is going to stop being supported.

 

[Colehunter35]

Something that really rubs me the wrong way about people saying pz2 is coming is that that basically means all the creations on the workshop and all the zoos people spent hours on are just gonna be for nothing, I am not sure if Frontier will willingly kill the workshop when people are still creating endlessly and there are thousands of creations. Besides, announcing PZ2 basically means cutting all revenue from PZ1 and its numerous DLCs, that is not very smart to do.

yeah, and like i'm not going to pay for a bunch of stuff i've already bought (with a few additions) for 50-60$

 

[Doran]

The only saving grace is that we haven't heard anything about this FY25 game yet. I don't remember when Coaster or Zoo were announced prior to their release dates, but I'm pretty sure it was before now (relatively speaking). So it could be that the planned game has been delayed, or due to the myriad financial problems at Frontier there's been a reshuffle. Whatever the case, we know they have plans for new games within this franchise, so support (including DLC development) will cease, probably in the near future.

Coaster and JWE were teased year ahead, whereas later games such as JWE2 and PZ only few months before release.
So trailer for this upcoming game should be in few months. I would say during one of the few summer gaming events or something like that.

 

[Northpin]

FY25 runs from May 2024 to May 2025 (or thereabouts). Both Coaster and Zoo were released in November, which creates a pattern. If this release plan is still on schedule, then theoretically we will have a new game being launched in November 2024, which means Planet Zoo will wrap up in 2024 as well.

The only saving grace is that we haven't heard anything about this FY25 game yet. I don't remember when Coaster or Zoo were announced prior to their release dates, but I'm pretty sure it was before now (relatively speaking). So it could be that the planned game has been delayed, or due to the myriad financial problems at Frontier there's been a reshuffle. Whatever the case, we know they have plans for new games within this franchise, so support (including DLC development) will cease, probably in the near future.

JWE2 was announced in June 2021 and launched in November 2021.
Plenty of time for them to announce what CMS game will release in next November (assuming they maintain the same release date pattern)
So i would expect the announcement for their new game(s) no early than Spring next year.

Edit, apparently PZ was announced in April 2019 and launched in November 2019