Spring 2024 DLC Speculation

Tbh considering just how wrong most of us were with our predictions for the Winter pack this year, I think the Spring pack could be pretty much anything. Latin/Central America? The Americas in general? Temperate/North America? Alpine? Considering that the Eurasia Animal Pack was pretty unexpected (even though some of the species were commonly predicted) I think at this point the Spring pack could be literally anything.
I'm of several minds about it, mostly because of the meta-wishlist. Aside from the wolverine, which pretty much half the other thread correctly guessed at the start would be coming, and the takin, the Eurasia DLC didn't touch on the meta wishlist very much (kind of surprising, since the muskox was higher than the takin and still fits into Eurasia pretty nicely, but I guess they didn't want two "goat-antelopes" in the same pack).

Looking at the wishlist now, the top animals are the secretarybird, coati, walrus, muskox, howler monkey, tree kangaroo, Hamadryas baboon, golden lion tamarin, shoebill, grey crowned crane, ocelot, markhor, and spectacled bear.

So, we just got a new bear. I doubt the spectacled bear will be in the next pack. But it's very difficult to arrange these into realistic packs without simply doing a warm/cold climate separation. I'm operating under the entirely reasonable assumption that we have, at most, two DLC left. The last one will likely be a little bigger. They won't be able to get all these animals in (I completely ommitted the manatee from the list because, come on, that's just silly to expect at this point). Not to mention, many of these animals have fairly unique bodyplans and modes of locomotion.

Secretarybird, baboon, shoebill, and crane fit together by common themes (savannah, Africa). Coati, howler monkey, tamarin, ocelot, and spectacled bear fit together (Central/South America). Walrus and muskox fit together (Arctic). If I had to guess, I would say that the very last pack will be a sort of...Pole to Pole deal. A global approach to cram in as many last minute animals as possible, probably touching on the first three DLC (Arctic, South America, Oceania) in order to get most of these animals in.
 
This is how I would love for the next few packs to go until the end of support and I feel like this would satisfy most of the community's needs. I put this in one of the other threads, but since everyone's putting their's here too, why not?

Coastal with Indigenous Scenery from the Pacific Northwest (March 2024)
  • Sea Otter
  • Pacific Walrus
  • Great White Pelican
  • Southern Rockhopper Penguin/Atlantic Puffin
  • Exhibit: touch pools or a crab or a walkthrough with wading birds (egrets, waders, sandpipers, etc)
Latin America Animal Pack (June 2024)
  • Spectacled Bear (Headliner)
  • Guanaco/Greater Rhea
  • Patagonian Mara
  • Howler Monkey (any species)
  • Spider Monkey (any species)/Southern Pudu (just because the rig might be a whole lot of work that Frontier can’t necessarily afford right now)
  • Squirrel Monkey (any species)
  • Golden Lion Tamarin
  • Amazonian Birds Mixed Walkthrough Exhibit (like the butterflies, 2 macaws, 1 toucans, 2 hummingbirds)
Community Favourites Animal Pack (12 animals as the final DLC with no exhibit) (September 2024)
  • Blackbuck
  • Hamadryas Baboon
  • Markhor
  • Pallas Cat
  • Short-Beaked Echidna
  • Muntjac/Mouse Deer
  • Gelada
  • Muskox
  • Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo
  • Ocelot
  • South American Coati
  • Secretary Bird
If no bird update or pack, then I'd hope the community favourites pack could have up to 16 animals, which would also include the Greater Rhea (allowing the Guanaco into the Latin America Pack), the Shoebill, the Mandarin Duck, and the Serval (none of which would require new rigs).

Anniversary Final Pack/Update (BIRDS) (Sixth Anniversary, November 2025) (With only Snowy Owl, Philippine Eagle, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl/Eurasian Eagle Owl, Golden Eagle and Harpy Eagle really needing to fly, all four eagles of which could share the same rig, along with the two owls, that would really only require three rigs, an eagle, an owl and a falcon, which I feel like would be doable. If the capercaillie is chosen instead, we wouldn't even need a falcon rig. The wading birds and water birds don't need a new rig and I'm assuming the walkthroughs are (RELATIVELY) easy to input, so I feel like this is all actually possible? Along with the Kakapo, Burrowing Owl/Greater Roadrunner, that'd be four to five new rigs, which I feel like is doable and I'd wait until the sixth anniversary for this, considering how many birds are being added and the cuts to the team, so they'd have adequate time to work slowly on this, while still supporting whatever new games are coming out (AS LONG AS we were communicated properly about this, aka we have a huge bird pack coming at the mid/end of next year but it's a giant pack so please be patient but it'll be worth the wait!)
  • Arctic Pack: Snowy Owl
  • South America Pack: Scarlet Ibis
  • Australia Pack: Laughing Kookaburra (Walkthrough) (possibly able to mix with the Australasian birds of the Tropical Pack)
  • Aquatic Pack: Black Swan/Any Heron/Marabou Stork
  • Southeast Asia Animal Pack: Philippine Eagle
  • Africa Pack: Shoebill
  • North America Animal Pack: Bald Eagle
  • Europe Pack: Capercaillie/Peregrine Falcon
  • Wetlands Animal Pack: Mandarin Duck
  • Conservation Pack: Kakapo
  • Twilight Pack: Barn Owl/Eurasian Eagle Owl
  • Grasslands Animal Pack: Burrowing Owl
  • Tropical Pack: Australasian Passerines (Bali Myna, Hornbills, Birds of Paradise, Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Cockatoos, Lorkeets) Walkthrough Exhibit
  • Arid Animal Pack: Greater Roadrunner
  • Oceania Pack: Nene
  • Eurasian Animal Pack: Golden Eagle
  • Coastal Pack: Roseate Spoonbill/American Flamingo
  • Latin America Animal Pack: Harpy Eagle
  • Community Favourites Pack: Golden Pheasant
 
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Tbh considering just how wrong most of us were with our predictions for the Winter pack this year, I think the Spring pack could be pretty much anything. Latin/Central America? The Americas in general? Temperate/North America? Alpine? Considering that the Eurasia Animal Pack was pretty unexpected (even though some of the species were commonly predicted) I think at this point the Spring pack could be literally anything.
Eurasia was accurately brought up fairly frequently but drowned out with the constant it has to be some variation of mountians. People when saying it wouldnt be eurasia kept bringing up the point it is a more complicated region pairing and people may not recognise the term as well as saying europe didnt need animals. This led to a genral asia pack being more popular.
Also I would be surprised if it wasnt some variant of south or central america since so many of the animal high up the meta wishlist are from there and people have been screaming about south america for ages.
(I completely ommitted the manatee from the list because, come on, that's just silly to expect at this point). Not to mention, many of these animals have fairly unique bodyplans and modes of locomotion.
I wouldn't completely exclude the manatee in terms of rigs and animations it would be fairly easy likely easier than other high up the list animals like the coati. The real problem comes with habitat gates being allergic to water all they would have to do is come up with a system to get the manatee into the water. Mods like free build already get gates that open straight into to water to work somewhat successfully so it is likely not too difficult . I also think that the manatee is fully capable of being independent when it comes to fully aquatic animals needing no other fully aquatics for its inclusion to feel worthwhile.
Honestly I thought the same thing about waterfowl that it was too late too add something that different to what we have and I was gladly proven wrong so anything goes at this point.
 
I wouldn't completely exclude the manatee in terms of rigs and animations it would be fairly easy likely easier than other high up the list animals like the coati. The real problem comes with habitat gates being allergic to water all they would have to do is come up with a system to get the manatee into the water. Mods like free build already get gates that open straight into to water to work somewhat successfully so it is likely not too difficult . I also think that the manatee is fully capable of being independent when it comes to fully aquatic animals needing no other fully aquatics for its inclusion to feel worthwhile.
The second part of what you quoted was unrelated to the first.

The first part, regarding the manatee, was said because Frontier isn't going to add any fully aquatic animals, so it's not worth mentioning.

The second part was around the fact that Frontier never loads up packs with all unique animals. Nearly every DLC, especially lately as time has gone on, has been either majority clones or minimally changed rigs with a smaller amount of unique species. I'm pretty sure the Eurasia Animal Pack has no unique rigs in it. The swan is a big maybe, because it could realistically use the flamingo as a base quite easily. It's not about how much time is left; it's basically that we aren't going to get the secretarybird and tree kangaroo in the same pack so it kind of limits our options.
 
Honestly I think it’s possible we could get support until around December ends. I’m assuming they will announce their next game in August/ September, and if Planet Zoo still makes them a profit they may want the extra money. Also something about Planet Zoo making it to its 5th anniversary, then having a huge December fair well DLC just makes sense to me.
I can definitely think Planet Zoo support will end after this year. I can just imagine trying to push Planet Zoo past the next financial year just to make a bit more money until the new game comes out. Also it still raises a couple questions about some of Frontiers recent actions:
  • Stating in their financial support they will continue to support their existing titles
  • Opening a TikTok account this year
  • Splitting up popular animals from the meta wishlist even more
  • Avoiding monkeys and (ground dwelling) birds (which I know they have always done this, but to me it’s getting suspicious)
Speaking of birds, we normally only get two a year. This year we got three, and the swan may be an entirely new rig. Why make such an amazing new animal rig to only do a one and done? Speaking of the response to the Eurasia DLC almost all seems to revolve around positivity to the Swan. It seems to be the one thing everyone is in agreement is amazing. Not to mention in every social media platform people are asking for more birds. That’s not even mentioning South America/ Monkey demand. So I think Frontier might be trying to space out packs. Let’s not forget packs might be planned out a year in advance. So this year’s packs were planned sometime in 2022, before the bird fever started to get really crazy. At least as far as I’m concerned I would instantly buy a dedicated bird pack (or expansion) and Frontier is probably aware a lot of people would too.

Planet Zoo is also one of their most popular series (sales have been great even without a console release) so I can imagine even after support ends we might get “dlc” in the form of small animal packs. Maybe like packs of 3 all related animals. Like a monkey pack or a duck pack? Frontier could easily use existing rigs to bang out similar animals, and with the dlc marketed as a “monkey pack” the argument of packs being too similar goes out the window. Of course the “Duck pack” only has ducks.
 
I just noticed that South America is the only continent that didn't get two dedicated packs yet, so I'm betting on South America for spring.
I think either SA gets a Scenery Pack in spring or an animal Pack at Summer. The other pack guess would be Savannah which also could get both. The third Thing I could Imagine is still a alpine/Mountain Scenery pack (Markhor, Pallas Cat, Spectacled Bear, Gelada all are still on the table). Yes, this are my three potential guesses.
 
Ima do an early guess for our next dlc to see it next year 😁

Spring 2024: Latin America Animal Pack.
Headliner: Spectacled Bear

Enter the deep jungles and extensive plains of this vast continent and welcome 10 amazing creatures that inhabit this wonderful ecosystem.
Enter the lush Andean forests and discover the imposing Spectacled Bear, perhaps you will be able to observe not far away the Greater Rhea and the Patagonian Mara running through the meadows. Venture into the lush Latin jungles to spot the curious Golden Lion Tamarin and Geoffroy's Spider Monkey swinging through the treetops. Not far away, look at the strange South American Coati fleeing from the agile Ocelot. And to finish this wonderful adventure, discover Planet Zoo's first flying bird, the Macaw, which comes with 3 new species: The Blue-and-Yellow, Scarlet and Hyacinth.

It's time to discover the other side of the world alongside Bernie Goodwin in another Planet Zoo professional setting! In this scenario, the excessive logging in the Brazilian forests is threatening a lot of animal lives, and after the retirement of Nancy Jones, someone has to be in charge of saving multiple animal lives in the heart of the Amazon. Can you help Bernie making this recuperation project?
 
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Imma just copy this dude idea from reddit about LA pack, because it sounds plausible:
  • Spectacled Bear
  • Red Howler
  • Bush Dog
  • Giant Armadillo
  • False Coral Snake (exhibit)
Scenery: Antioquian. Fancy encanto-esque stuff.
From flora definitely wax palm, jacaranda and diksonia.
 
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Imma just copy this dude idea from reddit about LA pack, because it sounds plausible:
  • Spectacled Bear
  • Red Howler
  • Bush Dog
  • Giant Armadillo
  • False Coral Snake (exhibit)
Scenery: Antioquian. Fancy encanto-esque stuff.
From flora definitely wax palm, jacaranda and diksonia.
I want the Giant armadillo but honestly if we get just a scenery pack and two of them are oddballs like that (Bush dog, armadillo) and no rhea or coati i would be so mad lol worst waste of potential for animal roster than the Tropical and Arid packs.
 
I would like to have a South American focussed Highland scenery Pack in Spring followed by a Amazon Animal Pack in Summer 2024. Honestly this year had such a lack of South American animals that I as many others wouldn't mind two SA focussed packs next year:

Highlands Scenery Pack
1. Headliner: Spectacled Bear (Interspecies enrichment: Capucchin, Coati, Bush Dog)
2. Greater Rhea (Interspecies enrichment: Patagonian Mara, Giant Anteater, Llama, Capybara, Baird's Tapir)
3. Patagonian Mara (Interspecies enrichment: Greater Rhea, Pudu, Llama, Capybara, Giant Anteater, Collared Peccari, Baird's Tapir)
4. Northern Pudu (Interspecies enrichment: Capybara, Mara, Baird's Tapir)
Walkthrough Exhibit: Hummingbirds

Amazon Animal Pack
1. Golden Lion Tamarin (Interspecies enrichment: Capucchin, White Faced-Saki, Howler)
2. Coati (Interspecies enrichment: Spectacled Bear, Howler Monkey, White Faced Saki, Capucchin, Collared Peccari, Capybara)
3. Ocelot
4. Tamandua (Interspecies enrichment: Capucchin, White Faced Saki)
5. Howler Monkey (Interspecies enrichment: Capucchin, White Faced Saki, Capybara, Baird's Tapir, Coati)
6. Bush Dog (Interspecies enrichment: Spectacled Bear)
7. White Faced Saki (Interspecies enrichment: Capucchin, Golden Lion Tamarin, Tamadua, Coati, Giant Anteater, Capybara, Galapagos GT, Tapir)
Walkthrough Exhibit: Macaws (Scarlet, Blue-Yellow, Hyacinth)

Okay, let me dream at least....
 
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