Update (Jan 30, 2024): Frontier Developments formally released a full-sized trailer for Planet Zoo: Console Edition, confirming its launch on March 26, 2024, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It’s launching in three different variants – Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate editions. You can check out all the details at the game’s official website.
Original Story (Jan 29, 2024): Frontier Developments just dropped a teaser for Planet Zoo which hints at the game’s console launch soon. The 10-second long teaser does so by showcasing a controller on a table in one of the Planet Zoo facilities, however, it does not specify any release date as such.
While the zoo building/management sim has been exclusive to PC since its release in 2019, its theme park sim cousin, Planet Coaster, had its console release in 2020 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Now it remains to be seen whether Planet Zoo’s console launch is accompanied by a Deluxe/Premium edition release of sorts since the game had a staggering amount of 17 DLCs released as post-launch content.
For the uninitiated, Planet Zoo scratches the Zoo Tycoon itch, and truth be told, it is a magnificent game even without the nostalgia factor. It has several modes—Sandbox, Career, Challenge, and Franchise—all with the goal of building your zoo, or your chain of zoos. The building mechanics is one of its kind and people with more creative pedigree than me can often be seen constructing life-like habitats and other zoo facilities. However, if you are mostly after the financial management side of things, Planet Zoo might disappoint you. It is not designed as much for budget min-maxers as it’s catered to creative builders.
Planet Zoo’s console release announcement also falls in line with Frontier Developments’ earnings report in November last year (thanks Eurogamer) where the studio decided to renew focus on the creative management sims after the rocky launch of their Warhammer RTS earlier last year.