Planet Zoo 2 unlocks at 3 PM BST on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, which is 10 AM EDT and 7 AM PDT, on every platform at the same moment: PC (Steam and the Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Frontier Developments confirmed that single worldwide launch time in its countdown to launch post on October 12, and anyone who has pre-ordered can already preload the game on Steam, PS5 and Xbox.
Update, October 13, 2026: Planet Zoo 2 is out now. It unlocked on schedule at 10 AM EDT on PC, PS5 and Xbox, and Frontier has announced the launch. The pre-order window has closed, but the Bonus Content Pack it came with is now sold separately on Steam for $2.99. If you are just starting, our edition breakdown covers what the Deluxe Edition adds.
Updated October 16, 2026: Frontier has released two patches since launch. Update 1.0.4 on October 14 fixed FSR and DLSS, custom keybindings that reset and several crashes, and improved Franchise Mode stability and animals escaping their habitats. Update 1.0.5 on October 16 added an Edge Scrolling option to the keyboard and mouse settings and more Franchise Mode and stability fixes. In that post Frontier says launch concurrent players were “well above our expectations” but that game stability “has been below what we would expect,” and it promises a regularly updated “under investigation” post next week. Frontier has not published a post-launch content roadmap, and the Deluxe Upgrade Pack is now sold separately on Steam for $17.99. Our beginner tips cover the patch changes that affect new zoos.
Below we cover the unlock time in every major time zone, how preloading works on each platform, what the game costs, the pre-order bonus that disappears at launch, and which platforms are not getting Planet Zoo 2 at all. All of it is from Frontier’s own announcements, its official FAQ and the store listings, checked on October 12.
What Time Planet Zoo 2 Unlocks in Every Time Zone
This is a single global unlock, not a midnight rollout by region. Frontier published the times below, and the PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store listings both carry the same 14:00 UTC timestamp. We added the Mountain, India and New Zealand rows ourselves by converting from 14:00 UTC.
| Region | Time zone | Unlock time |
|---|---|---|
| US West | PDT | Tue Oct 13, 7:00 AM |
| US Mountain | MDT | Tue Oct 13, 8:00 AM |
| US Central | CDT | Tue Oct 13, 9:00 AM |
| US East | EDT | Tue Oct 13, 10:00 AM |
| Brazil (Brasilia) | BRT | Tue Oct 13, 11:00 AM |
| United Kingdom | BST | Tue Oct 13, 3:00 PM |
| Central Europe | CEST | Tue Oct 13, 4:00 PM |
| India | IST | Tue Oct 13, 7:30 PM |
| China and Singapore | CST / SGT | Tue Oct 13, 10:00 PM |
| Japan and Korea | JST / KST | Tue Oct 13, 11:00 PM |
| Sydney | AEDT | Wed Oct 14, 1:00 AM |
| New Zealand | NZDT | Wed Oct 14, 3:00 AM |
No edition plays early. Frontier lists one launch time for all platforms, and neither the Standard nor the Deluxe Edition includes any early access. Frontier did let a lucky few attendees play ahead of time at its Zoological Summit at Chester Zoo on September 12, but that was a one-day event, not an early access program.
How to Preload Planet Zoo 2
Preloading lets you download the game before it unlocks, so you can start building the moment the clock hits 10 AM EDT. Frontier’s countdown post says preloads “for Steam, Xbox X|S and PlayStation 5 are available now” for anyone who has pre-ordered. Frontier’s earlier Steam announcement had targeted 3 PM BST on October 12 for the Steam preload, a day before launch.
- Steam: pre-purchase on the Steam store page, then open Planet Zoo 2 in your library and start the download from there.
- PS5 and Xbox Series X|S: pre-ordered games download in the background if automatic downloads are switched on. If they are not, find Planet Zoo 2 in your game library and start the download by hand.
- Epic Games Store: Frontier’s preload announcement names Steam, PS5 and Xbox only, so do not count on an Epic preload. Plan to download at launch instead.
Clear the space first. Frontier’s PC requirements list 40 GB of storage, with an SSD recommended at minimum spec and required at recommended spec.
Where You Can Play It and What It Costs
Planet Zoo 2 is a paid game on every platform, with the same two editions everywhere. Frontier’s official FAQ lists these suggested retail prices, and the Steam, PlayStation and Xbox listings match them in the US:
| Edition | US | UK | Eurozone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $49.99 | £39.99 | €49.99 |
| Deluxe | $64.99 | £54.99 | €64.99 |
On Steam, Canada pays CDN$59.99 and CDN$76.99, and Australia pays A$70.50 and A$90.95.
A few other ways to play:
- Steam Deck: Frontier announced on September 14 that Planet Zoo 2 is Steam Deck Verified.
- GeForce NOW: Frontier confirmed the game is on NVIDIA’s cloud service at the same time as every other platform, which helps if your PC falls short of the specs.
- Physical discs: PS5 and Xbox Series X|S disc editions launch a week later, on Tuesday, October 20, at major retailers.
Planet Zoo 2 is one of the biggest launches in our October 2026 release roundup, and the only major management game of the month.
The Pre-Order Bonus Ends at Launch
Every pre-order, Standard or Deluxe, gets the Bonus Content Pack: an exclusive Toucan Eat Shop and Signage, 3 Unique Animal Donation Bins and a Tiger Photo Stand-In Wall. Frontier says the pack is included with pre-orders “right up until launch time,” so the cutoff is the same 10 AM EDT unlock. Frontier has not said whether the pack will be sold separately afterwards.
There is one more freebie that does not depend on pre-ordering: Frontier’s newsletter sign-up on the official site promises an exclusive in-game reward, a brass sculpture of the Hawksbill Turtle.
Platforms That Are Not Getting Planet Zoo 2
Frontier’s FAQ answers the questions players keep asking:
- Nintendo Switch and Switch 2: “no current plans.”
- Mac: “no plans to release Planet Zoo 2 for MacOS.”
- PS4 and Xbox One: “no plans to bring Planet Zoo 2 to previous generation consoles.”
- Game Pass and PS Plus: Frontier says it doesn’t “have anything to share regarding Xbox Game Pass/PS Plus,” and both console stores list it as a paid pre-order.
- Multiplayer: there is none. You can share parks and blueprints through the in-game Frontier Workshop across platforms, and Franchise mode lets you trade animals with other players.
What to Do Before the Gates Open
- Check your PC. The minimum spec is an Intel i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB of RAM and an RTX 2060, RX 5600 XT or Arc A750. Recommended is an i7-10700K or Ryzen 7 5800X with an RTX 3070, RX 6700 XT or Arc A770. Frontier warns that zoo games lean on the CPU as your zoo fills with animals and guests, and that it cannot guarantee ongoing Windows 10 compatibility. If the game runs badly, our Steam refund guide explains the two-hour window.
- Pick a mode. Career casts you as the new Conservation Coordinator at FEN (the Fauna and Ecosystems Network), Sandbox lets you choose how much simulation and challenge you want, and Franchise connects your zoos to other players’ networks.
- Watch Frontier’s starter video. Its “Opening Your First Zoo” video walks through paths, shops, power, staff and adopting your first animals, in that order.
Frontier also makes Jurassic World Evolution 3; our Prehistoric East story covers that game’s latest update. For everything else launching soon, see our upcoming releases calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Planet Zoo 2 come out? 3 PM BST on October 13, 2026, which is 10 AM EDT, 7 AM PDT and 4 PM CEST. It unlocks at the same moment on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Can you preload Planet Zoo 2? Yes, if you have pre-ordered. Frontier says preloads are live on Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Is Planet Zoo 2 on PS5 and Xbox? Yes. It launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S alongside PC, at the same price as on Steam.
Is Planet Zoo 2 coming to Switch or Mac? Frontier’s FAQ says there are no current plans for Switch or Switch 2 and no plans for macOS.
When does the physical edition come out? Tuesday, October 20, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, a week after the digital launch.
Does the Deluxe Edition unlock early? No. Frontier lists one launch time for every platform, and neither edition includes early access.