Planet Zoo's globe-spanning menagerie continues to grow on 4th October with the arrival of its latest DLC expansion, the North America Animal Pack.

This latest exhibit-enhancing paid DLC - the seventh, following on from Planet Zoo's Africa, Aquatic, Australia, Arctic, South America, and South East Asia Animal Packs - introduces a total of seven new creatures to developer Frontier's zoo-themed management sim.

The American beaver, moose, California sea lion, cougar, American alligator, black-tailed prairie dog, and arctic fox are all new habitat animals, meaning you'll need to get your enclosure-designing hat on to give them a good home, and there's a single exhibit animal addition in the form of the American Bullfrog.

Read more

Planet Zoo's menagerie is expanding again on 30th March with the arrival of its fifth content expansion, the Southeast Asia Animal Pack.

This latest paid DLC expansion, which follows on from Planet Zoo's Arctic Pack, South America Pack, Australia Pack, and Aquatic Pack, introduces a total of eight new creatures.

There's the Clouded Leopard, a medium-sized arboreal cat more commonly found in the forests and grasslands of Southeast Asia, as well as the docile sun bear, which won't require much ground space but needs plenty of room in the air to accomodate its fondness for climbing.

Read more

Planet Zoo is set to get a little bit splashier next Tuesday, 8th December, courtesy of its new Aquatic DLC, which adds, among other things, penguins and otters.

The Aquatic DLC is Planet Zoo's fourth paid expansion - following on from its Australia, Arctic, and South America Packs - and is, unsurprisingly, all about water-dwelling creatures. In total, it adds five new animals - the King Penguin, Giant Otter, Diamondback Terrapin, Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman, and Grey Seal - and at least some of these make an appearance in the trailer below.

Additionally, Planet Zoo's Aquatic DLC introduces 170 new water-themed foliage, scenery and zoo construction pieces - including animal sculptures and cascading waterfalls - and there's a new timed scenario set in Oregon too. This one challenges players to flex their management muscles and make the most of a space-limited zoo built on a drained riverbed.

Read more

Cuddly koalas and other Outback-inspired cuties are coming to attraction management sim Planet Zoo next Tuesday, 25th August, as part of its new Australia Pack DLC.

As with Planet Zoo's previous paid DLC - the South America Pack and Arctic Pack - additional animals are very much the focus, and this time players get five new options in the form of the koala, red kangaroo, dingo, southern cassowary, and eastern blue-tongued lizard.

Alongside those critters, the Australia Pack introduces new indigenous fauna and flora, 230 new scenery and building pieces - combining contemporary Australian architecture and upcycled materials - plus new animal toys to increase enrichment.

Read more

Planet Zoo is getting a festive update next week to bring in the holiday season.

The Arctic Pack launches for Planet Zoo on 17th December, and adds four new animals: the arctic wolf, polar bear, reindeer, and dall sheep.

Two new arctic scenarios will offer a host of new challenges in the paid DLC. Additionally, you'll be able to expand to locations in Norway and Mexico in the Arctic Pack, which will cost 7.99.

Read more

Frontier has released a 17-minute video showing in-game footage of the promising Planet Zoo.

In the video we see the impressive detail of the animals in the game, not just in terms of their visuals and animations, but their behaviour. And we get a look at how you'll design the zoo itself to make the most of your space, maximise the productivity of your staff and keep your animals happy.

Of note, just before the three minutes mark, we see a giraffe kick about its own poo, confirming Planet Zoo is so detailed it even has poo physics.

Read more

Frontier Developments has announced that its Planet Coaster follow-up - and Zoo Tycoon spiritual successor - Planet Zoo, will be heading to PC on 5th November.

Planet Zoo's (very attractive) park building and management action will unfold across a globe-spanning campaign mode, as well as a more open-ended sandbox mode for those that prefer to tinker without restraint, with a focus on creating the ultimate wildlife attraction, "where animal welfare and conservation comes first". And there's a taste of that in Planet Zoo's new in-game trailer below.

When Planet Zoo comes to Steam on 5th November, it'll be available in two versions. There's the standard edition, which costs 34.99/€44.99/$44.99 USD, and a Deluxe Edition, weighing in at 42.99/€54.99/$54.99 USD. The latter option includes three exclusive animals - the Komodo Dragon, Pygmy Hippopotamus, and Thomson's Gazelle - as well as "high-quality wallpapers" and a digital copy of Planet Zoo's soundtrack.

Read more

It's a huge claim, but one that could actually be true. Frontier's working on another entry for the Planet franchise, and this time it's ditching coasters for critters. The developer seems determined to make this an authentic zoo management game with an unprecedented level of detail. So much, in fact, Frontier believes it's creating "the most authentic, most realistic animals in any game".

Planet Zoo is planned for release as a standalone PC title in autumn this year, but earlier this month I was invited to take a peep at the game in its pre-alpha stages. Like Planet Coaster, it's looking like this will be an excellent sandbox game, with plenty of options for tinkering and perfecting your zoo. And, for the first time in the Planet franchise, this one has a narrative campaign - along with some unusual additions such as a genetic system and inbreeding. Who needs the Lion King remake or Game of Thrones anyway?

Although the first animal entry in the Planet franchise, this isn't Frontier's first go at creating a zoo management game. In 2013, the studio released a Zoo Tycoon title which received fair reviews but was criticised for its lack of personalisation options and depth.

Read more