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Frontier Developments has released the first episode in its Feature Focus series for their zoo management sim Planet Zoo 2, putting the spotlight on the animals themselves and one of the new features. Titled "Awe-inspiring Animals", the video showcases the sequel's big cats and, more importantly, the new emotion system underpinning how they behave.
The new feature that the video focuses on is the dynamic emotion system. Frontier say that rather than simply existing in their habitats, Planet Zoo 2's animals now display behaviours based on their current mood, which is shaped by the quality of their habitat and the standard of care they receive from you.
Neglect an animal's needs, letting enrichment, food or fresh water slip, and it can turn lethargic and visibly unhappy. Meet those needs and animals will thrive, showing off a far wider range of natural behaviours. Frontier illustrated this through Zuri, a newly arrived lioness who starts out unsettled before gradually settling in as her habitat and welfare are sorted.
The video also leans into the series' conservation fantasy. Frontier highlighted how researching animals over time deepens your understanding of their needs, which feeds back into your zoo's reputation and donations, in turn funding the rehabilitation, breeding and reintroduction of animals to the wild.
Breeding is one of the features we get to see in the demo with Zuri and bachelor Tao, eventually expecting cubs, and notes that lions breed year-round, unlike seasonal species such as African penguins and saltwater crocodiles. There's also a nod to a Great Rift Valley wildlife reserve, where released zebra (a "dazzle", as the video cheerfully points out) roam.
Frontier also teased the next episode of Feature Focus at the end of the video, which seems to be about the water animals like sharks and crocodiles.
Planet Zoo 2 is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The Standard Edition is priced at £39.99/$49.99/€49.99, with a Deluxe Edition at £54.99/$64.99/€64.99.
