The existence of ARK 2 has floated around like the whispers of a mythical beast, particularly since Studio Wildcard has been really cagey about the game in recent months. Now, thanks to a PCGamesN interview with studio co-founders Jesse Rapczak and Jeremy Stieglitz, we know why: It’s because the studio has some features it really wants included and its focus has been on ARK: Survival Ascended.

According to the pair, the creation of soulslike combat and its effect on PvP, a third-person perspective, and dynamic world events is proving tricky, while management of development resources has primarily been aimed to support and build out ASA. They even admit that a “vertical slice” of ARK 2 has put on hold a couple of years ago and has been “[nibbled] on ever since.” Finally, content they term as “must-have” features like user-generated content and NPCs that feel as deadly as human opponents just aren’t ready yet.

If all of this reads like scope creep, just know that Rapczak and Stieglitz appear to be unbothered, as they point to the game’s high wishlist numbers, its copious star power, and tech advancements that they argue will make the survivalbox an industry leader.

As for a new launch window, Stieglitz gives a vague estimate of two years to get the game into an early access state, but that also depends on getting the vast majority of Wildcard’s team away from ASA – and only after “18 months of hardcore team focus to [turn] that vertical slice into an early access game.” Basically, don’t hold your breath for this sequel anytime soon. You might just suffocate.