--- title: "Planet Zoo 2: Standard or Deluxe? What to buy after the first patches" description: "Planet Zoo 2 launched October 13 at $49.99 (Deluxe $64.99). What each edition holds, how patches 1.0.4 to 1.0.7 changed things, and a buying call as of October 26." url: https://after-strategy.com/en/planet-zoo-2-launch-aquariums-aviaries-worth-buying-2026/ lang: en published: 2026-10-14 updated: 2026-10-26 author: "Simon Dougnac" author_url: https://after-strategy.com/en/auteur/simon/ game: "Planet Zoo 2" game_url: https://after-strategy.com/en/jeux/planet-zoo-2/ categories: [rts] tags: [planet-zoo-2, frontier-developments, management, city-builder] translations: fr: https://after-strategy.com/fr/planet-zoo-2-lancement-aquariums-aviaires-reserves-avis-2026/ es: https://after-strategy.com/es/planet-zoo-2-lanzamiento-acuarios-aviarios-vale-la-pena-2026/ publisher: "After Strategy" --- # Planet Zoo 2: Standard or Deluxe? What to buy after the first patches > Planet Zoo 2 launched October 13 at $49.99 (Deluxe $64.99). What each edition holds, how patches 1.0.4 to 1.0.7 changed things, and a buying call as of October 26. ## Planet Zoo 2 two weeks after launch: buy now or wait? Planet Zoo 2 beat the first game's concurrent-player record right at launch, and then Frontier apologised for how stable the game is. Both facts belong together. The game came out on October 13, 2026 at $49.99 on PC (Steam and the Epic Games Store), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and the rush of players put the code and the servers under heavy strain. As of October 26, the purchase decision hinges less on content than on the state of the game. ![Planet Zoo 2: two elephants by a waterhole in a savanna landscape at sunset](https://after-strategy.com/images/articles/planet-zoo-2-lancement-aquariums-aviaires-reserves-avis-2026/screenshot-1.webp) ### Standard or Deluxe: six species apart The [Standard edition at $49.99](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3219030/Planet_Zoo_2/) is the complete game. It includes freshwater and saltwater aquariums, aviaries for flying birds, the Wildlife Reserves where you release your animals, all three modes (Career, Franchise, Sandbox) and the Frontier Workshop. The $64.99 Deluxe adds [six species](https://gamingtrend.com/news/here-is-everything-you-need-to-know-about-planet-zoo-2/): the Golden Eagle, Golden Lion Tamarin, Great Hammerhead Shark, Axolotl, Blue and Gold Fusilier and Longfin Batfish. It also adds exclusive animal signs. The maths is simple. Fifteen dollars buys six animals and some scenery, but no gameplay system. If you want a first zoo, Standard is plenty. Deluxe only pays off if you want a Great Hammerhead in your very first tank on day one. ![Planet Zoo 2: a hawksbill turtle swimming among reef fish inside an aquarium](https://after-strategy.com/images/articles/planet-zoo-2-lancement-aquariums-aviaires-reserves-avis-2026/screenshot-2.webp) ### What the patches have already fixed Frontier shipped update 1.0.4 on October 14, less than 24 hours after release. It fixes crashes, gets DLSS and FSR working again and adjusts animal escapes and automatic boxing, according to [Insider Gaming](https://insider-gaming.com/planet-zoo-2s-first-patch-issues-crash-fixes-franchise-mode-issues-more/). Update 1.0.5 followed on October 16, with a public apology. The studio admits that overall stability is below what it expects, especially in Franchise mode. On October 23, 1.0.6 lowered the accreditation requirements for tiers 3 to 5 and reset zoos stuck in negative cash to $0. Hotfix 1.0.7 landed the same day for a bug that stopped players resuming a Franchise save. Frontier states that the saves were not lost. ![Planet Zoo 2: two toco toucans perched on a branch in a tropical aviary](https://after-strategy.com/images/articles/planet-zoo-2-lancement-aquariums-aviaires-reserves-avis-2026/screenshot-3.webp) ### What to watch before you buy The risk sits with Franchise mode. It relies on Frontier's servers, and the studio says a VPN, or a username caught by the profanity filter, can trigger connection errors. Animals that climb badly, misalign with their enrichments or escape remain standing priorities, by the studio's own admission. The next "Under Investigation" list, which tracks fixes in testing, is due the week of October 26. Frontier also says it wants to talk about future content once these priorities are handled, without promising anything yet. So Standard is the pick if aquariums, aviaries and reserves already appeal to you. If Franchise is your priority, wait for that next wave of fixes before buying. ## Going further - [All our Planet Zoo 2 articles](https://after-strategy.com/en/jeux/planet-zoo-2/) - [Manor Lords: complete city-builder strategy guide](https://after-strategy.com/en/manor-lords-complete-guide-strategy-city-builder-2026/) - [Manor Lords: two years of Early Access reviewed](https://after-strategy.com/en/manor-lords-two-years-early-access-review-2026/) - [Planet Zoo 2 Preview: Do Aquariums, Aviaries and Wildlife Reserves Justify a Full Sequel?](https://after-strategy.com/en/planet-zoo-2-preview-aquariums-aviaries-wildlife-reserves-2026/) ## Sources - - - - - Source : [Planet Zoo 2: Standard or Deluxe? What to buy after the first patches](https://after-strategy.com/en/planet-zoo-2-launch-aquariums-aviaries-worth-buying-2026/) — After Strategy