Wallabies and Maned Wolves tuck into festive treats to celebrate PLANET ZOO: GRASSLANDS ANIMAL PACK Release

The residents of Cambridgeshire’s Shepreth Wildlife Park were treated to a frosty morning of Christmas treats earlier this week in celebration of Planet Zoo’s latest DLC launch, the Grasslands Animal Pack.

Grassland-dwelling species including the Red-Necked Wallaby enjoyed seasonal snacks, while their enclosures were transformed into winter wonderlands thanks to the ongoing cold snap. Maned Wolves also braved the chilly conditions to investigate their yuletide goodies.

Planet Zoo: Grasslands Animal Pack introduces the Nine-Banded Armadillo, Maned Wolf, Emu, Caracal, Red-Necked Wallaby, Striped Hyena, and Blue Wildebeest to player’s zoos, along with an exciting new Career Mode scenario, and is available now on Steam for a suggested retail price of £7.99 / $9.99 / €9.99.

Planet Zoo: Grasslands Animal Pack requires the Planet Zoo base game in order to download and play. Planet Zoo is available now on Steam for all budding zookeepers and is an ideal Christmas gift for animal-lovers, with an RRP of £34.99/$44.99/€44.99, Planet Zoo Deluxe Edition RRP for £42.99 / $54.99 / €54.99 or the Planet Zoo Deluxe Upgrade Pack for £9.99 / $11.99 / €11.99.

ASK THE…Music Director

Here we are again with the series where I fire some questions to a game industry figure to delve a little deeper behind the magic.

This time I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing the amazingly talented Jim Croft, Director of Audio for Frontier Developments to talk more about the fantastic Planet Zoo Sounds of Summer and get to know a little more about the man behind the genius.

1) What was the inspiration behind the music?
We wanted to mark Planet Zoo’s three year anniversary with some re-imaginings of well-loved in-game music tracks. The ‘chill hop’ genre is a perfect vehicle for the chill style of Planet Zoo’s score and provides a really unique perspective.

2) What are your favourite animal sounds to listen to?

Koalas are certainly the most surprising, if a little scary! I also really like the sub bass sounds made by male Ostriches –they really shake the house down! Someone could certainly repurpose their sounds into some sub-bass in a new dancefloor filler!

3) If you were to be an animal for a day, what would you be and why?
Dolphins seem to have a lot of fun, don’t they?

4) What plans are there (if any) for anymore future Planet Zoo musical releases?
Currently we have no plans to do this for any of our other games.

5) What games are you playing at the moment?
I’m currently playing “CyberPunk2077 and “I am Fish” on PC

6) Is there music from a game that you wished you made?
Oh yeah. Both Doom remakes have awesome scores. Skyrim’s score is stunning. Last of Us had a brilliant score and my personal lifetime favourite for sheer madness is the classic Katamari Damacy. That said, I’ve loved working on Planet Zoo!

7) What got you into game music creation?
My love of playing games as a kid, then writing my own games, before discovering music at 14, and picking up a guitar at 16. From there I began a journey back to games and that’s where my two loves of games and music met!

8) Is there any advice you would give to anyone looking to break into the industry?

Persevere. Be humble and friendly and enthusiastic and don’t give up trying if you get knocked back!

What great answers from a great man, big thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

If you wanted to hear the Planet Zoo Sounds of Summer album it is available now from your digital provider.

Chill out and Relax with Tracks Inspired By the Wonder of PLANET ZOO

Discover 12 tranquil tracks inspired by the wonder of Planet Zoo. Featuring ethereal lo-fi remixes of Planet Zoo’s enchanting score, listeners can enjoy the serene soundtrack they know and love with a chilled-out twist. Mixed by Frontier’s very own audio team, each track is the perfect opportunity to de-stress and reflect on warm, summer days, and to look ahead to the coming autumn.

Pairing stripped-back beats and rich textures with the charm of Planet Zoo’s original composition, Planet Zoo: Sounds of Summer is a must-listen for both fans of lo-fi and budding zookeepers looking for a relaxing auditory companion.

Take a look at the Planet Zoo community team over on Youtube for an exclusive premiere of the 80-minute album in full over on Twitch and YouTube from Wednesday 28 September at 6pm BST. Members of the audio team will also share their behind-the-scenes insights as to how the vibrant Planet Zoo soundtrack was transformed into a soothing animal-inspired chillhop mix.

Find out more about Planet Zoo by visiting https planetzoogame.com

Take a Look at the New PLANET ZOO: EUROPE PACK

To celebrate the launch of Planet Zoo: Europe Pack, and to embrace the festive tradition of storytelling, we’re exploring some of the myths and legends behind the stunning locations and mesmerising species in the game.

Featuring a host of charming scenery pieces and five amazing new animals, including the Alpine Ibex, Eurasian Lynx, European Fallow Deer, European Badger, and Exhibit animal, the Fire Salamander, Planet Zoo: Europe Pack allows zookeepers to transport their guests to Europe like never before.

So, let’s take a look at some of the fascinating folklore:

A Fiery Amphibian
Many of the new animals arriving with Planet Zoo: Europe Pack are the subject of folk tales too. For thousands of years, many cultures believed that the Fire Salamander, whose name means ‘fire within’ in Persian, was actually born from fire. The legend likely comes from their tendency to sleep beneath logs during the winter, escaping as the fire is lit. Players can light up their zoos and spark excitement in their guests with these striking, flame-like yellow and orange marked amphibians.

The Creatures of the Alps
The Alps, the setting for Planet Zoo: Europe Pack’s exciting new timed scenario, are the subject of many folk tales and legends. Among the many peaks and valleys of the mountain range lie huge, icy caves, said to be home to all manner of mythical creatures including ‘Weisse Frauen’ (ghostly women in white) to imps and even dragons. We’d much rather take on the challenge of transforming a beautiful Alpine zoo than come face-to-face with ghostly spirits!

Signs of Spring
It might be winter right now in much of the world, but did you know that another of Planet Zoo: Europe Pack’s animals, the European Badger, is historically seen by many cultures as a sign that spring is on the way. Spotting a Badger can also be seen as a symbol of good luck; but be careful – legend emphasises that this luck can only be obtained if the badger emerges from its burrow after you’ve passed by. Thanks to the new burrowing feature, arriving alongside the latest pack in a free update, zookeepers can now find out just what the European Badger is up to underground.

Planet Zoo: Europe Pack is out now on Steam for a suggested retail price of £7.99 / $9.99 / €9.99.