Field notes · Buying choices
Standard or Deluxe? Compare the upgrade before buying
The calculation answers which purchase route costs less. It cannot decide whether six extra species are worth the difference to you.
The short answer
For a new US Steam buyer, the checked prices are $49.99 Standard and $64.99 Deluxe. Buying Standard plus the $17.99 Deluxe Upgrade later totals $67.98, $2.99 more than Deluxe at those prices. Already own Standard? Compare the Upgrade Pack, not another full-game purchase.[1][2]
Choose the route for what you already own
| Your situation | Route to compare | Decision point |
|---|---|---|
| New buyer; do not need the extra species | Standard: $49.99. | Spend less now; the core game is the product you are buying. |
| New buyer; want the Deluxe species now | Deluxe: $64.99. | At this snapshot, $15 more than Standard. |
| Already own the Steam base game | Deluxe Upgrade Pack: $17.99. | This is DLC requiring the base game, not a standalone game. |
| Buy Standard now, add Upgrade at the checked prices | Our calculation: $49.99 + $17.99 = $67.98. | A $2.99 difference versus the checked Deluxe price; sales can change the comparison. |
US Steam prices checked 16 October 2026; tax, region, platform and discounts can change the result. The totals are our arithmetic from the two store listings, not a worldwide price promise.[1][2]
What the Upgrade Pack actually adds
The pack listing names six species: Golden Eagle, Golden Lion Tamarin, Great Hammerhead Shark, Axolotl, Blue and Gold Fusilier, and Longfin Batfish, plus animal signs.[2]
Start with whether you want those specific animals. If your immediate goal is learning the building tools or completing basic animal-care tasks, paying for extra species does not replace learning the requirements of the animals already available to you.
Do not confuse the two pack names
Steam lists the Deluxe Upgrade Pack separately from the Bonus Content Pack. The latter’s different name and price do not make it the six-species upgrade. The Deluxe bundle description identifies the base game plus the Deluxe Upgrade Pack; check the actual contents in your platform’s listing rather than a guide that uses the pack names interchangeably.[1][3]
A locked animal can also involve in-game progression. Owning a content pack and meeting an Accreditation requirement are separate checks.
Before completing the purchase
- Confirm the platform and account where you will play.
- Check whether you already own the base game.
- Compare the current regional prices for Standard, Deluxe and the separate Upgrade.
- Decide whether the named species are worth that current difference.
Steam · Deluxe Upgrade Pack and base-game requirement ↗ (external site, opens in a new tab)
We have not tested the content or ranked these animals by performance. This is a purchase-route comparison, not a hands-on review or a promise that the price gap stays fixed.
Sources & verification
- Steam · Planet Zoo 2 editions ↗ (external site, opens in a new tab) — 16 Oct 2026 US listing: $49.99 Standard, $64.99 Deluxe and bundle description.
- Steam · Deluxe Upgrade Pack ↗ (external site, opens in a new tab) — 16 Oct 2026: $17.99, base-game requirement and the six named species.
- Steam · downloadable content list ↗ (external site, opens in a new tab) — 16 Oct 2026; Upgrade, Bonus Content and soundtrack are separately named products.
Checked 16 October 2026. Research-based guidance; we have not personally tested these setups or fixes. Earlier player reports may describe an older build.
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