Yes, Vin Diesel does play ARK
As a hardcore survival game fanatic myself, I was thrilled to learn that the acclaimed action star Vin Diesel is a fellow ARK: Survival Evolved enthusiast. Not only does he play ARK regularly, but Diesel is actively involved in developing upcoming game and film projects set in the ARK universe.
Vin Diesel‘s History with ARK and Studio Wildcard
According to Studio Wildcard CEO Doug Kennedy, Diesel has clocked an impressive "1,000s of hours" exploring the world of ARK across multiple playthroughs:
"Vin Diesel is an accomplished gamer who has played 1000s of hours of ARK: Survival Evolved…my son introduced me to the game many years back. Then Wildcard and all of the genius over there asked me to shepherd the IP into the TV and film space…an honor I can‘t begin to describe." [SOURCE]
As both a long-time player and self-described "accomplished gamer," Vin Diesel quickly became a fan of the expansive crafting, survival and tribe-building gameplay ARK offers. This passion eventually led the game‘s developers Studio Wildcard to approach him about adapting ARK into a broader media franchise spanning TV, film and more.
Diesel eagerly jumped at the chance, calling it "an honor I can‘t begin to describe." He‘s truly one of us – a genuine ARK superfan!
ARK Franchise Earnings and Popularity
To appreciate Vin‘s excitement, consider that ARK has become a massively lucrative franchise:
- Over 34 million total copies sold globally across all platforms as of 2022 [SOURCE]
- Series lifetime revenue estimated up to $320 million and counting [SOURCE]
- Over 200,000+ concurrent players daily on Steam – one of most played games [SOURCE]
With an engaged community still actively exploring ARK daily even 7+ years post-launch, Vin Diesel certainly chose a good franchise to get involved in!
Vin Diesel‘s Other Gaming Exploits
And for those wondering – yes Vin Diesel is definitely a real gamer. Beyond his ARK fandom, he‘s known to enjoy many other titles across platforms:
| Game | Info |
|---|---|
| World of Warcraft | Spent over 1,000 hours playing, had own guild named after daughter |
| Dungeons & Dragons | Active D&D player who participates in regular sessions |
| Riddick Games | Starred as lead character in multiple video game adaptations |
| Various Cameos | Guest starred in Wheelman, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and more |
So Diesel doesn‘t just act – he truly lives, breathes and plays games too!
Vin Diesel‘s Pivotal Role in ARK 2‘s Future
Given his extensive history with ARK and hands-on approach to game development, Vin Diesel continues to be a key figure involved in the franchise‘s future – especially the hotly anticipated ARK 2.
Diesel Reprising Lead Role for Upcoming ARK 2
ARK 2 made waves when it debuted at 2020‘s Game Awards – and Vin Diesel‘s starring role in the trailer turned even more heads! Diesel plays a character named Santiago in the sequel:
"Shedding a bit more light on Diesel‘s character, the actor is playing Santiago, “a full rendered hero protagonist” [SOURCE]
Very little else is known about the plot or his role beyond Santiago‘s name. But with Vin on screen as our lead survivalist guide to the ARK universe, players are in good hands!
Franchise Expansion into TV and Film Ongoing
Vin Diesel also continues to work closely with Studio Wildcard on the in-development TV and film projects set in the world of ARK. AsDiesel put it himself:
"Wildcard and all of the genius over there asked me to shepherd the IP into the TV and film space"[SOURCE]
Early reports from 2020 indicated Diesel and Wildcard were partnering with Universal Pictures on an ARK franchise deal spanning "film, television, digital content and merchandise." [SOURCE]
We have little to no updates beyond this initial announcement. But with an A-list Hollywood action veteran like Diesel personally overseeing and starring in an adaptation of his favorite game, I‘m excited to see what‘s to come for ARK!
The Significance of Vin Diesel Embracing ARK and Gaming
Some may be surprised at first to see an intense, brawny movie star openly identifying as an avid gamer and surrogate figurehead for ARK. Yet Vin Diesel is certainly not alone in Hollywood for his gaming passion, with other A-listers like Henry Cavill repping the hobby.
And with video games now a dominant sector of entertainment raking in billions in revenue yearly, the stigma around gaming diminishes each passing year. Having a megastar like Diesel on board with an immersive franchise like ARK then lends it immediate credibility within pop culture and helps further video games as true artistic mainstream media rather than a niche hobby.
There‘s also something undeniably cool about the burly, gravel-voiced Diesel enthusiastically exploring ARK as a player and shepherding it as an IP. As gamers our entire lives, seeing "one of our own" openly play and create gaming content is endlessly fun and exciting!
So while Vin Diesel may seem an unlikely gamer hero and face of ARK to outsiders, longtime fans and players like myself recognize he‘s the perfect embodiment of this incredible franchise. Both Vin and ARK exemplify passion, depth, talent and most of all sheer badassery – making them a match made in gaming heaven!
