Frontier Developments is introducing a major new evolution to its park management series: dinosaur breeding. In Jurassic World Evolution 3, players will finally be able to raise dinosaurs across generations, nurture juveniles, and witness the unfolding of family dynamics in their parks. It’s a feature the developers say fundamentally changes how players will see their prehistoric inhabitants.
Speaking to The Nerd Stash at a preview event in London last month, James Stant, Dialogue Manager at Frontier, explained that the breeding system goes far beyond cosmetic variety.
It’s more than just the skins and cosmetics –although that’s a big part of it–, and those cosmetics can be passed down from generation to generation. But certainly if you’re breeding dinosaurs, then you’ll be looking at their different traits, especially behavioral ones. If you’ve got something that’s particularly aggressive, you might not want to breed that down through the generations. It adds new layers of challenge and thought process to how you manage your park.
Juvenile dinosaurs will have different needs from their parents, which will influence how players design habitats and social structures. Ian Bousher, Lead Narrative Designer, explained that “You can’t expect a baby to reach the same tall leaves as an adult… There are new behaviors and interactions, and that changes how you create habitats.”
Bousher went on to add that the addition of family groups adds a sense of realism and emotion that previous entries only hinted at.
“It changes how you see the dinosaurs in the game… For me, just the addition of juveniles, family groups, that dynamism — it makes you feel like they’re really animals. They’re not just assets; they’re animals with lives.”
The team emphasized how these interactions can lead to moments of awe and connection, from parent–juvenile bonding to the sight of young dinosaurs exploring their enclosures. “We want to capture that awe and that wonder,” Stant said. “Juveniles are a fantastic opportunity to do that, and we’re really excited to bring them to Jurassic World Evolution 3.”
As Jurassic World Evolution 3 approaches its October 21 release, Frontier’s focus on intergenerational systems and emotional storytelling promises to make this the most life-filled entry in the series yet: one where dinosaurs aren’t just attractions, but living, growing creatures with personalities of their own.
Keep an eye out for our full interview, publishing soon.
