Studio Wildcard has released an extensive roadmap for the ARK franchise, providing exciting details about upcoming games and improvements, including the introduction of ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA), a next-gen remaster of ARK: Survival Evolved.
ARK: Survival Ascended Overview:
ARK: Survival Ascended, powered by Unreal Engine 5 (UE5), will be available on Xbox Series S/X, PC (Windows/Steam), and PlayStation 5 in August 2023. The base game features The Island, a revamped Survival of the Fittest mode, and “Non-Canon” DLC maps, which will be added over time.
ARK Respawned Bundle:
The ARK Respawned Bundle, available for Xbox Series S/X and PC, offers ultimate value by including ARK: Survival Ascended and ARK 2 for $49.99. This bundle will be available from the end of August for up to one year, after which the games will be sold separately. Purchasers will also gain exclusive access to a 1-month closed-beta for ARK 2.
PlayStation 5 Release:
PlayStation 5 users can purchase ARK: Survival Ascended as a standalone next-gen game for $39.99 at launch in August 2023.
Additional Expansion Packs:
Separate Story Expansion Packs will be available on all platforms, including the Explorer’s Pass for $19.99, featuring Scorched Earth, Aberration (Q4 2023), and Extinction (Q1 2024), and the Genesis Pass for $19.99, featuring Genesis Part 1 (Q1 2024) and Genesis Part 2 (Q2 2024).
ARK: Survival Ascended Enhancements:
ARK: Survival Ascended introduces several improvements, such as:
- Unreal Engine 5 Overhaul with Nanite, Lumen, and RTXDI
- Dynamic Water and Interactive Foliage
- Cross-platform Multiplayer
- Cross-platform Modding, supported by Overwolf
- Revamped Survival of the Fittest mode
Canonical-Story Expansion Pack:
A new canonical-story expansion pack will be available for ARK: Survival Ascended in Q4 2023, featuring four new creatures.
ARK 2 Update:
ARK 2 has been delayed until the end of 2024, launching exclusively on Xbox, Game Pass, and Windows distribution platforms (Steam/PC). The extra time will ensure a better gaming experience, with full utilization of the cutting-edge UE5 technology.
Nintendo Switch Update:
ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition has been successfully launched on Nintendo Switch, with Extinction releasing on April 11th, 2023, and other DLC and community maps to follow throughout 2023 and 2024.
Mobile Revamp:
ARK: Survival Evolved on Mobile is set for a complete revamp by the end of the year, featuring graphical improvements and new features.
ARK: The Animated Series:
All 14 initial episodes have completed animation and cast recordings, currently in post-production. More news to come in the following months.
