ARK: Survival Ascended – Unreal Engine 5 remaster launches into Early Access

History repeats itself from 2014 – well, almost. Just like back then, a dinosaur survival game is launching in Early Access today.
Back then it was called ARK: Survival Evolved, today it is called ARK: Survival Ascended.

What’s in ARK: Survival Ascended?

That’s right, the Unreal Engine 5 remaster of the successful ARK will not be released as a full version, but as an Early Access title.
Graphically, the game naturally looks a lot better and also makes use of new physics systems like dynamic water and more direct interactions like rustling leaves and branches bending to the side.

Technically, there’s a revamped user interface, better pathfinding for the AI, and an improved camera system – and for the first time, cross-platform multiplayer and cross-platform modding are supported.
New content includes wild baby dinos, new structures and items, and also a photo mode.

All DLC expansions such as Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, ARK Genesis Part 1 and ARK Genesis Part 2 will also gradually become part of the game, of course also spruced up and with new inhabitants on each map.
According to the current plan, the reworked Scorched Earth map will be released in December, the remastered versions of Ragnarok and Aberration in the first quarter of 2024.

However, the developers are also asking you to pay 44.99€ on Steam – there is currently a 10% offer that reduces the title to 40.49€ until November 1.

Console release delayed

However, the development and communication around ARK: Survival Ascended didn’t go completely smoothly, and so there was some heavy criticism that the developers faced.

And even now the release does not only come with good news, because all console players still have to wait for the release.
During testing, there were some serious errors with the multiplayer functionality of the console version, which the developers wanted to fix first.

New release schedule for the console version: November, without an exact date.

Dreadnoughtus Concept Art

Last but not least, the concept art of Dreadnoughtus, the final winner of the creature polls, has recently been released, representing the new creature addition to Extinction.