Overview of Updates for ARK: Survival Ascended
- The recently unveiled content roadmap for ARK: Survival Ascended extends through late 2026.
- The remaster of ARK: Survival Evolved transitions to Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) and will introduce various new maps over the next two years.
- Upcoming additions include several new Fantastic Tames and several creatures, the latter of which will be decided by community votes.
Studio Wildcard, the team behind the popular survival crafting game, has released an updated content roadmap for ARK: Survival Ascended, outlining a series of updates planned for the game over the next two years. This remaster builds on the foundation laid by ARK: Survival Evolved, which first entered early access in November 2023 and has since seen a steady stream of content additions.
On January 11, 2024, the developers shared their plans that not only span until the close of 2026 but also kick off with a significant technical patch that will upgrade the game to Unreal Engine 5.5. This upgrade promises to enhance performance significantly and also aims to re-enable support for Nvidia’s frame generation technology, which was temporarily suspended due to earlier engine-related challenges.
Detailed Content Roadmap for 2025–2026
| Timeframe | Content |
|---|---|
| March 2025 | Upgraded to Unreal Engine 5.5. |
| April 2025 | Free Ragnarok Ascended content, introduction of Bison (Free Creature), and a new Fantastic Tame. |
| June 2025 | Release of a new premium map (details forthcoming). |
| August 2025 | Launch of free Valguero Ascended with a community-voted free creature and an additional Fantastic Tame. |
| April 2026 | Debut of free Genesis Ascended Part 1 and Bob’s True Tales Part 1. |
| August 2026 | Release of free Genesis Ascended Part 2 and Bob’s True Tales Part 2. |
| December 2026 | Free Fjordur Ascended with a community-voted free creature. |
| 2026 | Three additional Fantastic Tames throughout the year. |
The transition to UE5 signifies more than just performance upgrades; it aligns with Studio Wildcard’s strategy to restructure game data. This restructuring will empower players to download individual DLC packs for ARK: Survival Ascended, which in turn aims to significantly reduce the game’s overall install size.
In April 2025, players can anticipate exciting new content, including a Fantastic Tame and the addition of the Bison as a free creature. Furthermore, June 2025 will see the introduction of another map as a paid DLC, with further details expected early in the spring. The summer of 2025 will be marked by additional free content, including another Fantastic Tame and a community-chosen creature.
As we move into 2026, attention will shift towards the remastering of ARK: Survival Evolved‘s Genesis expansions. Players can look forward to the release of Genesis: Part 1 in April and Part 2 later in August, accompanied by sections of Bob’s True Tales, a new narrative expansion already integrated into the season pass. By December 2026, a remastered version of the Fjordur map is set to release as a complimentary update. Moreover, fans will be treated to three additional Fantastic Tames slated for release throughout the year, with potential surprises still in store as the roadmap represents a broad overview rather than exhaustive details of all future content.
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