Community Bite: UE 5.5 and Roadmap Update

As we head into an exciting stretch for ARK: Survival Ascended, we wanted to touch base with a quick update on our launch timelines.

We’re taking a bit of extra time to finalize the Unreal Engine 5.5 update, now set to launch on June 2nd. This upgrade remains our top priority, with our core engineering resources focused on bringing it over the finish line. The patch that rolls out the upgrade will provide immediate performance benefits including enhanced rendering and faster load times. We’re also restructuring how the game is packaged so that non-Island maps become optional downloads, significantly reducing the base installation size.

It’s a big step forward, and we appreciate your patience while we make sure it’s ready. The Unreal 5.5 update will arrive alongside a collection of new features and content:

ARK Anniversary Content
- Anniversary Surprise Cake
- Birthday Suit Shirt
- Birthday Suit Pants

Egg Incubator – Hatch smarter, not harder!

New Structure Tileset Pieces & Cosmetics – Expand your building creativity with exciting new options.

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Thatch Thin Pillar
Thatch Pillar
Thatch Fence Foundation
Thatch Fence Support
Thatch Quarter Foundation
Thatch Triangle Foundation
Thatch Ladder
Thatch Railings
Thatch Ramp
Thatch Staircase
Thatch Quarter Wall
Thatch Double Doorway
Thatch Double Door
Thatch Hatchframe
Thatch Trapdoor
Thatch Cellar Door
Thatch Hanger Door
Thatch Barn Door
Thatch Quarter Ceiling
Thatch Triangle Ceiling
Thatch Half Pillar
Thatch Half Thin Pillar
Thatch Half Beam
Thatch Half Thin Beam
Thatch Half Railing
Thatch Quarter Roof
Thatch Quarter Stair
Thatch Quarter Ramp
Thatch Ramp Corner
Thatch Shallow Sloped Wall
Wood Half Pillar
Wood Half Thin Pillar
Wood Half Beam
Wood Half Thin Beam
Wood Half Railing
Wood Quarter Roof
Wood Quarter Stair
Wood Quarter Ramp
Wood Ramp Corner
Wood Shallow Sloped Wall
Stone Half Pillar
Stone Half Thin Pillar
Stone Half Beam
Stone Half Thin Beam
Stone Half Railing
Stone Quarter Roof
Stone Quarter Stair
Stone Quarter Ramp
Stone Ramp Corner
Stone Shallow Sloped Wall
Adobe Half Pillar
Adobe Half Thin Pillar
Adobe Half Beam
Adobe Half Thin Beam
Adobe Half Railing
Adobe Quarter Roof
Adobe Quarter Stair
Adobe Quarter Ramp
Adobe Ramp Corner
Adobe Shallow Sloped Wall
Metal Half Pillar
Metal Half Thin Pillar
Metal Half Beam
Metal Half Thin Beam
Metal Half Railing
Metal Quarter Roof
Metal Quarter Stair
Metal Quarter Ramp
Metal Ramp Corner
Metal Shallow Sloped Wall
Tek Half Pillar
Tek Half Thin Pillar
Tek Half Beam
Tek Half Thin Beam
Tek Half Railing
Tek Quarter Roof
Tek Quarter Stair
Tek Quarter Ramp
Tek Ramp Corner
Tek Shallow Sloped Wall
Frontier Half Pillar
Frontier Half Thin Pillar
Frontier Half Beam
Frontier Half Thin Beam
Frontier Half Railing
Frontier Quarter Roof
Frontier Quarter Stair
Frontier Quarter Ramp
Frontier Ramp Corner
Frontier Shallow Sloped Wall
Steampunk Half Pillar
Steampunk Half Thin Pillar
Steampunk Half Beam
Steampunk Half Thin Beam
Steampunk Half Railing
Steampunk Quarter Roof
Steampunk Quarter Stair
Steampunk Quarter Ramp
Steampunk Ramp Corner
Steampunk Shallow Sloped Wall
Wasteland Half Pillar
Wasteland Half Thin Pillar
Wasteland Half Beam
Wasteland Half Thin Beam
Wasteland Half Railing
Wasteland Quarter Roof
Wasteland Quarter Stair
Wasteland Quarter Ramp
Wasteland Ramp Corner
Wasteland Shallow Sloped Wall

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Major Astraeos “Lemnokis” Content Update – The first major update of Astraeos comes with a new island - Lemnokis! A massive landmass with many biomes. Snowy redwoods, warm redwoods, valleys, forests and combined with many bigger and smaller building caves, even a glacier cave. Lemnokis is also the home of the first duo-miniboss: Kalydonios & Erymanthian. Two massive boars attacking with fire and poisonous gas! The ocean areas will have new deep-sea areas full of resources and a special new place out in the ocean - The Maelstrom!

Club ARK Island Retheme – A nostalgic tropical vibe arrives on the social hub.

Single Player Backup Saves – Create, restore, and auto-generate backups across all platforms.

As part of our transition to Unreal Engine 5.5, we've revised our schedule: Ragnarok is now set to arrive on June 18th, bringing with it another big content drop to keep things rolling.

Ragnarok Ascended – The fan-favorite ancient battleground of beasts and myth awakens again, fully remastered.

Bison (Free Creature) – Horned heavyweight champion of headbutts and highland havoc.

Lost Colony Expansion Pass: Day Zero Content – A first step into our upcoming full-sized canonical expansion pack. All purchases will immediately unlock exclusive Lost Colony gameplay content.

Thank you all for hanging in there with us as we prep these major upgrades and additions, they're going to be worth the wait. See you soon then on the upgraded ARKs!

And a quick notice for mod creators:

In preparation for ASA's Unreal Engine 5.5 update, we will temporarily pausing all new mod cooks/updates from the 20th of May. After that date, no new mods or mod updates will be possible until the 5.5 engine update patch releases. Please ensure all your updates are out before May 20th! Thanks for your understanding!

Studio Wildcard

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