Community Crunch 477: Elderclaw Reveal!

Survivors, we need just a little more time to get things right. [color]Valguero Ascended and Fantastic Tames: Elderclaw[/color] have been delayed by one week, and will now launch on [color]October 7th[/color] as the team focuses on final polish and stability. We know waiting is tough, and we appreciate your patience as we work to deliver the best experience possible and set the stage for an unforgettable return to Valguero.
As we make final preparations, we couldn’t resist sharing a glimpse at one of the fiercest additions coming your way: the Elderclaw! Born of the wild itself, this towering forest guardian is both protector and predator, a primal force bound to the heart of the forest.



[previewyoutube]MODSPOLIGHTLINK[/previewyoutube]
Download & play new custom content created by players, including new maps, creatures, items, and game modes, through a dedicated new Mod-browser directly within the game. Enjoy an endless stream of new ARK content as the creativity and talent of the community is fully unleashed for the first time across gaming platforms and stay tuned as we spotlight more Cross-Platform Mods each week!
This video features:
- Lost Protocol Premium Map by j26Arkitecto (premium)
- Movie Night Decor Cosmetics! by Beyonx (premium)
- Barn by Ribbet (premium)
- Lutralix by Lutralix
- Vaults & Storages Catalogue by Fernandess
- Paleo ARK EVO+ Native Aquatics - Bungartius Update by Team Paleo ARK
- ARKOLOGY: OE - Hapipalus by Dragonheart7998
- ClaysRexEdit by TheClay_Art
- ClayLeedsichthysEdit by TheClay_Art


While we won’t be able to host our usual 24-hour Extra Life livestream this year, we’re still going all-in on what matters most: uniting as a community to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and unlocking something special for the future of ARK: Survival Ascended.
For every $30,000 raised through the Studio Wildcard Extra Life charity campaign, the community will unlock a Dino TLC pass to be released throughout 2026, breathing new life into a classic creature of the ARK with updated gameplay and style. Up to four TLCs can be unlocked at the $120,000 milestone!

- ⚌ Giganotosaurus
- ⚌ Megalosaurus
- ⚌ Araneo
- ⚌ Quetzalcoatlus
- ⚌ Thylacoleo
- ⚌ Brontosaurus
- [color]🡅[/color] Carnotaurus
- [color]🡇[/color] Plesiosaur
- [color]🡇[/color] Megalodon
- [color]🡅[/color] Ankylosaurus
[h2][color]Donate now[/color] to any team member [color]listed here[/color] to ensure your vote counts![/h2]

When donating to anyone on the Studio Wildcard Extra Life Team, not just Studio Wildcard directly, include a message with your chosen creature’s full first name preceded by a hashtag, like this (we’ll do our best to identify typos, but try to spell them correctly!):
- #Giganotosaurus
- Hello #Giganotosaurus
- Please give #Giganotosaurus a TLC!


- Every $1 donated = 1 vote
- A $50 donation with #Giganotosaurus = 50 votes for Giganotosaurus
- Five $10 donations with #Giganotosaurus = 50 votes for Giganotosaurus (10 x 5)

To keep the vote balanced and consistent, eligible creatures must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a creature from The Island
- Must be tameable
- Must be rideable or a shoulder pet
- Must not have previously received a TLC pass
- The following creatures have already had a TLC pass and are not eligible:
- Argentavis
- Dire Bear
- Direwolf
- Gigantopithecus
- Mammoth
- Parasaur
- Procoptodon
- Raptor
- Tyrannosaurus Rex
- Sabertooth
- Sarcosuchus
- Spinosaurus
- Stegosaurus
- Triceratops
- Argentavis

- November 7 – First Winner
- November 14 – Second Winner
- November 21 – Third Winner
- November 28 – Final Winner


[color]Starting October 31st thru November 10th[/color], we’ll be rolling out a selection of the community’s favorite dino colors on the official network, along with a sweet twist in place of the traditional boosted donation rates. For the event, you’ll be able to dig into Cake Slices that grant hefty bonuses to:
- Taming
- Breeding
- Imprinting
- EXP
- Harvesting



[h3][color]ASA Build Template Contest Winners have now been chosen![/color][/h3]
[color]Four winning builds will be added as official in-game templates for everyone to use.[/color]
[color]Prizes[/color]
- 2 Community Winner – chosen by popular vote
- 2 Wildcard Winner – hand-picked by the Studio

Frontier Cabin by FreyaB

Luxurious Residential Base by ジャムおやじ


All-in-one Base by 青之スピノサウルス

Rustic Dino Stable by Jin




If you’re transferring or ascending to another server with an Armadoggo or Veilwyn in Companion Mode, be sure to exit Companion Mode first. Leaving it active may cause issues during the transfer.

Amazon is updating its certificate signing system, which will impact the Epic Online Services (EOS) SDK starting October 1. While this may not affect most players, Epic recommends ensuring your Windows system is fully up to date to avoid potential issues.
To help prevent any disruptions, Epic suggests the following steps (in order of ease):
- Update and run the Epic Games Launcher (if installed) — a new mitigation feature will be added in the coming weeks.
- Install the latest Windows Updates to ensure the required root certificate is present.
- Manually install the certificate by running this command in a Command Prompt window: https://account-public-service-prod03.ol.epicgames.com/account/


Our next Community Creature submission will take place in the simulated biomes of Genesis Part 1! From the crushing depths of the ocean trenches and volcanic hellscapes to the desolate lunar surfaces and treacherous bogs, this unique map offers an unparalleled variety of habitats for your real-world prehistoric creature to call home.
Start brainstorming your creature concepts and prepping those designs now, as submissions will open in the coming weeks. We’re excited to see how your creature adapts to the challenges of the simulation.
Please note that this creature will be released for Genesis Part 1, so make sure your real-world submissions are thematically suited to the map’s diverse environments. We’re always blown away by the creativity and passion the community brings to creature submissions and we can’t wait to see what wild things you’ll unleash this time around!



This weekend, the Official Network will be receiving bonus rates! It will be active until [color]Monday, September 29[/color].
- [color]PVP/PVE:[/color] 2x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience, and Breeding
- [color]Small Tribes: [/color]4.5x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience + 4x Breeding
- [color]ARKpocalypse:[/color] 5x Harvesting, Taming and Experience, and Breeding



Creator: SigmaTech72
In this mod spotlight, SigmaTech72 takes a closer look at the Hapipalus, part of the Overseer's Experiments Collection, by DragonHeart7998. Find out everything you need to know about this mutated Spinosaurus!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]
Creator: Songbird Gaming
Do you want a simple little trick you can use to break up the pattern of big stone walls on your next castle build? Songbird has a solution for you!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]

Autumn by @falco_luna

Fan Art by chara._.dreemurr

Procoptodon by nfttori

Danger Noodle by zombeastin49

Bird by jaxoj

Sleeping Megalosaurus by DarkSpark789

Fan Art by camo4546


Come with me by jokerthedragon


Photo Mode by tomboynerdy

Photo Mode by leraptorsauvage

Photo Mode by cosmicman5455

[h3]Enjoy your weekend!
Studio Wildcard[/h3]
Twitter: twitter.com/survivetheark
Discord: discord.com/invite/playark
Reddit: reddit.com/r/playark
Instagram: instagram.com/survivetheark
Twitch: twitch.tv/survivetheark
Steam: steamcommunity.com/app/346110
Youtube: youtube.com/survivetheark
Facebook: facebook.com/survivetheark
Threads: threads.net/@survivetheark
Official Wiki: ark.wiki.gg