ARK: Survival Ascended News

Community Crunch 458: Introducing Bison!

This week, we’re giving you a closer look at the thundering titan of Ragnarok’s wilds: the Bison! Don’t let the fluff fool you—this burly heavyweight is all muscle, attitude, and herd-first loyalty. Whether you're looking to trample threats or milk a little extra value from your meals, the Bison brings both brawn and utility to your ranks

The Bison will stomp into ARK: Survival Ascended for free with the launch of Ragnarok Ascended on June 18th!

Download in full resolution

Common name: Bison
Species: Bison matrislac Time: Early Pleistocene
Diet: Herbivore
Temperament: Territorial

After dealing with the endless parade of strange creatures on the ARKs, it might feel like a pleasant surprise to run across some ordinary-looking buffalo! Just make sure to enjoy the local bison at a distance, if you’ve brought along anything as big as an allosaur -- they become aggressively territorial around larger predators.

Once provoked, you can expect these stubborn slabs of meat to fight until the bitter end. An agitated bison will throw that massive weight around to defend its herd even when overmatched. I watched one knock a T. Rex senseless before tossing the dazed king of the dinosaurs off a cliff!

Breaking one of these overstuffed bovines is tougher than you might think... All that extra bulk makes bison especially difficult to knock out. These loveable meatballs are worth taming, because they’ll fight for you as fiercely as their own herd. Your bison may not end fights quickly, but it will take a beating and tussle with just about any threat.

A tame mama bison will prove to be a useful dairy animal for your tribe, as long as she’s nursing. That milk is extremely nutritious and actually pairs well with some of the more interesting recipes Survivors have concocted. Any nearby baby creature will want some, once they smell it… Heck, even baby wyverns treat it like their own mother’s milk!

Hey Survivors, after careful assessment of our data, we've opted to commence the process of sunsetting a selection of our inactive official servers.

Our goal is to ensure that we're always delivering the best experience possible, and official servers exist to give the community a shared space to play without the need for private hosting. When we launch fresh content, typically, we put up more servers than we need in the long term to match the peak in user capacity; over time, these servers become ghost towns as players have dropped off and are waiting for the next major content release.

On the 20th of May, we will be sunsetting these inactive servers:

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We still intend to provide larger capacity at launches as much as possible to meet the higher need during those periods.

We’re working with our partners at Nitrado to offer these saves after the scheduled sunset through Nitrado’s interface. Please stay tuned for more details.

This weekend, the Official Network will be receiving bonus rates! It will be active until Monday, May 19.

PVP/PVE: 2x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience, and Breeding
Small Tribes: 4.5x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience + 4x Breeding
ARKpocalypse: 5x Harvesting, Taming and Experience, and Breeding

Fan Art Gallery | Screenshot Gallery | Artist Feedback Form

Creator: TiiaAurora
Tiia shares her top 10 must-have creatures to tame in ASA!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]

Creator: Vitality
Follow Vitality on his first day of his brand new solo adventure on the ARKpocalypse cluster!
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Basilosaurus by @SS38529630

Rock Drake by @kiba_tsume0220

What a small creature… by prismatixxkhaos

ARK Adventures: Chase in the Swamp by MaderivRose

Manamana Neckpillow by @artoni.bsky.social

New recruits by @TekARK_01

A noble giant by @WolfTek7

Photo Mode by trenchsurfer

Photo Mode by iamnessa

The village is almost done by dreadthesurvivor

What a lovely friendship I hope nothing bad happens. by zanite_

Photo Mode by chichuzilla

Enjoy your weekend!
Studio Wildcard

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

Community Bite: UE 5.5 and Roadmap Update

Download in full resolution

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
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Wood Half Railing
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Wood Ramp Corner
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Stone Half Pillar
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Metal Half Pillar
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Metal Half Beam
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Tek Half Pillar
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Frontier Half Pillar
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Frontier Half Beam
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Frontier Quarter Ramp
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Frontier Shallow Sloped Wall
Steampunk Half Pillar
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Steampunk Half Beam
Steampunk Half Thin Beam
Steampunk Half Railing
Steampunk Quarter Roof
Steampunk Quarter Stair
Steampunk Quarter Ramp
Steampunk Ramp Corner
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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

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

Community Crunch 457: Male Bison Reveal, LiveOps Update, Mods Spotlight & more!

After dealing with an endless parade of mutants, monsters, and elemental nightmares, there’s something oddly comforting about a good old-fashioned angry Bison.

While his nursing counterpart might be busy feeding the next generation, this stubborn slab of muscle is more interested in clearing out threats with sheer brute force.

Don’t expect a graceful fight—do expect a lot of headbutts, ground-shaking stomps, and an unrelenting drive to protect his herd no matter the odds. Whether he's staring down a Rex or tossing an Allosaurus off a cliff, the male Bison will be a force to be reckoned with.

Download in full resolution

From grassy valleys to icy cliffs, the Bison is ready to leave its mark when Ragnarok launches June 2nd.

We’ll be re-enabling mesh detection on Official Astraeos Servers starting Monday, May 19. When the map first launched, we temporarily disabled this system while we investigated reports of false positives. With recent adjustments now in place, we’re confident it can return to help protect fair play across the cluster. Thanks for your patience while we worked through it.

At launch, we temporarily increased the player cap on Astraeos servers to 100 to accommodate the wave of interest. Now that player activity has stabilized and server saves have grown, we’ll be returning the max player count to 70 per server on Monday, May 19. This change aligns Astraeos with the rest of the ASA network and helps ensure smoother performance during events and day-to-day play.

[previewyoutube][/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:

Bunker Structure Skins by Blitzfire911 (premium)
Packed Outfits (Male) by TheAndy445 (premium)
Ancient Wyvern Costume by Ave
Busher’s Wyvern Slayer Sword by MinyYamori
Davii Mullet by MinyYamori
Arketypes: Scotoharpes by Snappin, ZCI5250
Xyphias’ Creatures: Megisotherium by Xyphias
Xyphias’ Creatures: Enantiophoenix by Xyphias
Xyphias’ Creatures: Mischoptera by Xyphias
Xyphias’ Creatures: Charnia by Xyphias

This weekend, the Official Network will be receiving bonus rates! It will be active until Monday, May 12.

PVP/PVE: 2x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience
Small Tribes: 4.5x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience
ARKpocalypse: 5x Harvesting, Taming and Experience

Fan Art Gallery | Screenshot Gallery | Artist Feedback Form

Creator: Bemo Guinness
Bemo spends a productive day breeding Maeguanas and Gasbags.
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]

Creator: Etholdir
Follow Etholdir's guide to build a simple yet efficient Astraeos base.
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]

Therizinosaurus by @cat22nyaa

Blue Boy by nezasumi

Ice Wyvern by @SoupEvolved

Will you be my mommy? by poisonivie88

Pyromane by BonnieFoxxx

I'm looking forward to seeing the griffin chicks soon. by @k3zk_627

Bleep Bleep FenderFTW is a sheep! by @CharliSpirit

Photo Mode by soittoday

Photo Mode by frozen_soap

Photo Mode by legendofdraguero

A beast that shakes the Earth by cosmicman5455

Photo Mode by eryn_galen

Community Crunch 456: Griffin Reveal, Mods Spotlight and more!

They’ve been fast, fierce, and a fan favorite for years, so Griffin lovers, rejoice! With the arrival of Ragnarok in ARK: Survival Ascended, we’re excited to grant a long-standing community wish: Griffins will be breedable.

Whether you’re divebombing into combat or planning your next Wyvern heist, take to the skies with a new generation of Griffins—raised, trained, and imprinted—opening up new possibilities for one of our most iconic flyers!

Download in full resolution

[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:

Axolotl Plushy Cat Costume! by Beyonx
Tek Drill by Zarthan_X
Razortooth Therizino Costume by Beyonx
Deathworm Basilisk Costume by Beyonx
Castlecraft Decor Skins by AaronLongstaff, CrazyRespawn
Undead Threads by Sandi_00
The Extreme Creatures: Tyrannosaurus by Pat1419
Trophy Table by Igotups21
Cliffan’s Additional Critters by Cliffan_
The Ports of Atlas by Hazearil

ARKpocalypse servers have been wiped today!

What is ARKpocalypse?

ARKpocalypse are monthly-wipe servers with higher than usual rates.
Next wipe: May 30th, 2025

For this round, the following mods will be included:

Paleo ARK - Evolution | Dangerous Depths by UpFromTheDepths
ARKOLOGY: New Encounters by DragonHeart7998
Cyrus's Critters: Redpanda by cyrusCreates
Better Breeding by Silentrizz
Pull It! by thinkaboutit___
Vanilla with Sprinkles by DelilahEve
Human_NPCs_ASA by ZoneKi11er

You can join them by searching in the server browser! Happy Surviving!

Fan Art Gallery | Screenshot Gallery | Artist Feedback Form

Creator: ProperlySpoopi
Here's a great guide to start taming your very own Zaldrir!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]

Creator: Phlinger Phoo
Follow Philinger and Phoo on their 5 Tame Challenge on Scorched Earth!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]

The trilobites don't attack on the beach in the beginning, and I really like their appearance. by @Mio301130

Greater hands guide me than my own by nanostel

So We Fought the Best Tribe in ARK by @SirDripstein

Fan Art by rov12.

Scorched Kit by Tox

Rock Drake Lord of the Sky by ScorpionSFM

Cheers by @falco_luna

Shiny Peep-colored Owl Griffin by snogryphon

Photo Mode by dinokiller120

Photo Mode by dreadthesurvivor

Peekaboo by angelss27

Done a bit of work outside my cathedral by jibbenbuilds

Community Crunch 455: Bison Reveal, Mod Spotlight and More!

Stampeding into Ragnarok with a whole lotta fluff and zero chill, the Bison is your horned heavyweight champion of headbutts and highland havoc! This community-voted bruiser isn’t just bringing brute force, (though trust us, it’s got plenty of that) it’s also packing some surprisingly nourishing qualities for those wise enough to keep it close. Whether it’s terrorizing would-be threats or just being the burly barnyard buddy you didn’t know you needed, the Bison is ready to make its mark, one glorious thud at a time.

The Bison thunders onto the ARK with the launch of Ragnarok on June the 2nd. From snow-capped peaks to sun bathed meadows, this bovine behemoth is ready to make the wilds of Ragnarok its stomping ground!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77FkLbwMgdw

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:

CozyCabins: Premium Structures Skin Set by Sandi_00 (Premium)
Arman’s Goofy Skins by Armangamer777
Botanist Catalogue by Fernandess
Cozy Flora: Floral Decor by Sandi_00
Lightbug Rhynio Costume! by Beyonx
ReapWyrm Wyvern Costume! by Beyonx
Flora Moderna Lite by Sandi_00
LF Structure Skin - Seamless Wall by LettuceFry1234
Medieval Gear by UraNuS
Cyrus’ Critters: Redpanda by CyrusCreates
Pygmy Hippo by Brandimade
The Extreme Creatures: Tyrannosaurus by Pat1419

Upcoming Official Server Maintenance

At 3:00 PM PT (6:00 PM ET) on April 27th we will be taking down some of our servers for maintenance. We expect operations to conclude by 12:00 AM PT (3 AM ET), though some servers may return before the end of the maintenance window. Time will not progress on any of the affected servers
whilst undergoing maintenance.

Thread here

This weekend, the Official Network will be receiving bonus rates! It will be active until Monday, April 28.

PVP/PVE: 3x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience, and Breeding
Small Tribes: 5.5x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience + 5x Breeding
ARKpocalypse: 6x Harvesting, Taming and Experience, and Breeding

Fan Art Gallery | Screenshot Gallery | Artist Feedback Form

Creator: Apex
Apex discovers more new creatures and starts building a unique base.
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]

Creator: ShADDow
ShADDow mutated Dilophosaurus and put them to the test so you don't have to!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]

I drew my child by @maMe_buDo

Tapejara by RoysBrushStudios

Rock Drake by @kiba_tsume0220

Mei-chan, could you please make some human food for me too? by @sis_6193

Easter Egg by @falco_luna

Yi ling from Aberration by theironwolf45

Strange creature of the contaminated areas by @shar_dragon

The alpha carno by tomboynerdy

Photo Mode by angelss27

At last... by @HotaruIkaMC

A cat-shaped base by @oititukumono

What else do you need if you have these two as your companions? by tlk08