ARK: Survival Ascended News

Hey Survivors, it’s been a busy week behind the scenes as we continue refining Extinction Ascended and Bob’s Tall Tales: Wasteland War. As always, thanks for sharing your feedback and valuable bug reports with us, your patience and support are appreciated!



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Survive, thrive, and morph in style on February 6th with the Power Rangers Wave 2!




Let’s talk about breeding. We’ve been doing some internal investigation on ASA’s breeding system and we’re going to carry out some tests this weekend to gather some more specific data on our Official Network while no event is active. We’ll then do the same testing again the following weekend during an active breeding event (yay!).

We’re hoping this data can be used to help us make some optimization improvements to the system, so that when the events are active, they’re less likely to have an impact on server performance.

We know how important these events are to you for the quality of life they add to breeding; it’s something we’re working on, and we’re exploring different ways this can be achieved.


[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:

• Shoko’s Deco Gold Cosmetic by Shokomaki
  
• Cyborg Cosmetic by CyrusCreates
  
• Icy Winter Skins Lite by R0sered
  
• Cubic Helmets by MinyYamori
  
• Grumy Gangster Monkey by MinyYaomori
  
• Starry Night Structure Skins by Sandi_00
  
• Cat Girl by Ave
  
• Ethereal ARK by Mas11ter
  
• S-Dino Variants - Fantastic Tames by Nekatus
  
• Prodigal Additions: Gashadokuro by TaronCapala, CyrusCreates
  
• B+ Platforms by Boss_89
  
• Paleo ARK Ascension by Team Paleo ARK
  
• Scrap Age: Weapons by ScriptosaurusCR
  
• Vegetation Planters by ReinerSCT
  

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Unleash your imagination and transform your ARK experience with our latest premium mods!

Additions Ascended: Edmontonia
Meet the Edmontonia, a tanky, flame-wielding herbivore roaming the Redwoods, Grasslands, and Deserts of the ARK. With spines coated in flammable powder and a flick of its tail, it scorches threats in its path. Perfect for gathering minerals and sparkpowder, this formidable companion even boasts a flamethrower saddle, turning it into a mobile, fiery turret for two passengers. Set the world ablaze with this fiery addition!

World Builder
World Builder is the ultimate admin tool for shaping your ARK world directly from the game. Use its intuitive interface to add or remove objects and craft custom landscapes with ease. Featuring a single, multifunctional tool, this mod empowers you to create the ARK you’ve always dreamed of—right at your fingertips.

This video features:

• Additions Ascended: Edmontonia by Garuga123
  
• World Builder (Freemium) by Lordan_LaFleur
  

This weekend, the Official Network will be receiving bonus rates! It will be active until Monday, January 27.

• 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: Tyzaew
Garuga's Edmontonia is put to the test against mighty foes!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]

Creator: NikkiPenelope Plays
Nikki tames some Deinosuchus and attempts to complete an Orbital Supply Drop!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]



Vice is coming by @thekevin_d


Drew my favorite mosa by @smantisdraws


cascadingcaramel by Part 13 of Drawing Every Dino Dossier.


Tapejara by zenith114


A Managarmr by undeadbutler


Art Ascended's Art Trials by rainesaur


Ascended Acrocanthosaurus Design by nightmysteryprime




Photo Mode by chichuzilla


Oh oh.. by tkgoji230


The apocalypse by tae94


Weathering the Storm by spoopi


Photo Mode by mhostg


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

Hey Survivors and welcome to another edition of the Community Crunch. We hope you’ve had time to dig into the high-level road map we shared last week and it’s awesome to see the community buzzing with excitement. Meanwhile we’ve been heads down tackling fixes for Extinction and working on upcoming content. Speaking of…



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We are excited to announce that Astraeos, created by the talented Nekatus and sponsored by Nitrado, is ascending into being an Official Partner DLC!

Originally slated as our “June Premium Map Surprise,” we’re bringing it forward– Astraeos will now launch on February 12th for $14.99 as a full-fledged and fully-supported DLC, instead of a Premium Mod!

This stunning -264km² map will be available on all platforms and fully integrated into the main clusters with official servers, making it a seamless addition to your ARK worlds.

But the tale of Astraeos doesn’t end at launch. Like myths of old, it will grow over time as Nekatus continues to shape the world, adding new realms, updates and challenges worthy of the gods.

Mark your calendars for February 12th and prepare for a massive mythical adventure!







[previewyoutube]MODSPOLIGHTLINK[/previewyoutube]

Discover an exciting array of mods in our showcase: dominate the wild with the deadly yet loyal Gigantophis, redefine your strategy with Sparky, a customizable dragon companion, and light up your world with Neon Structure Skin, transforming over 66 structures into glowing futuristic designs. Complete the look with Jams' NeoTokyo Cosmetics, offering cyberpunk-inspired player and gear customizations for a dystopian edge.

This video features:

• Moro's Gigantophis by MoroNada
  
• Sparky by brunoamaraltm
  
• Neon Structures Skin by SnowyTrain
  
• Jams' NeoTokyo Cosmetics by Jams_uWu
  

This weekend, the Official Network will be receiving bonus rates! It will be active until Monday, January 20.

• 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: Syntac
Syntac tames a Desolatitan and tests its abilities!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]

Creator: Gingarella
In this video, Gingarella shows you a great method to defeat the Forest Titan solo on Official PVE!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]



Sky mid-battle against a corrupted Rex (Art trade with  @WolfTek7) by @TekARK_01


Locke next to a tek trike (Art trade with  @TekARK_01) by @WolfTek7


The Aberration is fun by @kiba_tsume0220


Gassy Bags by @SoupAscended


ARK Shastasaurus by dragon0415sk


Gasbags are so cute! by prettylilfreak_


Evo Giganotosaurus by nezuyu




Photo Mode by frozen_soap


Photo Mode by cosmicman5455


Photo Mode by catcat_wesley


Photo Mode by mimuspolyglottos


Photo Mode by moda_moda_moda


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

Happy New Year and welcome back, we hope you had a fantastic holiday season and are feeling rested after spending quality time with family, friends, and dinos! We’re going to cut straight to chase and bring you in to take a quick glance at a very high-level ASA content roadmap.



Get ready for the next chapter in the ARK universe, ARK: Lost Colony drops this November, with pre-orders starting in April, when you’ll be able to enhance your immediate survival with early access to new gameplay systems and exclusive content.

Prior to Lost Colony’s November launch, the team also has scheduled these major content releases:

• March 2025: ASA Unreal Engine 5.5 update
  
• April 2025: Free Ragnarok Ascended, Bison (Free Creature), and a Fantastic Tame
  
• June 2025: A new premium map in June (to be announced)
  
• August 2025: Free Valguero Ascended with a community-voted free creature, and Fantastic Tame
  

With the ongoing work throughout the year, we want to take a bit more time to give the Genesis Ascended remaster the love and attention it deserves, and we’re now looking at:

• April 2026: Free Genesis Ascended Part 1 & Bob's True Tales Part 1
  
• August 2026: Free Genesis Ascended Part 2 & Bob's True Tales Part 2
  
• December 2026: Free Fjordur Ascended with a community-voted free creature
  
• 3 Fantastic Tames spread throughout the year
  

Over the course of the year, we’ll be sharing juicy details, sneak peeks, and reveals about all of this and more in our crunches, so stay tuned for more news!



We still have a lot more going on behind the scenes so let’s touch on a few things the team’s currently working on:

• There’s steady progress being made on the Unreal Engine 5.5 upgrade, which will bring a range of impactful performance improvements along with our ongoing work splitting DLC maps into optional downloads so you’ll have more control over your storage space.
  
• Nvidia Frame Generation is also a priority, and we’re aiming to reintroduce it as an option very soon – we’re as eager to get it back in as you are to have it!
  

Throw in some more surprise content additions, and we’re looking at a jam-packed first quarter of 2025!


Since returning from the break, the team has been busy reviewing the feedback you've shared with us about Extinction and Bob's Tall Tales: Wasteland War. Your bug reports have been invaluable, and we want to extend a massive thanks to everyone who took the time to help us identify and address these issues.
Here’s what we’re focusing on right now:

• Creature spawning issues: We’re working on various creature spawn issues across Extinction.
  
• BattleRig functionality: Some of you have reported hiccups with the rigs, and we’re diving into the mechanics to ensure they’re running smoothly.
  
• Crash fixes: Stability is a top priority for us, and we’re tackling crashes reported during gameplay, particularly on specific hardware configurations.
  
• General improvements: Addressing bug reports that came in with the Extinction launch
  
• Fixing exploits: We’ve been iterating quickly on exploits that violate our Code of Conduct. Please report players breaking the CoC click here

These updates will arrive along with a slew of miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements such as a bunch of Armadoggo fixes/QoL, fixing harvesting claimed nodes on PVE, various level design fixes (mesh holes etc), extinguisher grenade fixes, Tinkering Desk and more.
Keep those reports coming, and stay tuned for updates as we roll out a slew of fixes and improvements!




On Monday, January 13, Official Modded servers will receive config and settings updates:

• Nyrandil will be added to the cluster
  
  • Nyrandil players: Please ensure there’s nothing in your cloud storage, as the merge will remove all items.
• Atlantis transfers will open.
  
• Appalachia transfers will remain closed.
  

Thank you for your cooperation, and happy surviving!





[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:

• Nekatus’ Nordic Skins by Nekatus_Modding
  
• Deimos Cosmetics: Roman Empire Wardrobe by SurviveDeimos
  
• Shoko’s Neon Cosmetic by Shokomaki
  
• No Untameables - Reaper Queens by Myrmecoleontidae
  
• Myrm’s custom Creations - Dracoteuthis by Myrmecoleontidae
  
• Paddletail Spino by MurtBurt
  
• The Extreme Creatures: Spino by Pat1419
  
• Arkology - Desolatitan by Dragonheart7998
  

ARKpocalypse servers have been wiped today!

What are ARKpocalypse?

• ARKpocalypse are monthly-wipe servers with higher than usual rates.
  
• Next wipe: February 7th, 2025

For this round, the following mods will be included: 

• Any Colour Sets [Crossplay] by EclipseModding
  
• Auto Fishery by GaiaStudios
  
• Paleo ARK - Evolution | Apex Predators (Crossplay) by UpFromTheDepths
  
• Aussie Additions Diamantinasaurus by nickbs2
  
• Dino Shop by sektor50000
  
• Prefabs: Medieval Town by Gaia Studios
  
• Colossuscorpius by GryphePadar
  
• ARK Wilds: Sivatherium by wildwaghorn

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




This weekend, the Official Network will be receiving bonus rates! It will be active until Monday, January 13.

• 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: LolsAtLance
Welcome to the ultimate All-in-One Wasteland Base building tutorial for ARK: Extinction Ascended!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]

Creator: PrettyLilFreak
The most complete guide on Gasbag, from their lore (probably) to their taming process, with a twist!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]



Corrupted Wyvern by heroicdino16


Delusional Crystal Wind Managarmr by @rianeko_mabi


Armadoggo by @SS38529630


Let's go buddy! by @falco_luna


And we can't live if we're too afraid to die by nanostel


Fan Art by akeunyub


The King of Shadows by starld77




Photo Mode by catcat_wesley


Wasteland Stego by nemesisstar


Photo Mode by ivydrax


Mad Max Ranch almost finished by venkou902189


Photo Mode by dinokiller120


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

Survivors,

As the end of the year approaches, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on what makes this season truly special—not just the festivities, but the connections we share. For many, this time of year can be full of warmth and laughter, but it can also be a little lonely. That’s where gaming communities like ours shine brightest. Together, we’ve built a space where friendships thrive, adventures are shared, and no one has to face the world (or the wilds) alone.

It’s been a roar-some journey and we’re so grateful to have you along for the ride. From the epic stories you’ve created to the incredible support you’ve shown us, you’ve been at the heart of everything we do. Whether you’re taming apex predators, building elaborate (or square) bases, or just enjoying the quiet beauty of a sunrise in-game, you’ve made this world, and our community, something truly special.

So, here’s to you, Survivors. To the friendships formed, the laughs shared, and the memories yet to come. As we step toward a new year together, we’re excited for what’s ahead—new challenges, new adventures, and, of course, more ways to bring us all closer and have fun.

Thank you for being part of our tribe. How ever you’re spending this season, know that you’re never alone here.

Stay safe, stay wild, and stay connected.


The Studio Wildcard Team

The night sky sparkles gifts falling from the sky, and the faint jingle of bells echoes across the ARK—it can only mean one thing: RaptorClaus is back! Sailing through the midnight sky in his festive sleigh, he’s dropping gifts packed with high-end loot, Mistletoe for the nice, and Coal for the naughty. Keep your eyes on the skies, Survivors—the holiday magic is about to begin!



Download in full resolution

Deck the halls with boughs of holly! Winter Wonderland returns with new presents and goodies for ARK survivors. The epic winter-themed holiday event begins on December 23, 2024, and will be live until January 9, 2025, on Official Servers.

• December 23rd to January 9th
  

• 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
  

• RaptorClaus
  
• Santa's Big Helper Yeti - Drops Coal and Mistletoe.
  
• Abominable Snowman - Drops Coal and Mistletoe.
  
• Pegomastax Grouch- Drops Coal and Mistletoe. Steals Gift Boxes in return for a special reward.
  
• Wild Rideable Reindeer - Drops Coal and Mistletoe. Can be fed Rockarrot and ridden for additional drop amounts.
  
• Gacha Claus *NEW*
  *Event-specific recipes are now on the Smithy instead of the Cooking Pot

• RaptorClaus
  
• Hyaenadeer
  
• Chibi-Festive Bulbdog (Green) *NEW*
• Chibi-Festive Bulbdog (Red) *NEW*
• Chibi-Festive Featherlight (Green) *NEW*
• Chibi-Festive Featherlight (Red) *NEW*
• Chibi-Festive Glowtail (Green) *NEW*
• Chibi-Festive Glowtail (Red) *NEW*
• Chibi-Festive Shinehorn (Green) *NEW*
• Chibi-Festive Shinehorn (Red) *NEW*
• Chibi-Gacha Claus *NEW*
• Chibi-Reindeer *NEW*
• White-Collar Kairuku Chibi *NEW*

• Happy Clap Emote
  
• Nutcracker Dance Emote
  
• Shiver Emote
  
• Snow Angel Emote
  
• Jolly Jump Emote *NEW*
• Caroling Emote *NEW*

• Blue-Ball Winter Beanie Skin
  
• Candy Cane Club Skin
  
• Christmas Bola Skin
  
• Dino Ornament Swimsuit Skins
  
• Felt Reindeer Antlers Skin
  
• Gray-Ball Winter Beanie Skin
  
• Green-Ball Winter Beanie Skin
  
• HLN-A Winter Beanie Skin
  
• Jerboa Wreath Swimsuit Skins
  
• Megaloceros Reindeer Costume
  
• Noglin Regift Winter Beanie Skin
  
• Noglin Swimsuit Skins
  
• Nutcracker Slingshot Skin
  
• Purple-Ball Winter Beanie Skin
  
• Purple-Ball Winter Beanie Skin (Winter Wonderland 5)
  
• Raptor Sleighing Winter Beanie Skin
  
• Red-Ball Winter Beanie Skin
  
• Santa Costume Skin
  
• Santa Hat Skin
  
• Snowy Winter Beanie Skin
  
• Ugly Carno Sweater Skin
  
• Ugly Chibi Sweater Skin
  
• Ugly Bronto Sweater Skin
  
• Ugly Bulbdog Sweater Skin
  
• Ugly Caroling Sweater Skin
  
• Ugly Noglin Regift Sweater Skin
  
• Ugly Raptor Claws Sweater Skin
  
• Ugly Rockwell Sweater Skin
  
• Ugly T-Rex Sweater Skin
  
• Yeti Swimsuit Skins
  
• Full-body Krampus Costume Player Character Skin/Cosmetic
  
• Santa’s Workshop Smithy Structure Skin
  
• Festive Forge Structure Skin
  
• Gingerbread Person Costume *NEW*
• Snowman Hat *NEW*
• Winter Gloves *NEW*
• Candycane Pike Skin *NEW*
• Candycane Spike Wall *NEW*

 

• Coal
  
•  Festive Dino Candy
  
•  Gift Box
  
•  Holiday Lights
  
•  Holiday Stocking
  
•  Holiday Tree
  
•  Mistletoe
  
•  Snowman
  
•  Wreath
  

• ActualBlack
  
• Cyan
  
• DeepPink
  
• Dino Dark Purple
  
• Mint
  
• Lavender
  
• Dino Light Purple
  
• Dino Light Blue
  
• DragonGreen0
  
• Jade
  
• PineGreen
  
• SpruceGreen
  
• DarkMagenta
  
• Glacial
  
• PowderBlue
  
• Teal
  
• DarkViolet
  
• Red
  
• Green
  
• Light Grey
  
• Light Red
  
• Dark Red
  
• Dino Light Red
  
• Dino Light Green
  
• Dino Medium Green
  
• Dino Albino
  
• NearWhite
  
• Yellow
  

• From the Main Menu, select the mod tab.
  
• Search for Winter Wonderland in the ARK Mod list and Install it. Mod ID: 927090
• After it's installed, go back to your game setup screen and select 'Mod Settings'
  
• You will see Winter Wonderland and any other mods you've downloaded in 'Available Mods'
  
• Select Winter Wonderland and activate it.
  

• If you would like to enable Winter Wonderland on your private servers, please add the mod ID to your server command-line launch arguments (-mods=modID). No other changes should be necessary to activate the event.
  Mod ID: 927090.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Gear-up for 'Wasteland War' on ARK Extinction, the thrilling conclusion of Bob’s Tall Tales! Drive through the desolate wastes in highly-customizable cars called 'BattleRigs—with over 10,000 possible variations—and blaze your own high-octane trail of destruction. Build an epic wasteland stronghold with new structures to defend your tribe's legacy against all challengers. Equip yourself with explosive spears and fire-quenching grenades to dominate the battlefield. Tame the loyal Armadoggo, a unique permanent companion you can outfit with powerful armor attachments to unlock incredible new abilities. So fuel-up, kick the tires, and forge your destiny as the ruler of this post-apocalyptic world!

[h3]Buy the expansion pass now on Steam![/h3]



Finish your journey through the worlds of ARK in ‘Extinction’, where the story began and ends: on Earth itself! An Element-infested, ravaged planet filled with fantastical creatures both organic & technological, Earth holds both the secrets of the past and the keys to its salvation. As a veteran Survivor who has conquered all previous obstacles, your ultimate challenge awaits: can you defeat the gigantic roaming Titans which dominate the planet, and complete the ARK cycle to save Earth's future?

Check out the full post here


This weekend, the Official Network will be receiving bonus rates! It will be active until Monday, December 23.

• 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: Etholdir
Watch Etholdir build an incredible Christmas Village just in time for the Holidays!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]

Creator: SongbirdGaming
Listen to this fun twist on a holiday classic: "Am Armadoggo for Christmas"!
[previewyoutube]YOUTUBE URL[/previewyoutube]



When the Fear is Ascended by sillymillipede


Near the end by @WolfTek7


Fan art by Rasvim


Chibi T-Rex by KOKOC


Wyverns by charyzard-art


Chibi of Helena's canon design by ashamazingg


Shadowmane - handmade art doll by sayvaris




Photo Mode by frozen_soap


Photo Mode by bluejay9675


A prehistoric encounter by nemesisstar


Photo Mode by brini2715.


Base on The Island​​​​​​​ by posejdoon


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