ARK: Survival Ascended News

Community Crunch 425: Aberration Launch and your new buddy, Cosmo!

Survivors, the countdown is almost over! On September 4th, dive into the new Aberration Ascended for ARK: Survival Ascended and explore fresh challenges. For those with Bob's Tall Tales, the Steampunk Ascent expansion is ready to take you even further into the unknown.

Download in full resolution

Launch Date: 4th of September
Time: Later in the day US Schedule -- we'll have a more accurate timeframe on release day!
Rates: We'll be increasing the rates for Aberration Official Servers to be equivalent to our 2x evolution events (so 1x servers get increased to 2x, and non-1x servers get a +2 increase on their rates), and this will run for the first two weeks of Aberration's launch

And a quick update on some of the different projects we've been working on:

AMD FidelityFX Frame Interpolation: This is working on all platforms, across all hardwares. So with the Aberration launch, players can expect to see an approximate 80% performance gain on consoles and PC (assuming they weren't already using frame generation).

Unreal Engine 5.4: The upgrade work is mostly complete. However, we're still putting it through our internal QA processes as there are a lot of changes that we need to make sure are stable before we can release this out to the wild. We're currently targeting sometime between October 15th and November 15th as the launch window for this update.

Aberration Ascended is more than just a map— it’s a complex ecosystem filled with dangers and beauty. Its treacherous landscape of eerie caves and intricate biomes will be yours to explore. Additionally, the free community-voted creature, Yi Ling, will join your ranks. This agile, wall-climbing raptor brings a deadly edge to your survival strategy with its razor-sharp quills and ability to adapt to many situations.

Bob's Tall Tales will expand once more with Steampunk Ascent, an expansion that takes you beyond the underground chaos of Aberration and into a world where gears, cogs, and steam power reign supreme. This paid expansion is free for all current Bob's Tall Tales owners, offering an exhilarating mix of innovation and adventure. Meet Cosmo, the web-slinging shoulder pet with a knack for getting you out of tight spots, and partner up with Sir-5rM8, your indispensable automaton companion, as you traverse the mechanical marvel of Steampunk Ascent.

Whether you're braving the depths or exploring new heights, we cannot wait to see you thrive in this dangerously alluring and unforgiving environment!

These coordinates correspond to several ratholes on The Center map that are will be fixed with the launch of Aberration. This is just the beginning, and we will continue to monitor and address more in the future.

cheat spi -279227 667141 42319 2.39 20.94
cheat spi 67657 357179 1400 -39.14 -74.85
cheat spi -446406 239107 -26706 31.42 -0.83

Our partners at Snail Games are excited to announce Season 2 of Official Conquest coming September 6th!

24 servers will be launched on Friday, September 6th at 10 am PDT.
The tribe limit is set to 25 with tribe Alliances allowed.
Limited Tek enabled (Tek structures, Tek Rifle)
No cave building or rat holes.
0.5x Mating Interval.
5x XP, Harvesting, taming, and Breeding (imprint, maturation, hatch/gestation)
Additional servers will be announced soon.
Maps include The Center, The Island, Scorched Earth, and Aberration.

Jump into the Conquest Discord to mingle with the community and stay up to date!

This weekend, the Official Network will be receiving bonus rates! It will be active until Tuesday, September 3.

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: Syntac
An Acrocanthosaurus tries to trick Syntac while he's attempting to tame it!
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Creator: Welyn feat. Porgie & ZChum
Welyn, Porgie and ZChum had a dream of a paradise on the back of an Oasisaur. Will they make their dream a reality?
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Shadowmane And Pyromane by 0-KRIS-0

6 minutes into Aberration be like: by @alkonavi

Art doll Dimetrodon by sayvaris

On this day, on this glorious day, I ascend! by @AShadowStone

Me and my friend's ARK survivors living their (not) best life by ampreh

The Arks of The Island and Scorched Earth over a corrupted Earth. by penguinlover583

ARK-Cake that I made by elisalein

Wyverns vs Birds by lolsatlance

Dinoattack by tkgoji230

Photo Mode by cosmicman5455

Photo Mode by zenith114

Antrodemus by @Muni_ark

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 Crunch 424: Behold, the ingenious automaton, Sir-5rM8!

As the fateful day of September 4th draws near, heralding the arrival of Aberration Ascended and Bob's Tall Tales: Steampunk Ascent, we find ourselves on the cusp of a monumental revelation. In the grand tradition of progress and invention, we present to you a masterwork unlike any other.

Download in full resolution

Behold a state-of-the-art automaton, a shining beacon of civilization in the lightless, labyrinthine depths! No common contrivance, such an extraordinary marvel of modern innovation could only have sprung from the mind of an unparalleled genius! So stand aside and prepare to be astounded by the incomparable Sir-5rM8!

This ingenious automaton was fashioned to assist Survivors of discerning taste. Do you find yourself overburdened with the complexities of day-to-day survival? Allow this marvel of mechanical engineering to attend to those unpleasant domestic chores for you! Whether it's repairing your structures, gathering useful resources, or carrying provisions, your indispensable clockwork companion will always perform its duties with impeccable precision and grace.

[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:

Cherry Blossom Trees Skins by Sandi_00
Improvised Weapons 1 by Raaawb
Improvised Weapons 2 by Raaawb
Paintable Weapon Digital Camo by Raaawb
Paintable Weapon Camo by Raaawb
Japanese Style Structures by Lettucefry1234
Western Decor Skins by Aaron Longstaff
Cartoon Crow by TeamMIROKU
Draconic Knight by Ave
Cliffans Weapon CCs: Vanilla Firearms by Cliffan
PinnochioCosmetics by Marfia
Dryad Fawnia by Gaia Studios
ARK Primal Nemesis by MrChaos (premium)
MarniiMods Griffins by MarniiMods
Feral Fauna: Majungasaurus by Lazuli_Live

Our partners at Snail Games are excited to announce Season 2 of Official Conquest coming September 6th!

12 servers will be launched on Friday, September 6th at 10 am PDT.
The tribe limit is set to 25 with tribe Alliances allowed.
Limited Tek enabled (Tek structures, Tek Rifle)
No cave building or rat holes.
0.5x Mating Interval.
5x XP, Harvesting, taming, and Breeding (imprint, maturation, hatch/gestation)
Additional servers will be announced soon.
Maps include The Center, The Island, Scorched Earth, and Aberration.

Jump into the Conquest Discord to mingle with the community and stay up to date!

This weekend, the Official Network will be receiving bonus rates! It will be active until Monday, August 26.

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: toastbloke
Toastbloke is trapped on Loser Island and must defeat a Giant Kaprosuchus to escape it!
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Creator: Skwirrelle
In this episode of "Was it real?" Skwirrelle looks at the fascinating story of the Deinotherium, a prehistoric giant that roamed from Africa to Europe and Asia.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

I named him Wuhzui by @SoupAscended

My partner introduced me to Ark one summer and it wasn't long before I was hooked by kitsabble

Happy Tappy by DynamiteSkye

Behind you! by @falco_luna

Gotta keep away the nasty nameless by @alkonavi

Sometimes, take it easy and relax by @rianeko_mabi

Chibi Spino by KOKOC

Photo Mode by bluesucho

Photo Mode by rottenluxx

Photo Mode by @ARKLove9

Reconstructing my base from a previous server with a few add ons! by .darussianboy

Welcome to the haunted house by bubu_0815

Community Crunch 423: Aberration Key Art, Althemia Premium Spotlight, and more!

We’re thrilled to reveal the key art for ARK: Aberration Ascended, launching on September 4th!

Aberration is a hauntingly beautiful, derelict ARK with a complex underground biome system. This upcoming release will bring us one step closer to remastering all of the content and sets the stage for the next chapter in Bob’s Tall Tales: Steampunk Ascended.

Download in full resolution

The Aberration Ascended DLC is included for free with ARK: Survival Ascended, allowing you to explore, tame, and conquer alongside our newest community-voted creature, the Yi Ling.

Plus, don’t miss the second installment of Bob's Tall Tales: Steampunk Ascent, included for all Tall Tales owners! This chapter introduces Cosmo, a web-slinging shoulder pet, and a gear-shifting steampunk-themed adventure.

We can’t wait for you to dive into this intoxicatingly dark chapter in ARK: Survival Ascended’s saga!

[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 ever across gaming platforms and stay tuned as we spotlight more Cross-Platform Mods each week!

This video features:

Althemia by j26arkitecto

65 million years before the Genesis Catastrophe, a world flourished, teeming with giants and powerful beings. Althemia, a realm of ancient splendor, a home to a rich tapestry of life—predators of untamed ferocity, majestic fliers gracing the skies, and aquatic creatures that ruled the depths.

This long-lost paradise was a land of magic and wonder, overflowing with trials and extraordinary moments that would test even the strongest of wills. Will you dare to challenge HEROS, a god who slumbers in peaceful stillness, awaiting his awakening? Or perhaps your path leads to the hidden caverns of Althemia, where untold dangers lurk in the shadows.

Venture through its vast, enchanting landscapes, each more exotic than the last. Are you destined to be a true survivor in this ancient world?

Our partners at Snail Games are excited to announce Season 2 of Official Conquest coming soon!

12 servers will be launched on Friday, September 6th at 10 am PDT.
The tribe limit is set to 25 with tribe Alliances allowed.
Limited Tek enabled (Tek structures, Tek Rifle)
No cave building or rat holes.
0.5x Mating Interval.
5x XP, Harvesting, taming, and Breeding (imprint, maturation, hatch/gestation)
Additional servers will be announced soon.
Maps include The Center, The Island, Scorched Earth, and Aberration.

Jump into the Conquest Discord to mingle with the community and stay up to date!

ARKpocalypse servers have been wiped today!

What are ARKpocalypse?

ARKpocalypse are monthly-wipe servers with higher than usual rates and monthly-curated mods.
Next wipe: September 13th

For the first round, the following mods will be included:

MarniiMods Hairstyles by MarniiMods
ARKomatic by Biggumzzz
The Sunken World Additions by snappin
Tristan's Additional Creatures- Vectispinus by Tristans_Modding
Upgrade Station by Ghazlawl
Mystery Crates by GodOfNoiseMods
Cliffans Backpacks by Cliffan_
Utilities Plus by blitzfire911

Get ready for a fresh, thrilling PVP experience every wipe!
You can join them by searching in the server browser! Happy Surviving!

Please note that Aberration will be added to ARKpocalypse servers next wipe on September 13th!

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

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
In this video, LolsAtLance guides you through creating a cozy medieval house, combining medieval aesthetics with modern functionality, making it an ideal home for any survivor.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Creator: FeralMoonDesigns
The Jerboa marks FeralMoon's biggest project so far. This incredible piece of art was made using Cosclay, acrylic paints, various flocks, sand ballast, and varnishes!
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Hot! by @ebiflyyyy4

Gift from my girlfriend. Eyeball pen done from studying the in-game dossier. by .unknowntitle

Here's my idea (or take) on a ARK 2 Spinosaurus by gman2006

Ambushed by Nachara

Back with another Render by @torres_visuals

Take Back The Ark by Alkonavi

Night by Spinogamer66

This Owl Griffin is the single cutest Creature ever! by @xSeamair

Establishing the first base in ASA by @OniwaYUKIUSA

Ghost by @cfcsoccer36

Everyone loves the dodo by @Muni_ark

You Can't Hide From Me by Bluejay

Community Crunch 422: Yi Ling Teaser, Mod Spotlight, and more!

A feathered fiend with a flair for the dramatic—part raptor, part rogue, and all sharp edges. Whether you're clinging to walls, dodging attacks, or launching volleys of barbed feathers, the Yi Ling is set to shake up your survival strategy. With a flick of its wings, it turns the tide with precision, launching razor-sharp quills that really cut to the point.

Be prepared, as the Yi Ling arrives free with Aberration on September 4th! This agile assassin doesn’t just wing it; it scales walls like it’s climbing the pecking order!

Download in full resolution

Housegrounder Outfit by RealJimmyBaguette
Goblin Costume by RealJimmyBaguette
Medieval Swords! by Raaawb
Medieval Pikes! by Raaawb
Deimos Cosmetics: Noglin by SurviveDeimos
Spino Costume Skin by TeamMIROKU
No Untameables by Myrmecoleontidae
Tek War map by Trixt3r
Scrapped Assets by ArmanGamer777
Colonial Expansion: Cottages by TrainspottingVagabond
MOUSHIWAKE GOZAIMASEN COS by TeamMIROKU

ARKpocalypse servers are getting a modded makeover!

Starting with the next wipe, on August 16th, we’ll be curating a selection of mods to enhance your ARKpocalypse experience.

For the first round, the following mods will be included:

MarniiMods Hairstyles by MarniiMods
ARKomatic by Biggumzzz
The Sunken World Additions by snappin
Tristan's Additional Creatures- Vectispinus by Tristans_Modding
Upgrade Station by Ghazlawl
Mystery Crates by GodOfNoiseMods
Cliffans Backpacks by Cliffan_
Utilities Plus by blitzfire911

Get ready for a fresh, thrilling PVP experience every wipe!
Please note that Aberration will be added to ARKpocalypse servers will begin on September 13th!

To celebrate athletes around the world showcasing their incredible efforts, the Official Network will receive bonus rates every weekend and Summer Games-inspired colors during the whole event from July 26th to August 12th!
Bonus rates and the colors will be active until Monday, August 12th!

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

Light Yellow
Dino Deep Blue
ActualBlack
Vermillion
Jade
Dino Albino
Red
Blue
DragonBase1
LightWarmGray
Peach

You can enable this event in your own game with the commandline: -OlympicColors

Fan Art Gallery | Screenshot Gallery | Artist Feedback Form

Creator: Veno featuring Raasclark
Season 4 of the Dingle Cup has begun, who will win the first point of the season?
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Creator: JoeLaFritt_ *international corner* Watch JoeLaFritt_ go through the trials of being an ARK survivor.
Regardez JoeLaFritt_ traverser les épreuves d'un survivant d'ARK.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Finally I Finished by i_am_lord_cooler

FishFishFish by @falco_luna

ARK 2 Spider by @SoupAscended

The Knight by @WolfTek7

"Rock Drake" from ARK by @SS38529630

Excited for Aberration!! by rockdrake_mama

Dwagon fire hot by naturalcauzes

Photo Mode by tingletony

Loyal night riders by jurassiccomedy

Photo Mode by tetheus_ek

Bob's gonna need a bigger boat! by @GPxGP

Photo Mode by baconseer

Community Crunch 421: 'Steampunk Ascent' Cosmo Dossier!

This week, we’re excited to give you a closer look at our sweet and fluffy friend, the Cosmo, with the release of the dossier. We are looking forward to seeing you zip through the world of Aberration, proving that the smallest hero can make a big difference. After all, with great power comes great responsibility.
Plus, don’t miss the latest major update to Club ARK, now featuring new mini-games and rewards!

Download in full resolution

Common name: Cosmo
Species: Cosmophasis Luxtextor Time: Neogene
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Skittish

I've found just the friend to get you through these low places, but you're going to need to keep an open mind. Though I guess anyone that's made it this far shouldn't be afraid of an itsy bitsy jumping spider. Not to mention that there's more to this shy little charmer than meets the eyes (all eight of 'em)...

With all the horrors crawling around down here, it's easy to see why any spider might be a bit jumpy. And why it might have needed a clever new trick of its own to keep the shadows at bay.

Cosmophasis seems to know when predators can be chased away by its glowing webbing. That same danger-sense tells the spider to turn out the light when something comes seeking it.

It's never easy to win someone over who's had to hide their light away in dark times. But once you do, you'll have a ride or die angle on your shoulder. Gain this spider's trust, and Cosmophasis will help you out of sticky situations and put its life in your hands for the toughest fights ahead. And I mean that literally.

Your fuzzy new friend can gobble up the webbing of larger spiders to recycle as ammunition. Then you can use it as a handheld web-shooter to slow down incoming enemies, snatch up items from the ground, and swing around like a spider-themed superhero!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
This update is packed with four brand-new mini-games that are sure to delight and challenge. Additionally, we've introduced a wardrobe, consumables, a new repair item, and a dino store — with a chance to get a rare color for your dino! Check out Club ARK now to dodge, race, and parkour your way through our latest missions and enjoy many fantastic new features and much more!

To provide more options and accessibility to Survivors, our partners at Nitrado are offering Club ARK specific server hosting options at a reduced rate! More info can be found here!

Arkitect’s Paradise by BenzomineraMods
Archelon (TLC) by Garuga123
Insaluna by ArmanGamer777
Medieval Structures & Viking Villages by Deckard
MSVV Towers by Deckard
Thor’s Hammer - Mjolnir Monument by Deckard

On April 8th, we deployed a new type of server across the network (for the various game types) that we refer to as "Expire" (which is what you can search for in the session filter).

These servers will be online until 10 am PST / 1 pm EST on August 3rd. We're preemptively using our allocation for Aberration to host some additional sessions that players can travel onto to farm, tame, and experience The Center Gameplay. The same transfer restrictions apply in that you are only able to download your character, but you can freely take anything off. This is to help reduce load off some of the other servers, or provide players an option for those who just want to jump onto The Center temporarily.

Please note that these servers will no longer exist after 10 am PST / 1 pm EST on August 3rd, so if you intend to use them, remember to transfer your items/creatures/characters off before that date, as nothing will be saved beyond that time period.

To celebrate athletes around the world showcasing their incredible efforts, the Official Network will receive bonus rates every weekend and Summer Games-inspired colors during the whole event from July 26th to August 12th!
Bonus rates will be active until Monday, August 5th, but the colors will stay!

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

Light Yellow
Dino Deep Blue
ActualBlack
Vermillion
Jade
Dino Albino
Red
Blue
DragonBase1
LightWarmGray
Peach

You can enable this event in your own game with the commandline: -OlympicColors

Fan Art Gallery | Screenshot Gallery | Artist Feedback Form

Creator: Sanyxs
Join Sanyxs as he discovers all the latest in Club ARK!
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Creator: KiahOnFire
The Monarrrrks are back with a new challenge. Who will sink & who will swim away victorious?
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Thank you all for participating in this contest! It was amazing to see the incredible effort put into your screenshots and fan art. As a reminder, the winners will receive codes for the Bob's Tall Tales DLC, featuring voice work by the iconic Karl Urban. Runner-up prizes include our Fantastic Tame: Pyromane.

Winners, please have DM's open so we can reach out. Winners will be contacted from an Official account via their platform of entry i.e.: Discord or Twitter.

Missed this contest? Keep an eye on our Discord or Twitter for future ones!

Fan Art by al1zzy

Fan Art by shockal

Fan Art by majesty6999

Fan Art by rasvim

Fan Art by rekami14

Photo Mode by cosmicman5455

Photo Mode by sweethoney3274

Photo Mode by donnsensei

Photo Mode by stinkerrr_

Photo Mode by ohnooo0oo0

Fan Art by dog._

Fan Art by kodamoonbear

Fan Art by rosababy

Photo Mode by @slummyzeru_

Photo Mode by @barton890