Summary

  • ARK: Survival Ascended, the enhanced version of ARK: Survival Evolved, is set to release on Xbox Series X/S on November 14, with a PlayStation release scheduled for the end of November.
  • Xbox players will have crossplay with PC Steam gamers, and console-specific servers will be available for both Xbox and PlayStation players.
  • Despite some bugs and glitches, ARK: Survival Ascended has already reached impressive milestones and is expected to be optimized for its console launch.

Studio Wildcard has confirmed that ARK: Survival Ascended is coming to the Xbox platform before PS5. ARK: Survival Ascended is set to build on the foundations laid by ARK: Survival Evolved, but some players may be waiting longer to play it than others.

ARK: Survival Evolved has accumulated a large player base since its release, reaching over 150,000 players during its peak player count. Despite ARK: Survival Evolved continuing to be updated in recent months, a remake called ARK: Survival Ascended has entered early access on PC. Because of ARK's popularity, some of the player base remains dedicated to the original game, while others quickly gravitated toward ARK: Survival Ascended. Though PC early access has already begun, some last-minute issues are being resolved ahead of its console release. While the game is set to release on Xbox and PS5, developers have confirmed that ARK: Survival Ascended will reach Xbox players first.

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An ARK: Survival Ascended Community Crunch was recently released detailing the game's launch. According to the developers, ARK: Survival Ascended is set to release on Xbox Series X/S on November 14. Xbox Series X/S players can expect a build similar to ARK: Survival Ascended on PC when it launches on the platform. Cross-platform play with PC Steam gamers will be enabled on release, and console-specific servers will enable other gamers to encounter users on Xbox or PlayStation. Despite ARK: Survival Ascended releasing on Xbox Series X/S in the near future, PS5 fans will be waiting until the end of November.

A dinosaur in ARK: Survival Ascended

With no precise release date for ARK: Survival Ascended PS5 edition, the developer has stated that it's working on the final details with Sony. Similar to Xbox, ARK: Survival Ascended players on PS5 can engage with PlayStation or Xbox players or crossplay with Steam ones. Each game mode will also receive unique ARK: Survival Ascended servers with boosted rates that may help console players catch up to the level that some PC gamers are already at. ARK: Survival Ascended was released on October 25, and despite being a new game, many players have already hit impressive milestones.

Despite many PS5 players anticipating its release, ARK: Survival Ascended has been review bombed in its current state. While many early players still recommend ARK: Survival Ascended, it's a consensus that the game is full of bugs and glitches. While this may deter some potential ARK: Survival Ascended fans, it's notable that ARK: Survival Evolved went through similar growing pains in its early access phase. Because there are still ARK: Survival Ascended problems to iron out, it's unclear how optimized the game will be for its console launch.

Community Crunch Notes

Xbox Series X/S and Windows:

We’re on track for a November 14th (Tuesday) launch day! As we get closer to the launch, we’ll share more information on precisely when it should be available for you to download. The Xbox version will be up-to-spec with the latest PC functionality as of Nov 14, and will launch directly into crossplay with the PC version (along with new servers, including Xbox-only servers).

Playstation:

We’re hoping to have a more precise date to share with you soon as we’re currently finalizing this with Sony, but it is slated for the end of November. We know this isn’t ideal, but we’re optimistic we’ll be able to share a date very soon! Following the PC launch and the information and data we’ve gathered, we’ve decided to make some changes to our plans for the console launch. Here’s how everything is going to shake up:

Xbox Launch

  • Cross-platform with Steam will be enabled Day One.
  • We’ll be onlining a new set of Official Servers for the respective game modes (PVP, PVE, and Small Tribes). These servers will be running boosted rates for a period of time to allow players starting on them to catch up. Our hope is to synchronize the rates by mid-December.
  • We’ll also be onlining our first set of console-specific servers at this moment so that players who do not want to play on crossplay can play on those

PlayStation Launch

  • Cross-platform with Steam and Xbox will be enabled Day One
  • We’ll be onlining another new set of Official Servers for the respective game modes (PVP, PVE, and Small Tribes). These servers will be running with even higher boosted rates for a period of time to allow players starting on them to catch up. Our hope is to synchronize the rates by mid-December.
  • We’ll also be onlining an additional set of console-specific servers with higher rates that will get synchronized by mid-December

Of course, there have been a few bumps along the way, and we're working hard to address any issues that players are reporting. We’ve put out a record number of patches this week, but the patches can be summarized as

  • Bug fixes: We've fixed a number of bugs, including server crashes, dino spawn issues, and mesh exploits.
  • Performance improvements: We've made a number of performance improvements, including optimizing the dynamic navmesh system, server code (80%+ reduction in out-of-memory issues), and foliage. We're also pleased to announce that we've significantly reduced server RAM usage. This should improve the player experience and help make servers more accessible for everyone
  • Security improvements: We've added client-side protections to prevent players from listing unofficial servers as fake officials, and we've fixed a number of exploits.
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Ark: Survival Ascended Tag Page Cover Art

Ark: Survival Ascended
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Survival
Open-World
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Released
October 26, 2023
ESRB
T For Teen Due To Blood, Crude Humor, Game Experience May Change During Online Play, Use of Alcohol, Violence
Developer(s)
Studio Wildcard
Publisher(s)
Studio Wildcard
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Franchise
ARK
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Respawn into a new dinosaur survival experience beyond your wildest dreams… as ARK is reimagined from the ground-up into the next-generation of videogame technology with Unreal Engine 5! You awake on a mysterious island, your senses overwhelmed by the blinding sunlight and brilliant colors bouncing off every surface around you, the azure waters of a verdant Island lapping at your bare feet. A deep roar echoes from the misty jungle, jolting you into action, and you stand up – not afraid, but intrigued. Are you ready to form a tribe, tame and breed hundreds of species of dinosaurs and other primeval creatures, explore, craft, build, and fight your way to the top of the food-chain? Your new world awaits… step through the looking-glass and join it!

Genre(s)
Survival, Open-World