Ark: Survival Evolved’s official servers will be shutting down today, marking the end of an era for players who have invested countless hours in the game. The closure is a necessary step in the development of Ark: Survival Ascended, a piecemeal remake that will soon be available on Steam Early Access. At midnight UTC, a snapshot of all player saves will be taken, providing an opportunity for players to download and continue their adventures offline or on private dedicated servers. However, it’s important to note that items, dinos, and characters saved to the ARK cloud will not be included in the save, so players must download anything they want to keep before the save takes place.
Ark: Survival Ascended is not just a simple makeover of its predecessor. It aims to breathe new life into the dino-breeding survival game by switching to Unreal Engine 5 and implementing changes to the codebase. The remake also promises additional functionalities, including crossplay with console releases. However, the primary goal of Ark: Survival Ascended is to fund the development of Ark 2. According to a Q&A posted on Steam, the studio behind the game recognizes the challenges of creating a next-generation sequel while discontinuing paid expansion packs. Generating revenue from the remake is crucial for the long-term survival of the studio, especially since Ark 2 is designed as a Souls-like adventure. Despite this ambitious plan, Studio Wildcard ensures that the classic ARK experience will still be available to the community.
Survival Ascended promises several exciting changes to the game’s aesthetics and mechanics. Players can expect new creatures, improved structures, and a revamped island layout. One of the highlights is the graphical upgrade, taking full advantage of Unreal Engine 5’s impressive water and physics effects. However, it’s worth mentioning that not all expansion content from Survival Evolved will be available at launch. The developers acknowledge that the remake may have some bugs initially, hence the decision to hold off on enabling crossplay for Steam PC users. The focus is on addressing any issues promptly and ensuring a stable experience for players before expanding to other platforms.
Despite the anticipation surrounding Survival Ascended, there is a lack of gameplay footage available to the public. Studio Wildcard assures interested buyers that a trailer and screenshots will be released before the game’s October launch. This move is crucial in helping players make informed decisions about purchasing the remake. In terms of pricing, Ark 2’s initial delay led to changes in the bundle offered to players. Initially, Survival Ascended was meant to be a free upgrade for existing players. However, the altered deal removed the Ark 2 pre-order from the bundle and introduced a pre-order of the expansion remasters at a higher price. The project’s subsequent delay in July resulted in a further change to the pricing structure.
As someone who only played a small amount of Ark: Survival Evolved, the pricing and marketing decisions surrounding Survival Ascended seem perplexing. The game’s initial success, with over 30 million copies sold and many more players through Game Pass, raises questions about the value proposition for existing players. The idea of paying $40 or $45 to participate in an Early Access remake of a game that has already been purchased, all in the hopes of supporting the development of a sequel that may not appeal to fans of the original, feels questionable at best. It remains to be seen whether players will be willing to invest in a partial remake of a scuppered game based on promises and limited information.
The impending shutdown of Ark: Survival Evolved’s servers marks the end of an era. Survival Ascended presents an ambitious remake that aims to fund the development of Ark 2. However, concerns arise regarding its value and appeal, particularly for existing players who have already invested in the original game. The lack of gameplay footage and the pricing adjustments further contribute to the uncertainty surrounding the remake. As the launch of Survival Ascended draws closer, players will need more concrete information to make an informed decision about their continued involvement in the Ark franchise.
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