Studio Wildcard has announced a revised development roadmap for Ark: Survival Ascended, pushing back the highly anticipated Unreal Engine 5.5 update to June 2, 2023. The update remains the team's top priority and promises significant performance enhancements for survivors across all platforms.
Engine Upgrade Brings Major Performance Improvements
The upcoming UE 5.5 update for Ark: Survival Ascended will deliver immediate benefits including enhanced rendering capabilities and drastically reduced load times. Perhaps most welcome for players with limited storage space, the update will restructure game packaging to make non-Island maps optional downloads, significantly reducing the base installation size.
Alongside these technical improvements, June 2nd will bring anniversary content including the Surprise Cake, Birthday Suit Shirt, and Birthday Suit Pants. Players can also look forward to the Egg Incubator with improved hatching functionality, plus over 100 new building pieces across various materials.
Lemnokis Content Update Expands Astraeos
The "Lemnokis" content update will introduce a brand new island to Astraeos featuring multiple diverse biomes. Survivors can explore snowy redwoods, warm redwoods, valleys, forests, and discover new building caves throughout the terrain.
Ocean explorers haven't been forgotten, with new deep-sea areas and a special location called "The Maelstrom" added to the underwater world. Club ARK subscribers will enjoy an Island retheme featuring a nostalgic tropical vibe, while all players benefit from the new Single Player Backup Saves functionality across all platforms.
Face the Mighty Duo-Miniboss
The update introduces Ark: Survival Ascended's first duo-miniboss encounter: Kalydonios & Erymanthian. These massive boars present a formidable challenge, attacking survivors with a devastating combination of fire and poisonous gas attacks.
Ragnarok Map Rescheduled to June 18th
Following the engine update, players can look forward to the fully remastered version of the fan-favorite Ragnarok map on June 18, 2023. This release will also introduce the free Bison creature and the first installment of Lost Colony Expansion Pass content, described as "Day Zero Content" that serves as the first step into an upcoming full-sized canonical expansion pack.
Important Notice for Mod Creators
Mod creators should note that all mod cooks and updates will be temporarily paused from May 20, 2023, until the 5.5 engine update releases. Anyone maintaining mods should ensure all updates are submitted before this deadline to avoid disruption.
For the complete roadmap details, players can check the official high-resolution roadmap image or follow Studio Wildcard on their various social media channels.