This week was once all the time destined to be one of the essential in Ark’s historical past. Misplaced Colony, the brand new DLC for Ark Survival Ascended, is the primary completely authentic, full-size growth that Ark enthusiasts have had in years. It tees up the narrative for Studio Wildcard’s formidable sequel, Ark 2, however with that undertaking nowhere close to launching, I used to be questioning how it will fill the impending void. Neatly, so as to add to the rush, a brand new roadmap for the following two years of ASA has been printed, containing extra all-new, authentic expansions. Oh, and best all of it off, Studio Wildcard has now set a brand new Ark 2 free up date window.
Proper, let’s get started with Misplaced Colony. After some last-minute delays, the brand new growth is now in the end are living for Ark Survival Ascended gamers, and it is by way of some distance and away essentially the most important DLC that the dinosaur sport has won up to now. Most commonly supported with remasters of Survival Developed expansions, this sees Wildcard flex its ingenious muscle tissue for the primary time in an extended whilst. No longer most effective is it a story glimpse at what is to return in Ark 2, however it is a gameplay one too. New options, such because the NPC thralls that you’ll be able to recruit to combat along you, also are destined for the eventual sequel, however are being rolled out early so the group can familiarize yourself with them.
Misplaced Colony additionally includes a star-studded solid, with most of the giant names from the Ark animated sequence reprising roles. Along prior to now introduced names like Michelle Yeoh, The Boys famous person Karl City now lends his likeness (in addition to his voice) to iconic persona Bob. As for the growth’s extra prehistoric characters, over a dozen new beasts can also be discovered around the new Arat High map, from the psychedelic Gloons to the “flying castle” that’s the Gigadesmodus.
Ark Survival Ascended’s Misplaced Colony growth is are living presently, costing $29.99 / £29.99. Alternatively, in a wild flip of occasions, this extremely expected DLC is most probably the third-most thrilling little bit of Ark information this week.
The primary giant revelation is a brand new roadmap for ASA, which tees up what is forward in lieu of Ark 2, which Studio Wildcard informed me previous within the 12 months was once nonetheless some distance off. I questioned if the pushback to Ark 2 would lead to extra authentic ASA content material to stay enthusiasts on facet, and I have been confirmed proper. Over the following two years, seven key content material drops will arrive.
First up is a reimagining of Survival of the Fittest, a janky however promising PvP derivative revel in that is been within the Ark group for years. That is being treated by way of Studio Sirens, a separate staff from Studio Wildcard. Later in 2026, a brand new pirate-themed Bob’s Tall Stories DLC will drop. Following that during Q3, a brand new device known as Ark International Author shall be built-in into ASA. Whilst there is already a wholesome modding scene, particularly within the first sport, Survival Developed, that is an in-house UGC function in the similar vein as one thing like Fortnite Inventive. 2026 will then finish with an all-new growth known as Dragontopia.
2027 is solely as important. Every other authentic growth, Atlantis, will apparently see issues head underneath the sea waves. Every other Bob’s Tall Stories DLC will arrive, this time titled Galaxy Wars, which leans on spaceship battles. Then, the grand finale of this roadmap – Legacy of Santiago. But any other all-new growth that may elevate the lid much more on Ark 2, and in a similar fashion to Misplaced Colony, gets a few of its gameplay inventions out within the wild, too.
“Whilst the trademarks are placeholder, the intentions are very a lot set: we have now a multi-year plan to construct out massive gameplay additions and canonical narrative expansions for Ark Survival Ascended, along with heaps of loose maps, creatures, and lines,” Jeremey Stieglitz, Studio Wildcard’s construction director, says in a quote equipped completely to PCGamesN. “And as you will be questioning, sure, Ark Legacy of Santiago goes to be a test-case for most of the options and designs we intend to include in Ark 2. Ark Survival Developed’s lifecycle lasted a just right ten years, and our hope is to look ASA develop into that milestone as neatly. We are thankful for the Ark group’s persisted perseverance, and we sit up for evolving the sport we adore with them for years yet to come.”
As though a brand new growth and a stacked roadmap wasn’t sufficient, there is a 1/3 construction to discuss. Chatting with the Epic Video games Retailer weblog in an interview, Stieglitz says that its Studio Wildcard’s “goal” to release Ark 2 in 2028. Whilst this is slightly assumed with Legacy of Santiago no longer coming till the tip of 2027, it’s essential in the end get affirmation of Wildcard’s interior expectancies for the sequel.
One phrase of warning, on the other hand, for all of Wildcard’s long term plans – the studio has transform infamous for delays and pushbacks on its content material, as was once evidenced by way of Ark 2’s mysterious absence ahead of issues began to get cleared up this 12 months, and the nudges that Misplaced Colony simply won. Whilst Studio Wildcard does just right paintings, I might would not be surprised if no less than a few those free up home windows were given shifted. Nonetheless, this week has been an odd one on the planet of Ark, and Misplaced Colony is just a small proportion of the the reason why.
