Ark: Survival Ascended developer Studio Wildcard has offered firmer detail on the console version launch, confirming an Xbox Series X and S release date but another delay for the PlayStation 5 version.
Ark: Survival Ascended is Studio Wildcard’s Unreal Engine 5 remake of the original dinosaur-filled survival game Ark: Survival Evolved. It’s out now on Steam (if you’re playing, check out IGN’s comprehensive Ark: Survival Ascended guide) alongside the original game, but has yet to hit Windows PC or console.
In a blog post, Studio Wildcard said Ark: Survival Ascended is “on track” to launch on Xbox Series X and S and Windows PC on November 14. The Xbox version will be up-to-spec with the latest PC functionality as of November 14, the developer added, and will launch directly into crossplay with the PC version alongside new servers, including Xbox-only servers.
But the PS5 version is delayed further, to some point at the end of November. Studio Wildcard said it is finalising the date with Sony. “We know this isn’t ideal, but we’re optimistic we’ll be able to share a date very soon,” the developer said.
Here’s how the console launch will work, per Studio Wildcard:
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
Ark: Survival Ascended quickly shot to the top of Steam’s best-selling games list upon release, but players ran into performance issues that marred the launch. The game currently has a ‘mixed’ Steam user review rating of 55%.
Studio Wildcard acknowledged these issues, admitting to “a few bumps” since launch. But, it stressed, it’s working to address issues players report with patches.
“We know there is still plenty more work to be done on all of those fronts, but we’re committed to making Ark: Survival Ascended the best survival game it can be,” Studio Wildcard said. “We’ll continue to release patches with bug fixes and performance improvements in the coming days, along with major feature additions over the coming weeks (and introducing Public Test Realm next week – more on that soon). In the meantime, thank you for your support and patience. We hope you’re enjoying Ark: Survival Ascended so far!”
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.