ARK: Survival Ascended - Full 2026 & 2027 Roadmap Update

Upcoming Releases

• Free base game creature from Garuga123's ARK: Additions mod
• Swims through sand at high speed, then launches itself into the air to attack

• The last content update for the Astraeos DLC map
• Adds the Boaratos, a huge hog that sets its fur and tusks on fire, hits hard up close, and makes enemies bleed

• One of the biggest technical milestones yet for ASA, focused on performance gains, platform-specific fixes, and stronger foundations for future content
• Studio Wildcard has hired senior Unreal Engine veterans to deepen core engine and graphics expertise long-term
• Serves as a prerequisite for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 port, which is in active development but has no confirmed release date
• Originally planned as a 5.7 upgrade in early 2026, then delayed to protect the Genesis Part 1 and Tides of Fortune launches, and has now moved up to 5.8

• Free rework of the beloved "Tickle Chicken", voted in by the community during Extra Life
• Adds new life and personality while keeping the harvesting powerhouse players already rely on

• Giant three-headed dog built for multi-rider tribe combat
• Each head uses a different element (fire, poison, lightning) that chain into combos

• Giant armored sky-behemoth dragon that treats the ARKs as an all-you-can-eat buffet, swallowing enemies and resources whole
• Expansion Pass owners get early access to it

• Paid expansion pass made in-house by Studio Wildcard, shadowdropped on July 3, 2026 for $29.99
• Available now: Eclipsar Umbra, a legendary obsidian dragon, and Lumina, his light-based counterpart released on July 9
• September 30, 2026: Gargantar arrives, with early access for Expansion Pass owners
• December 9, 2026: the full skyworld map launches with the complete dragon roster

• Last creature in the Fantastic Tames Season 1 pack
• Shape-shifts to copy nearby dinos and steal their abilities, holding several forms at once

• Competitive battle royale mode developed by Studio Sirens (a subsidiary of Snail Games), returning as a reimagined standalone competitive experience
• Debuted its first public demo at ChinaJoy 2026 in late July, showing faster-paced matches, refined systems, and high-stakes PvP built around speed and replayability
• Still targeted for 2026, but Studio Sirens has not announced a specific release date

• In-game creation feature allowing players to make content directly inside the game, including on consoles
• Supports actor modification, spawner placement, in-game Lua scripting, and mod application before publishing to the Mod Browser
• Designed to work without a high-powered PC or external devkit

• Paid non-canonical Aquatic-themed expansion
• Expected to expand on the water gameplay ideas introduced in Tides of Fortune

• Paid story expansion focused on space battles, starfighters, and large-scale ship combat

• Free DLC
• Launches alongside Bob's True Tales Galaxy Wars (paid)

• Story-driven prequel to ARK 2, taking place within ARK: Survival Ascended
• Introduces gameplay mechanics and combat systems planned for the sequel, including Souls-like third-person melee

• Free DLC
• Features the realms of Asgard, Jotunheim, and Vanaheim
• Includes Andrewsarchus, Desmodus, Fenrir & a new community-voted creature

• Free DLC
• Known for floating islands, lush crystal biomes, and vibrant fantasy landscapes
• Features the Crystal Wyvern and Tropeognathus

• Free DLC
• Adds the Dinopithecus, Sinomacrops, and Amargasaurus

• Full sequel to ARK: Survival Evolved built in Unreal Engine 5
• Features Souls-like third-person combat and melee systems
• Stars Vin Diesel as Santiago

Note: Fjordur, Crystal Isles, and Lost Island have been confirmed as still coming, but have been deprioritized in favor of story content and engine upgrades. Current estimates place them in 2027 or later.

Released Maps & Major Updates

What About ARK 2?

• Planned Release: 2028
• Development Stage: Still in early "vertical slice" prototype phase

• Features Souls-like third-person combat and melee systems
• Stars Vin Diesel as Santiago (though his exact involvement remains uncertain)
• Includes dynamic world events and enhanced creature management
• Built in Unreal Engine 5 for significant visual and technical improvements

Additional Confirmed Details

• TLC updates for Araneo, Quetzal, Giga, Theri, and Megalo are planned across 2026-2027. Araneo released on May 19, 2026, and the Therizinosaurus follows on September 30, 2026, leaving Quetzal, Giga, and Megalo still to come.
• A Nintendo Switch 2 port is in active development, made viable by the engine upgrade. No release date has been confirmed.
• Transfers to Genesis Ascended Part 1 open on September 4, 2026 on official servers, followed by the closure of the Genesis Part 1 Expires servers.
• Official Classic servers transitioned to the new Conquest ruleset alongside the Genesis Part 1 launch, with Genesis Part 1 as the launch map.