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Studio Wildcard has officially shared the long-term roadmap for ARK: Survival Ascended, covering major content updates through 2026 and 2027. From remastered maps and new creatures to original expansions, creator tools, and the narrative bridge into ARK 2, here's everything confirmed so far.
Upcoming Releases
| Release | Target Window | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unreal Engine 5.7 Upgrade | Late Mar / Apr 2026 | Free Update |
| ARK: Survival of the Fittest | Q1 2026 | Free |
| Bob's True Tales: Tides of Fortune | June 2026 | Paid |
| Genesis Part 1 Ascended | June 2026 | Free |
| ARK: World Creator | Q3 2026 | Free |
| ARK: Dragontopia | Q4 2026 (December) | Paid |
| ARK: Atlantis | Q1 2027 | Paid |
| Bob's True Tales: Galaxy Wars | Q2 2027 | Paid |
| Genesis Part 2 Ascended | Q2 2027 | Free |
| ARK: Legacy of Santiago - Part 1 | Q4 2027 | Paid |
| Fjordur Ascended | TBD | Free |
| Crystal Isles Ascended | TBD | Free |
| Lost Island Ascended | TBD | Free |
| ARK 2 | 2028 | Paid |
Unreal Engine 5.7 Upgrade - Late March / April 2026
- ~33% performance gain on existing maps, driven primarily by new Nanite virtualized culling for foliage
- Serves as a prerequisite for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 port, which is in active development but has no confirmed release date
- Studio Wildcard plans at least one major engine upgrade per year, with UE 5.9 expected in early 2027
ARK: Survival of the Fittest - Q1 2026
- Competitive battle royale mode developed by Studio Siren (a subsidiary of Snail Games)
- No public launch announcement as of mid-March 2026; still within the Q1 window
Bob’s True Tales: Tides of Fortune - June 2026
- Paid story expansion with a pirate theme, heavily inspired by mechanics from Atlas
- Introduces large-scale ocean gameplay: physical ships with mountable cannons, modular customization, and dinosaur transport
Genesis Part 1 Ascended - June 2026
- Free DLC
- Launches alongside Bob’s True Tales: Tides of Fortune (paid)
- Includes the community-voted creature Palaeoctopus
ARK: World Creator - Q3 2026
- In-game creation feature allowing players to make content directly inside the game, including on consoles
ARK: Dragontopia - December 2026
- Paid non-canonical expansion made entirely in-house by Studio Wildcard
- Biomes inspired by Pandora and high-fantasy landscapes, featuring floating sky islands
- Dragons behave as independent partners with their own AI, preferences, and personalities
ARK: Atlantis - Q1 2027
- Paid non-canonical Aquatic-themed expansion
- Expected to expand on the water gameplay ideas introduced in Tides of Fortune
Bob’s True Tales: Galaxy Wars - Q2 2027
- Paid story expansion focused on space battles, starfighters, and large-scale ship combat
Genesis Part 2 Ascended - Q2 2027
- Free DLC
- Launches alongside Bob’s True Tales Galaxy Wars (paid)
ARK: Legacy of Santiago – Part 1 - Q4 2027
- 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
Fjordur Ascended - TBD
- Free DLC
- Features the realms of Asgard, Jotunheim, and Vanaheim
- Includes Andrewsarchus, Desmodus, Fenrir & a new community-voted creature
Crystal Isles Ascended - TBD
- Free DLC
- Known for floating islands, lush crystal biomes, and vibrant fantasy landscapes
- Features the Crystal Wyvern and Tropeognathus
Lost Island Ascended - TBD
- Free DLC
- Adds the Dinopithecus, Sinomacrops, and Amargasaurus
ARK 2 - 2028
- 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
| Map / Update | Release Date | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Island Ascended | Oct 25, 2023 | Free |
| Scorched Earth Ascended | Apr 1, 2024 | Free |
| The Center Ascended | Jun 4, 2024 | Free |
| Aberration Ascended | Sep 5, 2024 | Free |
| Extinction Ascended | Dec 20, 2024 | Free |
| Astraeos Ascended | Feb 13, 2025 | Free |
| Unreal Engine 5.5 Upgrade (ASA) | Jun 5, 2025 | Free Update |
| Ragnarok Ascended | Jun 19, 2025 | Free |
| Valguero Ascended | Oct 7, 2025 | Free |
| Lost Colony | Dec 18, 2025 | $29,99 |
What About ARK 2?
After years of delays, ARK 2 now has an official release target: 2028.
Studio Wildcard co-founder Jeremy Stieglitz confirmed the timeline during publisher Snail Games' Investor Day presentation, stating "That's our intention" when asked about the 2028 window. Originally announced in 2020 with a planned 2023 release, the game has been delayed multiple times as the team works to refine its vision.
Current Status:
- Planned Release: 2028
- Development Stage: Still in early "vertical slice" prototype phase
What We Know:
- 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
Studio Wildcard has stated that ARK: Survival Ascended will continue to be updated even after ARK 2 launches, as long as player demand exists.
Additional Confirmed Details
- TLC updates for Araneo, Quetzal, Giga, Theri, and Megalo are planned across 2026-2027
- A Nintendo Switch 2 port is in active development, made viable by UE 5.7. No release date has been confirmed
Fusey will keep this roadmap updated as new information drops. Stay tuned.
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