The release date for Ark: Survival Ascended has been pushed once again by the developer, Studio Wildcard. The game was initially supposed to release in March 2023, which was later delayed till August 2023. Recently, the developer has posted on the official website in one of the Community Crunch updates that the game will be launching for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC in October 2023.
The developer has attributed this delay for Ark: Survival Ascended to the challenges and difficulties they are facing while designing the game with Unreal Engine 5.2. Furthermore, they also claim that this delay period will be useful for them to create a completely cross-platform and fully moddable game ecosystem on all consoles and PC.
Studio Wildcard has further divided their original release plans and split it in two instalments. The Ark: Survival Ascended will be introduced through The Island map, while the later instalment, coming in December 2023 will grant players access to the Scorched Earth map. After that, in first quarter of 2024, the developer will release two more maps, Aberration and Ragnarok. Rest of the maps will slowly follow after that.
Developers reduce the price of Ark: Survival Ascended
The price for Ark: Survival Ascended has been reduced by the developer owing to the delay, with the early access price now set at $44.99, with a launch discount of $39.99. Furthermore, the developer has also declared that they are planning on shutting down the Official Network for Ark: Survival Evolved on September 30th, owing to the delay in the launch of the Survival Ascended game.
Studio Wildcard has stated that they will release gameplay footage for the Ark: Survival Ascended close to the game’s release. Gamers can expect to see some of this footage nearing September mid or end.
Fans react to Ark: Survival Ascended launch delay
A lot of fans were expecting a delay in the game’s launch as no gameplay footage was released by Studio Wildcard considering August release. Still, a major concern for a lot of fans is the availability of only one map in the early access stage for the game.
Just one map?
— Shelly VR Warrior (@Shellzonit) July 1, 2023
Some people are still hoping for at least some gameplay footage release.
Are we atleast gonna get gameplay footage in August?
— SlayerQc (@SIayerQc) July 1, 2023
Others are wondering when exactly the early access for Ark: Survival Ascended will begin if the launch is supposed to happen in October.
When is early access if launch is October? Or is October early access?
— Anthony Piazza (@AZX_GGs) July 1, 2023
Many fans are sure that this delay isn’t going to be the last one. Previous Ark game was also delayed a number of times, and a lot of series fans are speculating that October will not be the final release window.
From past experience, when October arrives youl see delay till Feb 2024. No jokes, it's gonna happen, mark my words
— WESTW00D 83 (@Westw00d83) July 1, 2023
Never trust an Ark release date 😁
— 🥰 (@Zellaraptor) July 1, 2023
Source: ARK 2 News (via Twitter)
