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Ark: Survival Evolved remake Survival Ascended is apparently out on PC today - but you can’t play it just yetStudio Wildcard shows off first gameplay and details some of the tech improvements in the overhauled survival sim
Studio Wildcard shows off first gameplay and details some of the tech improvements in the overhauled survival sim
Image credit:Studio Wildcard
Image credit:Studio Wildcard
Ark: Survival Ascended, the remake of dinosaursurvival gameArk: Survival Evolved, has resurfaced with its first gameplay trailer, showing off its flashy Unreal Engine 5 graphics, improved physics-based destruction and overhauled user interface. The biggest reveal, though, is that the Ark remake will apparently drop on Steam later today.
ARK: Survival Ascended Launch TrailerWatch on YouTube
ARK: Survival Ascended Launch Trailer
Image credit:Studio Wildcard
There’s also the new use of Nanite mesh rendering, which basically means that everything from dinosaur skin to rocks and trees looks sharper thanks to a more efficient way of streaming assets to the GPU without having to scale them down using lower-detail versions.
The other big tech improvement is the replacement of Survival Evolved’s physics system with new system Chaos. The upshot is that physics are now simulated in real time, meaning that environments should explode, crumble and go flying as they would in real life, rather than using janky-looking ragdolls. Creatures have better pathfinder to help navigate those nicer-looking environments too, before you blow the heck out of them with a raptor-mounted rocket launcher.
ARK: Survival Evolved - Let’s Play #1: Videogames Are ArtWatch on YouTube
ARK: Survival Evolved - Let’s Play #1: Videogames Are Art
Adding to the level of realistic interaction between players, enemies and the world are new fluid and foliage interaction systems, which allow elements such as grass and water to react to character movement, motion - such as bullets - and other factors with realistic physics such as splashes, water displacement and foam (in the case of water) and parting grass, flattened dirt and brushing leaves.
A bit more visible for players familiar with Survival Evolved will be a revamped user interface - which can be customised to a preferred level of granularity - a better third-person camera mode and a more advanced map system that now allows players to ping specific spots. Elsewhere, there are extra character customisation options, revamped audio and various other quality of life upgrades.
On top of the improvements from the original game, Survival Ascended will add in new story content, almost a dozen new creatures, brand new DLC and seasonal events on top of everything previously released for Survival Evolved.
Image credit:Studio Wildcard
That’s just from Studio Wildcard themselves too, with Survival Ascended introducing cross-platform modding across PC and console via a new in-game mod browser and the game’s Ark Devkit that will allow players to share custom-made buildings, maps, modes and more. Wildcard added that they’re working with “professional game studios and developers to bring their original content and IP to Ark: Survival Ascended”, suggesting we might see some official crossovers soon enough, too.
Survival Ascended’s first full gameplay trailer also dropped the news that the remake will be out in Early Access later today, October 25th. ItsSteam page is live now, but simply says it’s “Coming Soon” at the time of writing.
