Developers of the ARK series published a voluminous post in which they talked about the future of the series.
To create a better product and the well-being of the developers, the studio has decided to postpone ARK 2 to the end of 2024. Its release is also planned for PC and Xbox Series S|X.
Unreal Engine 5 is an incredibly new technology for us and for all developers. We’re committed to leveraging this cutting-edge technology to the fullest, creating a game of scale never seen before at Studio Wildcard. As we explored the capabilities of the engine, we adapted our workflows and adjusted development processes to accommodate the new next-gen paradigm. This increased the development time.
By the end of August 2023, ARK: Survival Evolved will be re-released on PC, Xbox Series S|X and PS5 next generation on Unreal Engine 5 under the name ARK: Survival Ascended. On PC and Xbox Series S|X, it will cost $50 for a bundle that will include the remaster and ARK 2 when the game launches. And on PS5, only the $40 re-release will be available.
The re-release will have crossplay and even cross-modding. Mods created on PC will be able to run on consoles.
As for the original Ark: Survival Evolved, its official servers will be closed at the end of August 2023. At the same time, developers will leave the tools for players to create their own servers. Single player will also be available.