Ark: Survival Ascendedwas initially released for Windows on July 29, 2025. With a little over a year under its belt, the game has amassed a dedicated player base and sparked a mix of excitement and criticism among fans. As anUnreal Engine 5remaster of its direct predecessor,Ark: Survival Evolved,Ark: Survival Ascendedhas refined graphics and improved mechanics.

However, those who have yet to experienceArk: Survival Ascendedbut are tempted to dive into the game might be wondering if it’s worth it to purchase and play the game in 2025. With the new year approaching, many players are trying to decide whetherArk: Survival Ascendedis worth the investment. Even those who have already made the purchase are wondering if it’s a game they’ll continue to play long-term.

A closeup of a scaly dinosaur face in a screenshot from Ark: Survival Ascended.

Why Ark: Survival Ascended Is Worth Playing In 2025

ASA Still Has New Content Coming And An Active Community

Ark: Survival Ascendedis a remastered version ofArk: Survival Evolved,featuring improved graphics and better quality of life changes. Though it is essentially the same game,Ark: Survival Ascendedis much better than its predecessor thanks to many of the changes. Another important change is thatArk: Survival Ascendeduses Unreal Engine 5, whereasEvolveduses Unreal Engine 4.

Ark: Survival Ascended - All Console Commands & What They Do

Find out what console commands are, how to use them, their effects, and how they can improve and customize your Ark: Survival Ascended gameplay.

Aside from the changes betweenEvolvedandAscended,Ark: Survival Ascendedis definitely worth picking up in 2025. Though fans are eagerly awaiting the release ofArk 2, which is expected to be released any day now,Ark: Survival Ascendedremains a strong contender for players looking for an engaging survival game or for fans of dinosaurs in general.

A Wintery Creature In Ark Survival Ascended Genesis Part 1.

One of the most noteworthy quality of life improvements inArk: Survival Ascendedis being able to find and obtain baby dinosaurs without having to breed or tame them.

Not only isArk: Survival Ascendedstill getting updates from developers in the new year, but it still has an active community. An active community means access to user-generated content,including game-changing modsand custom maps. Plus, there are multiplayer servers, helpful resources for both new and returning players, andcommunity events to keep the game fresh and engaging. Even into the new year, the developers are planning on adding new content and updates to keep players interested.

T Rex from Ark: Survival Ascended with another dinosaur.

For players eager for asurvival game featuring dinosaurs,Ark: Survival Ascendedis the obvious choice. Regardless of its bugs, occasional performance issues, and the impending release ofArk 2, it’s a game that is definitely still worth playing even into the new year,especially with the continued updates from the developers and active community engagement.

What New Updates Are Coming In 2025

New Expansion Packs And Maps Coming To ASA In 2025

Ark: Survival Ascendedplayers are in for a treat in 2025 asthe dinosaur-ridden survival game has plenty of new content planned for release. In fact, the roadmap revealsnew content planned throughout most of the year. Starting in February,players can expect to see a new expansion pack titledGenesis Part 1.

Two dinosaurs screaming at each other in a forest in Ark 2.

Like in previous expansion packs,Genesis Part 1will feature new biomes, resources, game mechanics, and creatures. Players can also expect new crafting items and new challenges and missions. One new feature players should be aware of is avalanches in the arctic and volcanic biomes. Avalanches will pose an exciting new challenge to players who will have to learn to navigate around them.

8 Premium Mods In Ark: Survival Ascended That Completely Change The Game

Though free mods in Ark: Survival Ascended can greatly improve the experience, trying these premium mods can make Ark feel like an entirely new game.

Then, in April 2025, players will get a new map calledCrystal Isles.Crystal Isleswill feature a new mapwith even more new biomes to explore: The Great Valley, Eldritch Isle, Emberfall, and Apostheosis.Crystal Isleswill also bring new tameable creatures, including the Tropeognathus and three crystal wyverns.

Vin Diesel rides a dinosaur while tailed by a bigger dinosaur behind him in Ark 2.

Genesis Part 2comes out in May with even more strange new biomes, creatures, and missions. It is the final confirmed expansion pack forArk: Survival Ascended.However,there are still two new maps coming out:Lost Islandin August andFjordurin October. Lost Islands is expected to be quite a large map resembling Tamriel fromThe Elder Scrolls. Fjorduris a Norse mythology-inspired map.

These new additions toArk: Survival Ascendedwill bring plenty of new content for players to enjoy. With two new expansion packs and three new maps, 2025 promises to be an exciting year forArk: Survival Ascendedfans. Theconstant flow of new biomes, creatures, and challenges will keep things feeling fresh and engaging, meaning thatArk: Survival Ascendedwillcontinue to captivate playersthroughout the new year. There’s no shortage of new content to explore and the steady stream of updates and improvements makesArk: Survival Ascendeda game that is well worth playing into 2025 and beyond.

mixcollage-09-dec-2024-02-07-am-6280.jpg

Will Ark 2 Affect Survival Ascended In 2025?

As it stands right now,Ark: Survival Ascendedis a game worth playing. However, some fans are still skeptical about whether it’s worth it to continue investing time on the game. For those who haven’t boughtArk: Survival Ascended, some are worried whether it’s a good financial decision to purchase the game whenArk 2is expected to arrive any minute now.

Ark 2has been delayed a few times. It was first revealed in 2020 and set for release in 2022. With no updates during that time,Ark 2was then pushed back to 2023 and then late 2024. However, we still have no confirmed release date, and it’s looking like it may be delayed once more.

2-50.jpg

Unfortunately, the release ofArk 2may affectArk: Survival Ascended.When new games are released,they often shift the focus of the player base, with many players moving on to the newer title. WhileArk 2is highly anticipated and may eventually overshadowArk: Survival Ascended, many fans may stick withArk: Survival Ascendedfor the time being,especially with all the new content and active updates.

Despite It Being 2025, There’s Still No ARK 2. Where Is It?

2025 is just beginning, but the highly anticipated sequel is not out still despite several delays, leaving its fans confused about Ark 2.

Ark 2may also have bugs and performance issues in the beginning that affect the eagerness of players wanting to switch to the newest title in the dinosaur-taming franchise.Ark 2may take some time to fully stabilize, givingArk: Survival Ascendedplayers continued enjoyment. With all this in mind, it’s unlikely thatArk 2will makeArk: Survival Ascendedfade into the background right away.

ark-survival-ascended-winter-wonderland-event-december-2024.jpg

creatures-ark-survival-ascended.jpg

raptor-color-mutations-ark-survival-ascended.jpg