ARK: Survival Ascended is Available Now on Steam! What Features Added to the Game? Is It Worth to Play?

ARK: Survival Ascended is available now on Steam as an early access title, which means that it is not complete and may change further. The developers plan to release more updates and DLCs over time, until the game reaches its full version by the end of 2024.

Whether ARK: Survival Ascended is worth playing depends on personal preference and expectations. Fans of the original game or those curious about new features may enjoy it, but those seeking a polished and bug-free experience or uninterested in the genre may want to wait or skip it.

Here are some of the main features and differences that the game has compared to the original ARK: Survival Evolved:

• Unreal Engine 5 overhaul: The game uses the latest version of Unreal Engine 5, which is a powerful and advanced game engine that allows for stunning visuals and performance. The game utilizes some of the new technologies that Unreal Engine 5 offers, such as Nanite, Lumen, and NVIDIA's RTXDI. Nanite is a system that enables high-quality geometry with millions of polygons without sacrificing frame rate. Lumen is a system that enables dynamic global illumination with realistic lighting and shadows. RTXDI is a system that enables ray-traced dynamic illumination with accurate reflections and refractions. These technologies make the game look more realistic and immersive than ever before.
• Cross-platform multiplayer: The game supports cross-platform multiplayer, which means that players can play together regardless of their platform or device. The game also supports cross-progression, which means that players can access their characters and progress across different platforms. This feature allows players to enjoy the game with their friends and family without any barriers or limitations.
• Cross-platform modding: The game supports cross-platform modding, which means that players can create and share their own custom content with other players across different platforms. The game also features a reported 'industry-first cross-platform modding experience', with PC-based mods being delivered to consoles. This feature allows players to enjoy the game with more variety and creativity than ever before.
• Cross-platform anti-cheat: The game supports cross-platform anti-cheat functions, which means that players can play together without worrying about cheaters or hackers. The game uses Epic's Online Services anti-cheat system, which is designed to detect and prevent cheating in online games. This feature allows players to enjoy the game with more fairness and security than ever before.
• New content: The game adds new content that was not present in the original ARK: Survival Evolved game. Some of these new content are:
• Dynamic water using FluidNinja: The game features dynamic water that reacts to the environment and physics. The water can flow, splash, ripple, reflect, refract, and interact with other objects and creatures. The water also has realistic waves, foam, spray, caustics, and underwater effects. The water is powered by FluidNinja, a plugin that enables real-time fluid simulation in Unreal Engine 5.
• Interactive foliage: The game features interactive foliage that responds to the wind, weather, physics, and player actions. The foliage can bend, sway, rustle, break, burn, and grow depending on various factors. The foliage also has realistic shadows, lighting, colors, and textures.
• Opening cutscene: The game features an opening cutscene that introduces the story and setting of the game. The cutscene shows how the player wakes up on a mysterious island with a strange implant on their arm. The cutscene also shows some of the creatures and locations that the player will encounter in the game.

New creatures: The game features new creatures that were not present in the original ARK: Survival Evolved game. Some of these new creatures are:

• Dreadnoughtus: A massive sauropod dinosaur that can be found on Extinction. It is one of the largest and heaviest creatures in the game, and it can crush anything in its path with its tail or feet. It can also use its long neck to reach high places or attack enemies from a distance.
• Fasolasuchus: A large crocodile-like reptile that can be found on Scorched Earth. It is one of the fastest and most agile creatures in the game, and it can run, swim, jump, and climb with ease. It can also use its powerful jaws and claws to tear apart its prey or enemies.
• Gigantoraptor: A giant feathered dinosaur that can be found on Ragnarok. It is one of the most colorful and ornamental creatures in the game, and it can use its feathers to display or communicate with other creatures. It can also use its beak and legs to peck or kick its opponents.
• Shastasaurus: A huge marine reptile that can be found on The Center. It is one of the longest and oldest creatures in the game, and it can swim faster than any other creature in the water. It can also use its suction mouth to swallow smaller creatures whole or suck out their fluids.
• Yi Ling: A small flying reptile that can be found on Aberration. It is one of the cutest and friendliest creatures in the game, and it can bond with other creatures or players with its high-pitched squeaks. It can also use its wings to glide or hover in the air or cling to walls or ceiling.

ARK: Survival Ascended offers new and improved features compared to the original game, providing a fresh dinosaur survival adventure. However, as an early access game, it may have bugs and issues that need fixing, so players should be aware of the associated risks and challenges.