Ark: Survival Ascended was initially released for Windows on October 25, 2023. 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 an Unreal Engine 5 remaster of its direct predecessor, Ark: Survival Evolved, Ark: Survival Ascended has refined graphics and improved mechanics.

However, those who have yet to experience Ark: Survival Ascended but 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 whether Ark: Survival Ascended is 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.

Why Ark: Survival Ascended Is Worth Playing In 2025

ASA Still Has New Content Coming And An Active Community

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

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

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

Not only is Ark: Survival Ascended still getting updates from developers in the new year, but it still has an active community. An active community means access to -generated content, including game-changing mods and custom maps. Plus, there are multiplayer servers, helpful resources for both new and returning players, and community 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.

For players eager for a survival game featuring dinosaurs, Ark: Survival Ascended is the obvious choice. Regardless of its bugs, occasional performance issues, and the impending release of Ark 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 Ascended players are in for a treat in 2025 as the dinosaur-ridden survival game has plenty of new content planned for release. In fact, the roap reveals new content planned throughout most of the year. Starting in February, players can expect to see a new expansion pack titled Genesis Part 1.

Like in previous expansion packs, Genesis Part 1 will 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.

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

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

These new additions to Ark: Survival Ascended will 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 for Ark: Survival Ascended fans. The constant flow of new biomes, creatures, and challenges will keep things feeling fresh and engaging, meaning that Ark: Survival Ascended will continue to captivate players throughout the new year. There's no shortage of new content to explore and the steady stream of updates and improvements makes Ark: Survival Ascended a game that is well worth playing into 2025 and beyond.

Will Ark 2 Affect Survival Ascended In 2025?

As it stands right now, Ark: Survival Ascended is 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 bought Ark: Survival Ascended, some are worried whether it's a good financial decision to purchase the game when Ark 2 is expected to arrive any minute now.

Ark 2 has been delayed a few times. It was first revealed in 2020 and set for release in 2022. With no updates during that time, Ark 2 was 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.

Unfortunately, the release of Ark 2 may affect Ark: 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. While Ark 2 is highly anticipated and may eventually overshadow Ark: Survival Ascended, many fans may stick with Ark: Survival Ascended for the time being, especially with all the new content and active updates.

Ark 2 may 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 2 may take some time to fully stabilize, giving Ark: Survival Ascended players continued enjoyment. With all this in mind, it's unlikely that Ark 2 will make Ark: Survival Ascended fade into the background right away.

Source: Ark/YouTube