Developer Wildcard has unveiled Genesis, a new two-part expansion for Ark: Survival Evolved, and it’s coming to PC, Xbox One, and PS4, starting in December.
Genesis will ultimately deliver Ark’s fourth and fifth paid expansions – following on from Scorched Earth, Aberration, and Extinction – and will form the game’s second season pass. Those with good memories may recall the controversy surrounding Ark’s first season pass, which arose when Studio Wildcard opted to introduce paid DLC into the game well before it had left early access. It remains to be see if the community will be more accepting of a new season pass with Ark: Survival Evolved now approaching its second year as a full release.
As to what Genesis will bring in terms of specifics, that’s a little harder to gauge right now. Despite being unveiled in a 50-minute livestream, the bulk of the expansions still remain firmly under wraps. What we do know, however, is that both parts will include a “really cool map”, with the first map set within a simulation, enabling Wildcard to do things that were “even too crazy” for previous expansions.
ARK Genesis – Announcement Trailer Watch on YouTube
Genesis’ first map will include new snowy mountain, active volcano, and water biomes, and each brings its own distinct fauna. The volcano, for instance, is home to a new creature nicknamed the Lava Lizard. This beast, almost the size of a T. rex, is described as a siege dino, and is, naturally, built for hot environments, functioning better as the temperature rises.