ARK: Survival Evolved, the dinosaur-themed survival game that’s been running since 2015, made headlines at IGN Live with the debut of a new gameplay trailer for its upcoming DLC, ARK: Aquatica. The event also marked the 10th anniversary of the ARK franchise, a milestone that highlights its ongoing popularity among survival and sandbox game fans.
During a panel at IGN Live, Studio Sirens’ Head and Lead Game Designer Matt Kohl revealed more details about ARK: Aquatica, describing it as a non-canonical underwater expansion coming soon to Steam. The trailer gave fans a first look at what to expect, including glimpses of expansive underwater environments and a lineup of new aquatic creatures that can be tamed. The trailer’s soundtrack features original music by Gareth Coker, known for his work on the main ARK theme.
- First in-game footage from ARK: Aquatica was shown, highlighting extensive underwater biomes.
- The DLC will introduce 20 new aquatic creatures, all available for players to tame.
- ARK: Aquatica is set as a non-canonical expansion, separate from the main story content.
- Original soundtrack for the trailer composed by Gareth Coker.
- ARK: Survival Ascended, the Unreal Engine 5.5 update and anniversary celebration, are live on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
- Upcoming expansion Lost Colony launches June 18 for ARK: Survival Ascended.
On the expo floor, the ARK: Aquatica booth featured a mechanical Monodon, a narwhal-inspired creature from the new DLC, attracting attention from attendees. The event also included a social media contest tied to the booth, reflecting the franchise’s active community engagement.
ARK: Survival Evolved has carved out a strong place in the survival genre by blending open-world exploration, crafting, and multiplayer elements with a focus on prehistoric creatures. Its ongoing support, regular updates, and experimental expansions like Aquatica continue to bring new content to a dedicated player base. Studio Wildcard and its partners have kept the game relevant through both technical upgrades and creative DLCs, keeping ARK a mainstay in the survival and sandbox space.
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