A Closer Look at the Delayed Release of ARK: Survival Ascended on PS5 and Xbox

Highlights

Studio Wildcard had to delay the console release of ARK: Survival Ascended due to critical issues found in the multiplayer version of the game.

To ensure a smoother console launch, Studio Wildcard will utilize the delay to address and resolve these issues. Console players will receive temporary bonus rates on official servers to bridge the gap with PC players, although crossplay will remain disabled until the console version undergoes the faster certification process.

Studio Wildcard, the developer of ARK: Survival Ascended, has announced that the console release of the game has been delayed due to some critical issues. Despite the anticipation from fans of the original 2015 game, the early access release of ARK: Survival Ascended was postponed from August 2023 to October 2023. This remake, powered by Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5, boasts a fresh and updated look. Additionally, Studio Wildcard has included the same features and quality-of-life improvements found in the original game. While the PC early access release has already taken place, the console release has been pushed back to November.

Recently, Studio Wildcard provided an update clarifying the reason behind the delay of ARK: Survival Ascended for the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. According to the game developer, their team encountered critical issues in the multiplayer version of the game that could have had significant consequences for the console versions of ARK: Survival Ascended. Although Studio Wildcard did not specify the exact nature of these critical issues, they were substantial enough to necessitate pushing back the game's release on the aforementioned consoles to November. "We understand that this news is disappointing, and trust us, we’re disappointed too," Studio Wildcard expressed. "The team truly aspired to ensure the availability of the game on all platforms in October, but unfortunately, we fell short just before reaching the finish line."

However, Studio Wildcard has highlighted the positive side of the delay, stating that it will result in a smoother console launch. By addressing many of the issues through the PC release, they can ensure a more stable and content-rich modding experience on the console version. Additionally, Studio Wildcard has reassured fans and gamers that they will launch new official servers with temporary bonus rates for console players to catch up with those who played on PC. However, the crossplay feature will remain disabled until the console version goes through the quicker certification process, although this may change depending on the progress of the PC version. Despite the disappointment caused by the delay, Studio Wildcard's handling of the situation has been encouraging.

ARK: Survival Ascended is now available in early access on PC via Steam and is coming to the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 in November.

Source: Studio Wildcard