At this point,ARK: Survival Ascendedis becoming synonymous with controversy. Each of its recent DLCs has been plagued by last-minute setbacks, usually leading to a release delayed by anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. The recent AI-generated announcement of theArk: Survival EvolvedDLCAquaticawas ripped to shreds by angry (and confused) fans. And, to make matters worse, we’re still at least a couple of years away fromArk 2, which was recently pushed back to 2027, the latest in a long series of delays.
It’s a tough time to be anArkfan - as good as the game’s Dino DNA is, it’s getting harder and harder to defend the way it handles its new releases. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the buildup toLost Colony,ASA’supcoming first canon story expansion, intended to lead into the events ofArk 2and due for release in December 2025.
What Is Happening In ARK: Survival Ascended?
The Lost Colony Controversy
The latest controversy in theArkcommunity revolves aroundtheLost ColonyDLC, which, admittedly, looks perfectly fine.Lost Colonytakes place in and around Arat Prime, a chilly region central to the game’s lore as the birthplace of the Arks. It’s expected to delve into that history, ultimately tying together theArkgames to date, the animated series, and, eventually,Ark 2.
Features-wise,Lost Colonyincludes all the usual: a brand-new map, a new character ability tree, some new tames, et cetera.It even has some unique new concepts, including cutscenes animated by famed studio MAPPA, and major characters voiced by actors Michelle Yeoh and Auli’i Cravalho.
So what’s the issue? Well, it all comes down to money:Lost Colonywill cost $29.99,which has worried some players who are used to free content for the game.In 2023,ARK: Survival Ascendedlaunched at $44.99, including the base game and a whopping five expansions (Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Genesis Part 1andPart 2). Since then, the game has received a mix of paid and free content, including 2024’s freeCenter AscendedDLC, and the most expensive:Bob’s Tall Talesexpansions at $29.99 each.
Perhaps the most controversial paid DLC has beenFantastic Tames- in-game creatures you could buy for $5 each. Some players have balked at these microtransactions, with concerns thatASAmay be becoming pay-to-win- you have to buy the DLC to get access to the latest and greatest tames, character abilities, et cetera, and the rest of the player base is left in the dust. It’s a far cry from the days of free and fan-made DLC.
How This Could Impact Ark 2
Ark’s Priorities Are Changing
The controversy has me concerned forhow microtransactions and DLC might look inArk 2. I expect to see a lot more paid DLC in the future, especially ifLost Colonyis a success. While more paid content will allow the game to have more consistency across DLCs, and a more involved story with total control by the developers, many may be reluctant to pay for content knowing how much they previously received for free.
And while I have nothing against the litany of celebrities that have signed onto theArkfranchise - includingVin Diesel, who’s set to appear inArk 2-I’m not convinced that’s where the series needs to invest its budget or its energy. Celebrity appearances are all well and good, but most players would undeniably rather have a working, complete game in their hands than a pay-to-win one that’s chock-full of recognizable faces.
Ultimately,the strength of a game likeArkis its playerbase- not only in the content it produces, but in the servers it populates. Free DLC and a plethora of mods keepASAinteresting over the years, as flawed as it can be; it’s largely because of these regular, free updates that many players keep coming back, even after repeated disappointments. If those end up off the table inArk 2, that playerbase will dwindle. Without new mods or player-made maps to draw on,Ark 2may run out of content quickly.
In other words, it would be a self-perpetuating cycle: the moreArkprioritizes paid content, the less free content there’ll be - the less free content, the fewer players around to make it, and so on and so forth, leavingArk 2in a potentially difficult position. We still have a couple of years beforeArk 2comes out, butArk: Survival Ascendedhas me worried for the future of the franchise.
11-07-2025: Editor Update: This article has been updated to correct some previously incorrect statements on DLC, including prices of paid DLC and free updates.
