ARK: Survival Ascended is Studio Wildcard’s Unreal Engine 5 rebuild of ARK, out now on Xbox Series X|S and included with Game Pass. Here’s everything we know, from the release and Play Anywhere to the latest Enigmasaur and Giganotosaurus update.
ARK: Survival Ascended at a glance
- Released: 21 November 2023
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and the Xbox PC app
- Xbox Play Anywhere: Yes
- Game Pass: Yes (Game Pass Ultimate)
- Price: £33.43 / $44.99
- Developer: Studio Wildcard, Grove Street Games
- Publisher: Studio Wildcard
- Players: Single-player, online and split-screen co-op and multiplayer, cross-platform play
- Age rating: PEGI 16 / ESRB T
Our ARK: Survival Ascended game hub collects the essentials, and our latest news story covers the Enigmasaur and free Giga overhaul.
What is ARK: Survival Ascended?
It’s ARK rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. You create a survivor, form a tribe and tame and breed hundreds of dinosaurs and other creatures, then explore, craft, build and fight your way to the top of the food chain, according to the Xbox Store listing.
When did it come out, and on which Xbox platforms?
The Xbox Store lists a release date of 21 November 2023. It’s available on Xbox Series X|S and through the Xbox PC app, and it supports Xbox Play Anywhere, so one purchase covers both.
Is ARK: Survival Ascended on Game Pass?
Yes. It’s in the Game Pass Ultimate library.
How much does it cost?
The Xbox Store lists the standard edition at £33.43 / $44.99. Fantastic Tames Season 1 is a separate paid add-on.
Can you play with friends?
Yes. The Store lists single-player, online and local co-op and multiplayer, shared split-screen and cross-platform play. Xbox Series X|S features listed include 4K, HDR, ray tracing, VRR and keyboard and mouse support.
What’s in the latest update?
Version 97, dated 6 November 2026, adds the Enigmasaur, the third and final creature in the paid Fantastic Tames Season 1 bundle after Burrowbuck and Cerberax. It can copy the forms of creatures it has observed, and some learned abilities carry across transformations. The update also gives the Giganotosaurus a free overhaul with an Apex Challenge taming encounter, moves the game to Unreal Engine 5.8 and fixes Xbox issues such as flickering snow in Lost Colony, according to the official update notes. Our Enigmasaur news story has the full details.
Which maps can you play?
The update notes list Enigmasaur spawns across The Center, Scorched Earth, Aberration, Ragnarok, Extinction, Valguero, Lost Colony and Astraeos.
Last updated 9 November 2026.
