ARK: Survival Ascended Surprise Launches Dragontopia and Naval Expansions
Studio Wildcard has shadowdropped ARK: Survival Ascended with the massive, unannounced Dragontopia expansion, along with the Tides of Fortune DLC.
Key Takeaways
- Studio Wildcard unexpectedly launched the Dragontopia and Tides of Fortune DLCs, introducing dragon taming and naval warfare.
- The initial Dragontopia launch faces player criticism for offering sparse content relative to its premium price tag.
- Both expansions act as early access foundations, with a staggered roadmap leading up to a full map rollout in December.
Studio Wildcard has surprised Ark: Survival Ascended fans with the sudden dual-launch of the Tides of Fortune and Dragontopia expansions.
The r/ARK community is currently criticizing the launch value of the Dragontopia expansion, with players arguing that charging a high premium in Early Access for what currently amounts to just two creatures is ‘insane,’ even with the promise of a full map rollout by December.
What is included in the ARK: Survival Ascended Dragontopia update?
The Dragontopia update introduces a cloud-bound aerial ecosystem where players tame and ride legendary dragons, utilizing a new Dragon Skill Tree for progression.
Players can explore floating islands and build using a new draconic tileset and incubator backpacks. Currently, the expansion acts as an early access foundation, introducing the core flight mechanics and dragon bonding systems.
Available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, the initial drop includes the Eclipsar Umbra dragon and the Drake Claw Grappler for high-altitude traversal.
Simultaneously, the Tides of Fortune DLC brings physics-driven naval warfare to the game. Survivors can construct Sloops and Brigantines at the Shipyard, recruit the healing Tidepup, and fight in broadside ship combat across a massive ocean frontier.
How does the DLC roadmap compare to the premium retail price?
At a premium retail price of around $20 Tides of Fortune DLC and $30 for the Dragontopia expansion, the current content heavily banks on future updates to justify the initial cost.
While Tides of Fortune offers a robust suite of naval mechanics immediately, Dragontopia currently feels sparse. This DLC acts more as an upfront payment for a staggered rollout culminating in December.
Is the early access premium worth the investment today?
If you are comfortable paying upfront for a content roadmap extending through December, the premium retail price may be worth it for you.
However, players looking for a complete experience should wait until the full maps and creatures are officially implemented later this year.
Fueled by a passion for gaming and the ever-evolving world of gaming news, Daniel loves connecting with seasoned and new players to bring games to life on the page, exploring their narratives and gaming trends. A self-published fiction and fantasy author, Daniel has nearly 20 years of experience writing gaming news and a love for storytelling that drives his enthusiasm to deliver breaking news, in-depth analysis, and industry innovations. You will find him in-game as "Windfell."
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