Ark: Ascended Survival is doing one thing cool this 12 months – partnering with a gifted modder to launch a brand new DLC often known as Official Companion DLC. That's it Ark: Ascended Survival partnering for the primary time with a modder to create an formally supported map, and relying on the way it performs, it's seemingly a development that can proceed. It has sparked curiosity from the group, who're desirous to discover the brand new map and see what it has to supply.
The DLC, known as Astraeos, was initially scheduled for launch in June 2025however it was moved to February 20254 months earlier than the unique launch date. Getting content material ahead of anticipated is a pleasant change of tempo for Ark, However sadly, it's not all excellent news.
Astraeos is actually Ark's early entry DLC
The primary companion DLC gained't be a full launch at first
Astraeosa Greek-inspired map for Ark: Ascended Survivalhas loads of potential. Sadly, is actually being launched in an early entry format with updates deliberate over time as outlined in an official doc Survive the Ark publish. The strategy seems like a missed alternative for what might have been an incredible addition, as spending $15 on an unfinished product feels extra like paying for a beta check than a full expertise. The truth that that is how the primary Official Companion DLC is being launched raises suspicions that this might point out a future development that can see gamers paying for incomplete content material.
Apparently, the map might be supported and expanded over timehowever this strategy seems like gamers are being requested to pay for a product they haven't but obtained in full. It's not an unique downside Astraeoshowever the determination to launch an incomplete model highlights a rising development within the gaming group. Many publishers have launched incomplete and half-baked video games whereas they have been nonetheless in growth, an strategy that may be useful for some video games however irritating for others.
Astraeosparticularly, it makes it tough to justify the $15 price ticket contemplating that one of many lacking Ark Most Vital Options: New Creatures. Sadly, the DLC is actually only a map with no new creatures to seek out. The fun of the sport has at all times come from discovering, battling, and taming varied creatures, so Astraeos appears much less rewarding. With no new creatures to seek out, the choice to purchase Astraeos It's a tricky promote.
Ark's official companion DLC received off to an odd begin
The unusual starting isn't stunning contemplating Ark's uneven historical past
Ark first official companion DLC, AstraeosYou're not doing all your greatest. Whereas the collaboration between the builders and gifted modder Nekatus might simply justify excessive hopes, the truth is that the DLC launch doesn't dwell as much as the joy. The DLC's initially deliberate June launch would have given Nekatus extra time to verify the ultimate product was polished and full, so transferring issues to February might simply be detrimental.
This unusual starting isn't precisely stunning contemplating Ark historical past of irregular and delayed releases and updates. Regardless of having a loyal fan base, the franchise has a historical past of releasing content material that's unfinished or lacking vital options after which later promising updates and patches that can repair these points. Whereas it might be extra rewarding to attain one thing than nothing, with the entire lack of a Ark 2 launch being an instance of the latter, isn't at all times ultimate.
Clearly, the modder behind Astraeos has nice expertise and a transparent imaginative and prescient. Nonetheless, the map's preliminary providing lacks vital parts like new creatures and is way from what gamers would possibly count on from a $15 DLC. the failure to launch a whole and sturdy DLC solely reinforces a long-standing downside in Ark growth course of: Launch incomplete content material that requires gamers to attend for fixes and additions to be added after launch.
Astraeos could be nice, however it's nonetheless irritating
Astaeos seems like a cool map, however there are loads of issues
Astraeos seems promisingwith its Greek-inspired environments and potential for hours of exploration and new challenges. The map, created by the gifted Nekatus, definitely has its visible attraction, providing gamers an attention-grabbing new world to discover. On the similar time, it's arduous to justify compared to free mod releases which will already be in a extra full state.
With a price ticket of $15 for DLC, gamers can count on greater than they'd get from an unfinished model. Gamers must anticipate updates and patches to resolve any points that come up and convey new content material. Early entry DLC is nothing new within the gaming world, however it's arduous to justify a paid launch that's basically unfinished, particularly when it doesn't add a lot to the sport's core mechanics.
A Greek-inspired map and a brand new partnership with a gifted modder ought to have been a recipe for achievement. As an alternative, Astaeos is one other instance of Ark tendency to launch content material earlier than it's totally prepared, whereas failing to ship information on a number of the largest guarantees. It's nonetheless potential that Astraeos will evolve into a big map over time. Nonetheless, the present state at launch is irritating for individuals who have been hoping for a fuller expertise with the primary Official Companion DLC in Ark: Ascended Survival.
Supply: Survive the Ark, GryphePadar/CurseForge