The head of ARK: Survival Evolved, Jesse Rapczak, talks about plans for framerates on the console and the release on the PS4.
ARK: Survival Evolved has turned into a long-term success. The survival MMO captivates fans on PC and Xbox One. However, players on PlayStation feel left out. In summer 2016, Ark is set to be released on PlayStation 4. Currently, it is not playable there.
Ark is not playable on PlayStation 4 because Sony has no early access program
Because Sony, much to the disappointment of Ark developers and its fans, does not have a program where titles can appear before their completion. While many PS4 fans of Ark wished for such an early version for PlayStation 4, there is currently no chance for that. Ironically, the PlayStation will benefit from early access to the Xbox One version. While they are different systems, much of the experience from the Xbox One port will significantly help the PlayStation port.
“All the feedback we get on Xbox is great and helpful – for every console version we release.”
This comes from an interview with the Ark developers with the US site Gamespot. We summarize further highlights of the conversation.
“We are far from done!”
In the interview, it is stated that the development of the title is far from complete. They still have to implement over a third of the features, including, for example, the backstory of the island told in various ruins and records. This is a system of which they currently have almost nothing in the game and definitely needs to be added until completion.
However, the focus is currently on the gameplay features – these must be finished and acceptable before tackling the “smaller” things that bring the game to life.
Story awaits in the ruins – and there are supposed to be boss fights as well.
Goals for the framerate – how will the issues be resolved?
In another question, they wanted to find out if there are concrete plans for performance on consoles – such as a resolution of 1080p or 60 fps.
“We have no specific goals(…), but we definitely don’t want the game to feel like it does at launch.”
However, the team still has many hurdles to overcome, as a fully destructible environment and up to 70 players simultaneously are significant challenges that will take time. It is likely that some cuts will have to be made in the graphics (as can already be seen in the comparison of the game versions), but the main goal is smooth, fun gameplay – perfect graphics are only a secondary priority.
Split-screen mode: Networking with up to 8 players
Another aspect they want to expand in the coming weeks and months is the split-screen mode. Here they want to offer even more options – while it remains at 2 players per console, those who wish can network multiple consoles and play with up to 8 players on a local server. They want to be a “family game” and maintain a sense of community that has increasingly disappeared from gaming in recent years.
You love dinos and have always wanted to face them, tame them, and even ride them? Then ARK: Survival Evolved could be your game. Here you explore a wild world ...
