ARK: Survival Evolved launches in Germany on February 26 with the fourth expansion called Genesis. The servers are scheduled to go online at 01:00, but what will the map in Genesis look like? Our author Sascha is gathering all the info for you and speculating a bit.
No one knows yet exactly what the map in ARK Genesis will look like. However, there are many clues that we can use as a guide. On one hand, there is the Steam description on the Genesis page, including images and the trailer, and on the other hand, you can refer to the previous story and take a look at the ending of Extinction.
Update February 26: The official Genesis map is here
The reddit user Chrizerker managed to uncover the entire map shortly after the launch of the Genesis expansion. According to this, there are 4 biomes and the moon.
The map in Extinction
Looking at the map in Extinction, it is already very versatile. The last expansion takes place on Earth, like Genesis. However, here it is still contaminated by element and ruled by the Titans.
This is what we see: On the surface, the ruin in the center of the map stands out, a city built by the former Earth civilization. Surrounding it is mostly just wasteland. It would therefore be possible to find more large cities in Genesis.
On the upper and lower right side of the map, there are two intact mini-ARKs that haven’t launched into space like their larger versions: The desert and ice biome. In the northwest, there is an underground forest, which, like the other two biomes, is protected by an obelisk. These points will be important later.
What does the story say about the Genesis map?
When we look at how Genesis should be structured based on the previous story, it becomes clear that there must be many biomes. At the end of Extinction, all ARKs that were in space slowly returned to Earth to execute the Reseed protocol. They are meant to re-energize the Earth and remove the remaining contamination.
All DLCs united in one map?
So will we again see Earth as a setting, including all previously known ARKs like The Island or Scorched Earth? Since Genesis is supposed to continue the story and it seems important to the developers, it would be logical to make the ARKs accessible. Similar to how it is with the mini-ARKs in Extinction.
However, this would make the map incredibly large.
What the developers say about the map
Recently, the Steam description of Genesis was updated, and we learn a little more about the world. There is talk of:
- Stinky swamps
- Deep underwater trenches
- Cold mountain peaks
- Volcanic hell landscapes
- The moon with low gravity
- Environmental events like volcanic eruptions, avalanches, or ocean whirlpools
In these areas, you can also catch cool new dinos. Based on the information from the wiki and the images on Steam, we can also say the following:
- The world is mostly covered in water
- Small islands scattered throughout the sea. Reminds a bit of the pirate MMO Atlas
- Large underwater areas including bosses can also be discovered
In the trailer and the presented biome and creature videos, we also see the first parts of the world.
Areas separated from each other?
To traverse the large map, it will likely be possible to teleport long distances via the drone HLN-A. We also read on the Steam page regarding “traveling between environments”. We see this in the trailer as well. However, this costs hexagons, a new resource you receive upon completing missions.
This suggests that the individual biomes are either completely separated from each other or grouped together in small clusters. They would be spread across the world. Either connected by the sea, which covers a large part of the world, or only accessible via the drone’s travel function. At least to get to the moon, it seems you can only do this with HLN-A.
Genesis starts on the night of February 25 to February 26 at 01:00, by then we will know everything. What do you think the map will look like? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
