ARK Survival Evolved is home to a large volcano near the center of the island. This will be activated with the new PC patch v257 and converted into the Tek Cave.
Near the center, there is a large, dormant volcano in Ark Survival Evolved. This will soon change. The volcano is awakening from its slumber and will become active with patch v257.
Originally, this PC patch was announced for the end of April. However, Studio Wildcard postponed the release to May. The developers wanted to give players the chance to relocate their structures and bases. With the update, all structures and dinos will be destroyed that are within a certain radius of the volcano.
The volcano will not become an all-destructive lava beast
The original plan was for the volcano to become a fire-breathing beast upon activation. At regular intervals, lava flows were supposed to devastate the center.
However, Studio Wildcard has abandoned these plans. On one hand, this would have contradicted the rest of the island’s gameplay, in the eyes of the developers.
On the other hand, there were concerns from technical and artistic perspectives. It would have taken too much time to build a volcano with a destructive cycle now. The focus would lie on other things right before the final full release. The team felt that a lava-breathing volcano would bring too little benefit to the players. This was revealed by lead designer Jeremy Stieglitz in an interview with Kotaku.
Studio Wildcard opted for a different solution.
Ark’s volcano will become the Tek Cave
Caves function in Ark Survival Evolved like dungeons. Some of them are easy to explore, while others require a lot of sweat and effort. Those who dare to enter have the chance to obtain strong and varied rewards.
With the activation of the volcano, it will be transformed into the Tek Cave. Since the Tek technologies represent the final stage of the game, these caves are correspondingly difficult to master.
Despite the changes, the volcano remains one of the best places to farm metal.
Keep Out! Safety tape indicates the danger zone in Ark Survival Evolved
Destructive lava will not flow over the center. However, destructive developers will come and smash everything around the volcano. To activate the volcano, the area requires a massive geographical overhaul.
Therefore, all dinosaurs and structures at the volcano will be destroyed as soon as patch v257 arrives. All tribes and players who have a base or house dinos in the danger zone should relocate them beforehand.
To assist the volcano residents, Wildcard has installed a safety line. Those who want to ensure that their dinos remain unharmed and structures intact should heed this. The line is marked in the game itself.
On PvE servers, it will no longer be possible to build structures at the volcano after the update. In PvP mode, structures there will take more damage – just like in all caves on the island.
Ark PC Patch v257: ETA May 4 – Until then, relocate with all dinos and structures
At this time, update v257 for the PC is planned for May 4. The date may still be pushed back further. Those who want to be on the safe side should relocate with their belongings as quickly as possible.
When this patch will come to PS4 and Xbox One is still unclear.
Patch v257 will also bring new dinos to Ark Survival Evolved. Here are the patch notes: Ark Survival Evolved: Patch v257 featuring the Giant Bee and the Hell Pig.
