The remake of the survival hit ARK postpones the release of an 8-year-old map, frustrating players.
What is concerning the fans? With ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA), the popular survival title ARK: Survival Evolved received a remake on Unreal Engine 5 in October 2023. However, the game only came with a single map, The Island.
This has led to criticism from many players of the original ARK: Survival Evolved, as they already own a variety of maps and have paid money for some of them. In the also paid remaster, they now have to wait for the old maps.
One of the maps that players of ARK: Survival Ascended are waiting for is “The Center.” The map was already released for ASE in 2016 and was supposed to be added to ASA on February 28, 2024. However, Studio Wildcard has now announced in the latest Community Crunch that the release of The Center will be postponed.
No new release date, but a new dino
When is the new release of the map? Studio Wildcard has not announced a new release date for The Center yet. Instead, the developers write:
We have decided to postpone The Center because it [the map] was not able to launch at the quality we require. Our dedicated partners – who have been working on The Center while we focused on Scorched Earth – need more time to ensure it meets our and your expectations.
Studio Wildcard via survivetheark.com
To ensure that players are not left completely empty-handed, the developers will be releasing a new dino, the “Gigantoraptor,” on February 28, which was originally supposed to launch with The Center.
ARK players are frustrated by repeated delays
What exactly are players saying about the delay? Studio Wildcard is known for postponing nearly every release date for ARK. Whether it’s new games, DLCs, or just individual maps, the development studio almost never meets the announced date.
Consequently, many players are frustrated on X.com about the delay of The Center:
- Nekatus: “Well, that’s bad.”
- PapiBacon: “I have never seen a company miss every single date it sets.”
- BAMsPG: “This is the biggest disappointment I have seen in a long time.”
- animefanatic: “You will have no player base when these maps are eventually released, because your game is literally dying.”
- RandomJailbird: “Palworld and Enshrouded are so much better and at least provide timely updates.”
Some players are also swimming against the tide of disappointment, saying that they are not disappointed because a delay was to be expected.
Does the release of the other maps get postponed as well? Currently, it seems that the postponement of The Center will not affect the release of Scorched Earth, at least it is still mentioned in the Community Crunch for April 1, 2024. Whether Wildcard will actually meet the date remains to be seen.
ARK 2 has also been postponed multiple times, with the current release planned for late 2024. If there are new updates regarding the sequel to the survival hit, you will find out on MeinMMO: ARK 2: Release, trailer, gameplay – What we know so far
