The popular survival game ARK: Survival Evolved will receive an update in September 2022 that improves the game to a newer version of Unreal Engine 4. However, the update will only be available for the Nintendo Switch.
Which platform is receiving the update? The Switch version of the popular survival hit will receive a major update in September 2022 with the release of “ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition”.
- The update brings the Switch version of the game to the latest version of Unreal Engine 4, which is expected to improve graphics and performance.
- The versions of the survival hit for PS4, Xbox One, Mobile, and PC will not receive an update for now and will continue to run on an older version of Unreal Engine 4.
The update for the Switch was not developed by Studio Wildcard itself, but by a third-party developer.
If you are interested in what ARK is and what content it offers, you should check out this video:
Switch players have had to endure significant losses so far
Why are the other platforms not receiving the update? A criticism that ARK has been facing for years is its performance. But mobile and Switch players have been particularly hard hit, having to endure massive content and graphical losses.
Studio Wildcard hopes that the update to the latest version of Unreal Engine 4 will bring the gameplay experience on the Switch to the level of PS4 and Xbox One.
The studio does not aim to improve the game across all platforms and update the engine, but to offer Switch players an experience comparable to that of other platforms.
Wildcard describes a completely revamped ARK experience, with all features, graphics, and functions of the other platforms. Players will even be able to keep their earned progress.
This new Switch experience will include improvements and upgrades to align it visually and functionally with the experience on Xbox One and PS4. We are excited about how it is developing and are sure that you will be too!
Studio Wildcard via survivetheark.com
What engine does ARK usually run on? Epic Games generally releases an updated version of the current Unreal Engine every 2 to 3 months. The first release of Unreal Engine 4 was in March 2014.
The development of ARK: Survival Evolved began in October 2014. The survival game was first released in Early Access in June 2015. Studio Wildcard has not conducted an engine update since then.
ARK: Survival Evolved therefore runs on a version of Unreal Engine 4 that was released between October 2014 and June 2015.
Which version of Unreal Engine 4 does the Switch receive? As Studio Wildcard announced, ARK on the Nintendo Switch will receive an update to the latest version of Unreal Engine 4, which has been regularly updated.
With version 4.27, Unreal Engine 4 received another update in August 2021 (via unrealengine.com), which received a hotfix in December.
The update also brings new content for the Switch
What content is the Switch receiving with the update? Among the content updates that the Switch version will receive in September 2022 is the “Scorched Earth Expansion Pack” along with the associated map Scorched Earth, which was already released on other platforms in 2016.
Moreover, it is planned to release further content updates on the Switch at 2-month intervals and to include the DLCs Aberration, Extinction, and Genesis Part 1 & 2.
Studio Wildcard is not only improving ARK on the Switch but is also already working on the sequel ARK 2. Everything you need to know about the upcoming survival title can be found on MeinMMO.
