‘ARK: Survival Evolved’ Dated For Xbox One, Comes With Exclusive Dino Content
Xbox One owners eager to tame dinosaurs in ARK: Survival Evolved after its console debut was announced as “imminent” just received a launch date for the open-world survival game. Developer Studio Wildcard announced a release date Wednesday, along with some Xbox exclusive in-game items including a bionic T-Rex skin.
ARK: Survival Evolved will launch on the Xbox One via the Game Preview program on December 16, as Studio Wildcard revealed through IGN. The starting price point has been set at $34.99, $5 more than on Steam, while it is available as an “Early Access” style game. The price will then jump to a higher price when the full release of the game hits in June 2016.
“Our goal is to bring all this chaotic and creative spontaneous fun – the tribe building, dino-breeding, dino-combat, the weapons-, armor-, food-, and recipe-crafting, and more – to Xbox One fans with no compromises,” Studio Wildcard co-founder and co-creative director Jess Rapczak said when asked about differences the Xbox One and PC versions. “Through all of this, we hope to help Microsoft build out Xbox Game Preview while giving Xbox One gamers something totally new and different than the standard updated version of old franchises. Gamers want new experiences on their consoles, and we feel that ARK, which is one of the few dinosaur games on the market, and one of the only, if not the only true multiplayer survival games on console, will bring that fresh gaming experience that helps define this generation.”
It’s not even winter yet! @survivetheark @xbox pic.twitter.com/DHg4RhCTFU
— Jesse (@arkjesse) December 8, 2015
Rapczak went on to explain that ARK on the Xbox One will have all of the same content that has been added to the PC version since it was released to Steam Early Access in June of this year. The game now has triple the amount of content than what it started with according to the creative director.
The Xbox One version will maintain parity with the PC version, according to Rapczak, but won’t be updated as frequently as the PC version, but should see updates approximately every two weeks. These updates include “new content, features and general improvements across the board.”
Xbox One owners who purchase ARK during the Xbox Game Preview period will get an added bonus as well. Rapczak announced a few exclusive items.
“I’m also excited to announce that the Xbox Game Preview version of ARK comes with Limited Edition Xbox-Exclusive Founder’s content,” Rapczak said, “including an unlockable bionic ‘Tek’ T-Rex skin, ARK Founder’s Hat skin, and ARK Founder’s Trophy.”
You can check out the first Xbox One gameplay footage of ARK: Survival Evolved in the trailer from IGN below.
ARK players will wake up on an island with other humans (naked, of course). They then must hunt, harvest, craft, research technology, and build shelters to protect from themselves from the environment, creatures, and other players.
ARK allows players to form tribes and build bases that can share resources among the group as they level up and learn new skills and technology. They can eventually learn to domesticate the dinosaurs on the island, but just don’t expect to tame large beasts like the T-Rex from the start. Players will start small and work their way up to the bigger dinosaurs.
There are currently around 50 dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts in ARK so far, with more planned in upcoming releases. The list so far includes the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Pterodactyl, Triceratops, Brontosaurus, Velociraptor, Stegosaurus, Carnotaurus, Mosasaurus, and Ankylosaur, Sabertooth Tiger. Non-dinosaur prehistoric beasts include the Dodo Bird, Megalodon, giant crocodile, giant scorpion, Dire Wolf, and even a dragon.
Does ARK: Survival Evolved make your pre-Christmas pickup list for the Xbox One? Sound off in the comments below.
[Image via ARK: Survival Evolved]
