Studio Wildcard has announced that ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition is coming to Nintendo Switch later this year.
This will come packed with “hundreds of hours of content” which will include the ARK: Survival Evolved base game and the Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Genesis Part 1 and Genesis Part 2 expansion packs. ARK: Survival Evolved and the Scorched Earth expansion pack will be available at launch, with the subsequent expansions to “follow in two-month intervals.”
Those who already own ARK: Survival Evolved on Nintendo Switch will receive the “complete revamp of functionality, graphics, and optimisation.” The publisher has contracted an unknown “talented third party developer” who has been tasked with rewriting the port’s entire code “from the ground-up,” using Unreal Engine 4’s latest version. They add that any existing player progress and save data will be maintained.
“Overhauling the gameplay for ARK on [Nintendo] Switch has been on our radar for a while and we’re happy to have found a talented team who can help us realize that vision,” explains Studio Wildcard co-founder and co-creative director Jesse Rapczak. “Adding a brand new mode that lets younger players interact with the unique primordial creatures within ARK provides a depth to the experience we hope families will enjoy!”
The publisher has outlined the key features of ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition on Nintendo Switch as below:
- New cinematic story content to further expand the narrative of ARK: Survival Evolved;
- Custom server support powered by Nitrado server networks;
- “Young Explorers” Mode: Journey through the epochs in this new educational mode. Explore ARK island to discover & learn about the amazing prehistoric creatures that inspired the game. Appropriate for even the smallest survivors!
- The ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition is completely updated with all of the content and functionality from the home console versions of the game, adding thousands of hours of gameplay!
ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition will release at retail and digitally on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch worldwide in September 2022.
