Ark: Survival Ascended Introduces Story DLC and Adds Free Scorched Earth Map

Studio Wildcard has released not one but two big expansions to their dinosaur taming survival game Ark Survival Ascended. The update adds a remastered desert map and a brand-new Wild West-themed DLC

The free Scorched Earth Ascended update is available now and includes a blazing hot and sandy map for survival. This place contains six biomes, ranging from vast, endless dunes to sought-after oases. You can find unique structures while exploring the scorched earth, from ruins of a past civilization to deep and ancient cave systems that hold a new and fresh challenge once you venture down it. 

For those looking for new dinosaurs to tame, this new expansion has you covered. There are multiple creatures such as the elemental Wyvern or a Fasolasuchus, that is a crocodile-like beast you can use to skate along the sand.

Of course Ark being a survival crafting game, this update brings plenty of new items to make. There are over 50 crafting recipes from whips and flamethrowers to even a chainsaw to protect yourself. Wind turbines, a well, and an oil refinery can be constructed at your base to make surviving a little easier.

The way you survive will play out completely different from what you are used to on the Island map. Water is scarce, so the chance of dying of a heat stroke in this desert has increased. Staying in the shade and waiting till nighttime might sound like a good idea to avoid this fate, but mother nature has some other idea as this map introduces both sand and electrical storms, so you will need to construct a base to protect yourself from the elements.

You will be able to take your old character to this new map. However, for the first 60 days it is character only, so no items or dinos. This is done to get everyone who jumps into this new expansion on equal footing at launch.

As stated before there was not just one expansion but two of them. Bob’s Tall Tales is a multipart adventure following the legendary Bob. Currently, only the first part Frontier Showdown has been released, with the other two parts Steampunk Ascended and Wasteland War coming out later. 

Frontier Showdown will tell Bobs story though collectable animated notes and comes with an assortment of unique vehicles depending on the map you are on. Scorched Earth for example will feature an old western styled steam train. A new building set has been introduced to fit this theme, so you can build your own saloon with a piano.

What do you think of the new map? Let me know in the comments.