GDC: ARK - 10 Years of ARK Games

Ten years ago, we woke on the beaches of ARK: Survival Evolved for the first time, armed with nothing but our fists, a hunger meter that drained way too fast, and the unwavering belief that we could punch a tree into submission. From those early days of wooden dino gates crumbling under the might of a rampaging T-Rex to the breathtaking vistas of ARK: Survival Ascended, this has been a journey unlike any other.

The great migration from The Island to Scorched Earth introduced us to the sheer terror of Wyverns, while Aberration reminded us all why gravity is not to be underestimated. The rise of Extinction's Titans, the massive territorial battles of Genesis, and the bittersweet farewell to ARK: Survival Evolved as it made way for its next-gen counterpart, ARK: Survival Ascended—all of these moments have shaped the legend of ARK.

With ARK: Survival Ascended, the game has undergone a stunning transformation. With Unreal Engine 5, ARK’s world has been revitalized, turning nostalgia into a breathtaking new experience. Maps have been refined, new creatures introduced, and the community has once again found itself adapting to the wild, unpredictable nature of this ever-evolving survival experience.
And yet, through all the changes, one thing remains true: ARK is not just a game. It’s a shared story, written by the players who tame, build, battle, and inevitably get surprise-ambushed by a Raptor at the worst possible time.

From the beaches to the stars, ARK’s journey continues—here’s to the next era of Survival!