Studio Wilcard releases an update for the PC version of Ark: Survival Evolved that adds a giant prehistoric kangaroo as well as a New Year's Eve ball.
Ever since its explosive reveal trailer, Ark: Survival Evolved has been one of the most popular games available as a part of Steam Early Access. The game's concept of an online multiplayer world filled with massive dinosaurs has obvious appeal, and fans of the game can look forward to yet another update for it that has released as of today.
The latest update for Ark: Survival Evolved, which dropped just a couple of hours ago, is being released in recognition of New Year's Eve. It adds a giant ball in the sky that will gradually fall to the ground, scheduled to hit the surface at 12AM Eastern time. Studio Wildcard promises that fans are in for a "fantastic surprise" once the ball finally drops, so let the speculation begin.
In the meantime, the update is also bringing with it a brand new creature for players to interact with in the form of a giant kangaroo. Called the Procoptodon, it is the first beast in the game that two players can ride simultaneously. This is thanks to the Procoptodon's pouch, which houses one player, while another is able to hitch a ride on its back.
Studio Wildcard has released a trailer for the Procoptodon, so check it out below:
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Along with the New Year's Eve celebration and the Procoptodon, the new update for Ark: Survival Evolved also adds the Tribe Alliances feature. Tribe Alliances allows smaller tribes to join together in order to stand a better chance fighting the larger groups in the game. According to Studio Wildcard, Tribe Alliances has been one of the most often-requested features for the game since launch.
Curiously enough, this update is exclusive to the PC version of Ark, so Xbox One owners will have to miss out on the New Year's festivities. This is somewhat odd, considering the Xbox One version of Ark is more popular than the PC version, but it likely has something to do with how Microsoft handles updates for Xbox One titles.
While Xbox One owners will have to do without the New Year's Eve ball drop, the other content in this update will likely be added down the road. There's currently no release window for the update on Xbox One, however, so when console owners can expect to see Tribe Alliances or the Procoptodon is anyone's guess.
Most of the content in this update will also likely be available in the full game once it is made available in June of next year. In the meantime, PC gamers that are interested in Ark: Survival Evolved should be aware that it is currently available at a significant discount of $18 thanks to the Steam Winter Sale, so now is a perfect time to join in on the fun. With consistent and creative updates like this, expect Ark: Survival Evolved to continue its success story, and sell well beyond 1 million Steam Early Access copies it has already sold.
Ark: Survival Evolved is currently available in early access form for both PC and Xbox One. Its full release is scheduled for June 2016 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Source: GameSpot