Why should I buy ASA?

[AimlessEagle]

Due to the vague marketing (or lack thereof) of ASA, I very confused about it.

I understand it is an originally free upgrade to UE5 you now have to pay for.

However, will they just re-release all the DLC and everything as if it's brand new, but on a new engine? What is ''new''?

I just don't get what the value is for paying another (I assume) €60 for a game that already exists.

Answers are appreciated, but please keep it civil :)

[KOOLLAYDTAC]

My understanding is they plan the re-release the DLC's over time. The only real advantage I see is graphics and if you pvp on officials. The newer version IMO is more restrictive in things like paid mods, game tweaking, and stuff. System requirements will probably be more demanding. I think in terms of performance, game tweaking, customability via nods and stuff and just over all in every other area ASE will remain far superior to ASA in every other way mate.

[MsErable]

If I understand it right they are doing a revamp. New dinos, how you tame, Dino babies.. character customisation, how you build and so on. I’m also excited about the looks with unreal 5. At launch it is said to cost 39.90 euros I think. Then the pricing will go up to 45 or almost 46 euros.

[трахни киску F7]

the game off release will have a $5 sale, buy it then if your going to, the allready existing dlc's are being released for free month by month along side the purchase of the game. They're making more dlc's, you'll have to buy those. From what we know right now the games mostly going to be the same

[DreadCthulhu]

Launch price will be $40 USD, $45 sometime after launch. It will have the Island map to start with, and all the existing DLC maps will be released every couple of months, included in that price. There will also be new paid DLC coming out. Every map past the Island is getting its own unquir creature, and the game will have a bunch of tweaks; revamped character creator & building system, wild baby tames, modifications to how mutations works, and other changes.

[🦊 Hermit]

This is what they announced when they first revealed the remaster:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/346110/announcements/detail/5515261257635865487?snr=2_9_100003_

In addition to many other new features, ARK: Survival Ascended will feature the following improvements and enhancements:

Unreal Engine 5 Overhaul with Nanite, Lumen and RTXDI
Nanite Rendering Engine
Dynamic Water
Interactive Foliage
Unreal Engine 5 performance gains: instanced-rendering (large-bases etc.), threaded server networking, and native physics engine
Cross-platform Multiplayer: This includes cross-platform accounts and cross-progression, cross-voice chat & friends, etc. No matter what platform you start playing on, you can access your account, character, dinos, and items on a different platform for the ultimate cross-platform experience.
Cross-platform Anti-Cheat
Art Assets are being upgraded throughout the entire game
Newly-designed holiday events take advantage of the next-gen pipeline, released as mods, so they’re always available to play!

Cross-platform Modding:
We recognize the power of giving players the tools and capability to define their survival experience, so we want to take cross-platform one step further by working with Overwolf to introduce an industry-first cross-platform modding experience where mods created on PC are delivered directly to end-users’ consoles from a custom modding backend.
The modding capability will include FULL blueprinting support ;), stacked mods, and maps. Everything that is currently possible on the Steam version of ARK: Survival Evolved and more will be possible on the new system and be available for end-users to play on consoles in all modes.
Premium Mods: Reviewed by Overwolf and Wildcard for quality control and value, Mod authors will optionally be able to specify price points for their Mods (with 50% of the price point going to the Mod author). This is necessary to pay for the custom infrastructure required for Overwolf to support, administrate, and deliver Mods to the console.
We plan on streamlining the process of upgrading legacy ARK: Survival Evolved mods to the next-generation platform. We plan to reach out to current/former sponsored modders in preparation for the launch of ASA with the tools they need to get their mods ready before the launch.

Survival of the Fittest:
SOTF will be integrated into the main product as a new fully-supported game mode. It will have a dedicated team that will continue to work on more gameplay changes, mechanical improvements, quality of life, maps, and balance adjustments. The initial mode will be revamped with an exclusive ARK: Survival Ascended update, including:
Upgraded to Unreal Engine 5 with complete cross-platform and cross-modding support (the SOTF UE5 source content will be released for modders to utilize as they wish within ASA)
Scorched Earth SOTF Map
Matchmaking queue
Character and Creature customization with cosmetics
Local Lobby where you can group up with your friends, configure the look of your survivor and dinos, and queue up for lobbies together
Lots of bug-fixes and balance and functionality improvements

New content, QOL improvements, balance, and gameplay changes, including but not limited to:
Updated mini-map (pan, zoom, pings, etc – similar to the SOTF mini-map)
New structures (display cases, smaller TEK Teleporters) & building QOL improvements (snap fixes, increased foundation support, foundation height adjustments, and more)
Queueing System
New third-person camera (with the option to opt out)
Directional Sprinting and Walking
Ping system
Gamepad cursor
Chibi Slot and Skins Tab
Balance passes (e.g. Cave Entrances, MEKs, Aberration Creatures, more breedable creatures, etc)
…and more! (seriously, a lot more, this list isn’t exhaustive, but it’ll get super long if we list everything, and there’s more we’ll decide to do between now and launch too)

Also, some more info in the recent FAQ which can be found here:

https://steamcommunity.com/games/346110/announcements/detail/3707081777773332603?snr=2_9_100003_

Of course, this is WildCard, who do have a bit of a history of promising the world then delivering significantly less. Additionally, with all the info that has come out recently about Snail Games' finances etc, it does kinda paint this whole move in a slightly more 'desperation' light than just a simple 'remaster for the fans', so just how much content will ASA have on release, and what state will it be in? Not to mention some of these points are controversial for some players.

End of the day you have to make your own call whether you feel it will be worth it or not.

[tedosnyder]

Originally posted by AimlessEagle:

Due to the vague marketing (or lack thereof) of ASA, I very confused about it.

I understand it is an originally free upgrade to UE5 you now have to pay for.

However, will they just re-release all the DLC and everything as if it's brand new, but on a new engine? What is ''new''?

I just don't get what the value is for paying another (I assume) €60 for a game that already exists.

Answers are appreciated, but please keep it civil :)

you have a good point. one way to find out. see other people play the game and see if it is something you would like to pay for. If you ask me ark one was a waste with all the bugs toxic players...If people want to pay for more of the same good for them.

[AimlessEagle]

Originally posted by DreadCthulhu:

Launch price will be $40 USD, $45 sometime after launch. It will have the Island map to start with, and all the existing DLC maps will be released every couple of months, included in that price. There will also be new paid DLC coming out. Every map past the Island is getting its own unquir creature, and the game will have a bunch of tweaks; revamped character creator & building system, wild baby tames, modifications to how mutations works, and other changes.

Interesting, a google search results in it mentioning $60. Some new dlc and tweaks are also nice, but you'd think with such nice things in mind, they'd market it more openly, no?

Originally posted by PersonKiller...(♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥):

the game off release will have a $5 sale, buy it then if your going to, the allready existing dlc's are being released for free month by month along side the purchase of the game. They're making more dlc's, you'll have to buy those. From what we know right now the games mostly going to be the same

If the initial DLC's I bought are free ( I got all except Genesis), that'd be great.

Originally posted by 🦊 Hermit:

This is what they announced when they first revealed the remaster:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/346110/announcements/detail/5515261257635865487?snr=2_9_100003_

In addition to many other new features, ARK: Survival Ascended will feature the following improvements and enhancements:

Unreal Engine 5 Overhaul with Nanite, Lumen and RTXDI
Nanite Rendering Engine
Dynamic Water
Interactive Foliage
Unreal Engine 5 performance gains: instanced-rendering (large-bases etc.), threaded server networking, and native physics engine
Cross-platform Multiplayer: This includes cross-platform accounts and cross-progression, cross-voice chat & friends, etc. No matter what platform you start playing on, you can access your account, character, dinos, and items on a different platform for the ultimate cross-platform experience.
Cross-platform Anti-Cheat
Art Assets are being upgraded throughout the entire game
Newly-designed holiday events take advantage of the next-gen pipeline, released as mods, so they’re always available to play!

Cross-platform Modding:
We recognize the power of giving players the tools and capability to define their survival experience, so we want to take cross-platform one step further by working with Overwolf to introduce an industry-first cross-platform modding experience where mods created on PC are delivered directly to end-users’ consoles from a custom modding backend.
The modding capability will include FULL blueprinting support ;), stacked mods, and maps. Everything that is currently possible on the Steam version of ARK: Survival Evolved and more will be possible on the new system and be available for end-users to play on consoles in all modes.
Premium Mods: Reviewed by Overwolf and Wildcard for quality control and value, Mod authors will optionally be able to specify price points for their Mods (with 50% of the price point going to the Mod author). This is necessary to pay for the custom infrastructure required for Overwolf to support, administrate, and deliver Mods to the console.
We plan on streamlining the process of upgrading legacy ARK: Survival Evolved mods to the next-generation platform. We plan to reach out to current/former sponsored modders in preparation for the launch of ASA with the tools they need to get their mods ready before the launch.

Survival of the Fittest:
SOTF will be integrated into the main product as a new fully-supported game mode. It will have a dedicated team that will continue to work on more gameplay changes, mechanical improvements, quality of life, maps, and balance adjustments. The initial mode will be revamped with an exclusive ARK: Survival Ascended update, including:
Upgraded to Unreal Engine 5 with complete cross-platform and cross-modding support (the SOTF UE5 source content will be released for modders to utilize as they wish within ASA)
Scorched Earth SOTF Map
Matchmaking queue
Character and Creature customization with cosmetics
Local Lobby where you can group up with your friends, configure the look of your survivor and dinos, and queue up for lobbies together
Lots of bug-fixes and balance and functionality improvements

New content, QOL improvements, balance, and gameplay changes, including but not limited to:
Updated mini-map (pan, zoom, pings, etc – similar to the SOTF mini-map)
New structures (display cases, smaller TEK Teleporters) & building QOL improvements (snap fixes, increased foundation support, foundation height adjustments, and more)
Queueing System
New third-person camera (with the option to opt out)
Directional Sprinting and Walking
Ping system
Gamepad cursor
Chibi Slot and Skins Tab
Balance passes (e.g. Cave Entrances, MEKs, Aberration Creatures, more breedable creatures, etc)
…and more! (seriously, a lot more, this list isn’t exhaustive, but it’ll get super long if we list everything, and there’s more we’ll decide to do between now and launch too)

Also, some more info in the recent FAQ which can be found here:

https://steamcommunity.com/games/346110/announcements/detail/3707081777773332603?snr=2_9_100003_

Of course, this is WildCard, who do have a bit of a history of promising the world then delivering significantly less. Additionally, with all the info that has come out recently about Snail Games' finances etc, it does kinda paint this whole move in a slightly more 'desperation' light than just a simple 'remaster for the fans', so just how much content will ASA have on release, and what state will it be in? Not to mention some of these points are controversial for some players.

End of the day you have to make your own call whether you feel it will be worth it or not.

Thanks for the link to the post. The initial parts explain the obvious gains when transitioning to UE5, so I'm not too impressed. Furthermore, whilst cross-platform modding is nice, experience tells me premium mods are a step in the wrong direction.

Then, the bottom (and arguably the most interesting portion for any new game) seems a bit..basic? Queueing System? Nothing revolutionary besides the obvious.

I don't trust this will be a flawless release. My gut tells me something is off here.