Community Crunch 385: Console and LiveOps Update, Extra Life Update, and More!

[StudioWildcard]

 

What a whirlwind of a week it's been for both our team and all of you. We've ridden the exhilarating highs of ASA's PC release, watching it claim the top spot on the Steam charts, and we've ridden the rollercoaster of post-launch LiveOps with its share of hitches and victories. On the flip side, there's no denying the disappointment accompanying the delay of ASA's console launch. We felt it, too. Let’s get straight into the console news:

 

Xbox Series X/S and Windows:

We’re on track for a November 14th (Tuesday) launch day!  As we get closer to the launch, we’ll share more information on precisely when it should be available for you to download. The Xbox version will be up-to-spec with the latest PC functionality as of Nov 14, and will launch directly into crossplay with the PC version (along with new servers, including Xbox-only servers).

Playstation:

We’re hoping to have a more precise date to share with you soon as we’re currently finalizing this with Sony, but it is slated for the end of November. We know this isn’t ideal, but we’re optimistic we’ll be able to share a date very soon!

Following the PC launch and the information and data we’ve gathered, we’ve decided to make some changes to our plans for the console launch. Here’s how everything is going to shake up:

Xbox Launch

• Cross-platform with Steam will be enabled Day One. 
• We’ll be onlining a new set of Official Servers for the respective game modes (PVP, PVE, and Small Tribes). These servers will be running boosted rates for a period of time to allow players starting on them to catch up. Our hope is to synchronize the rates by mid-December.
• We’ll also be onlining our first set of console-specific servers at this moment so that players who do not want to play on crossplay can play on those

PlayStation Launch

• Cross-platform with Steam and Xbox will be enabled Day One
• We’ll be onlining another new set of Official Servers for the respective game modes (PVP, PVE, and Small Tribes). These servers will be running with even higher boosted rates for a period of time to allow players starting on them to catch up. Our hope is to synchronize the rates by mid-December.
• We’ll also be onlining an additional set of console-specific servers with higher rates that will get synchronized by mid-December

Of course, there have been a few bumps along the way, and we're working hard to address any issues that players are reporting.  We’ve put out a record number of patches this week, but the patches can be summarized as

• Bug fixes: We've fixed a number of bugs, including server crashes, dino spawn issues, and mesh exploits.
• Performance improvements: We've made a number of performance improvements, including optimizing the dynamic navmesh system, server code (80%+ reduction in out-of-memory issues), and foliage.  We're also pleased to announce that we've significantly reduced server RAM usage. This should improve the player experience and help make servers more accessible for everyone
• Security improvements: We've added client-side protections to prevent players from listing unofficial servers as fake officials, and we've fixed a number of exploits.

For detailed patch notes visit this page.

We know there is still plenty more work to be done on all of those fronts, but we're committed to making ARK: Survival Ascended the best survival game it can be. We'll continue to release patches with bug fixes and performance improvements in the coming days, along with major feature additions over the coming weeks (and introducing Public Test Realm next week – more on that soon). In the meantime, thank you for your support and patience. We hope you're enjoying ARK: Survival Ascended so far!

 

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It is with a heavy heart that we announce the delay of Extralife 2023 from November 4th to December 2nd. We know this is late notice, and we apologize for any inconvenience it may cause to our ExtraLife team members and those who join the stream to engage with us every year. If you’d still like to stream on Game Day, we more than encourage you to do so and we’d be happy to provide support. Also, if you want to wait for our stream day, that works too 🙂

This decision was not made lightly, as we have participated in ExtraLife’s “Game Day” event for 6 years.  Extralife is not only a day where we come together to raise money for children in need, but it’s also a day that we cherish because we get to hang out with the ARK community. We want to make sure that the event is a success for all of our participants, donors, and sponsors, and we believe that moving the date is necessary to ensure that we can hit the mark. That also means we need to make sure that as many ARK players as possible can take part and because of the console delay, we need to push back the date.

Extralife is one of our favorite events of the year, and we love seeing the community come together to raise money for such a worthy cause. We can’t wait to run it with you in a few weeks!  Thank you for your understanding and support. We look forward to seeing you on December 2nd for Extralife 2023!

More about Extra Life Gameday

The Studio Wildcard Extra Life Team

On the Studio Wildcard Extra Life Team page, you can donate to the cause or join our fundraising team.

 

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This weekend, the Official Network will be receiving bonus rates! It will be active until Monday, November 5th.

• PVP/PVE: 1.5x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience + 1.5x Breeding
• Small Tribes: 4x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience + 3.5x Breeding
• ARKpocalypse: 4.5x Harvesting, Taming and Experience + 4.5x Breeding

 

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Fan Art Gallery | Screenshot Gallery | Artist Feedback Form

 

Help us discover your talent by tagging your art with #ARKPhotoMode or #ARKart on social media!

 

Creator: Syntac

Syntac showcases and discusses 10 thrilling additions made to ARK Survival Ascended. Which one are you the most excited about?

 

Creator: CHipZz

CHipZz demonstrates how to construct a workshop that includes a designated space for housing your harvesting tames. The video offers a step-by-step, voice-over tutorial, ensuring it's easy for you to follow along and construct the workshop.

 

 

Gigantoraptor and Giga Baby from ASA by кал калыч

 

Eerie Otters by N4STYR4BBiT 

 

Looks like someone is going to feast on calamari today! by @ScutalTheLizard

 

Yutyrannus by @therbisofficial

 

I have returned from the dreaded art block to post this. by @SoupAscended

 

The journey continues by @k3zk_627

 

Sinomacrops is baby by ark-erika

 

 

Not a bad little view by @TheAx3Man

 

Thank you for the photo mode by @TiiaAurora

 

Some beautiful screenshots from ARK ASCENDED by @Alexand90575037

 

This game looks like a damn movie by @Nekatus

 

Om Nom Nom.... Tail. by @_NERDPotion

 

Enjoy your weekend!
Studio Wildcard

Twitter: twitter.com/survivetheark
Discord: discord.com/invite/playark
Reddit: reddit.com/r/playark
Instagram: instagram.com/survivetheark
Twitch: twitch.tv/survivetheark
Steam: steamcommunity.com/app/346110
Youtube: youtube.com/survivetheark
Facebook: facebook.com/survivetheark
Threads: threads.net/@survivetheark
Official Wiki: ark.wiki.gg

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[TeRyn]

Official PvP ORP SERVERS, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

Edited November 4, 2023 by TeRyn

[FedePohl]

yeha

[Lilstewie]

I read console in the title

[Chrysa1is]

Hell ye

[theLordzchipx]

This is getting so frustrating… 

[Chinstrap8739]

That is not fair for those of us on PS. Now we have to watch Xbox play without us too? Not only are we later, but we don’t even get a date?

[Fruitypebbles]

Will we be getting mods day one console 

[R34jeromegtr]

God damn you suck 

[Fabl3dSchuck]

Why is Sony lagging so far behind? Is this a “them” issue more than a Wildcard issue? Getting anticipation fatigue. It’s gonna launch and I won’t even care at that point. End up waiting till it’s released for free in a few years on the Ps Store. Dang.

[HeavenlyXInglex]

Nice crunch. 10 days. 

[Alex222]

Why Sony has to make things so much harder than it as to be

[servietsky10]

It's off to a good start, lots of bugs, rollback lag disconnections

[onemoetime]

This is Unreal. Shame

[savageashell907]

Thank you for this!! A date that is acceptable and the fact you moved extra life to include all of our community means so much to me! I cannot wait to stream this for extra life!

[ZakMax123]

Will more wild dinos have baby variants in the future? Argy babies were seen in the launch trailer but so far nobody I've talked to has seen any, and the devkit doesn't seem to show them as having a chance to spawn with babies. Same with direwolf I believe. 

Also, sorry to all of you console players, especially play station. I'd be incredibly angry in your position. 

[RedGhost77]

I never have been so disappointed in my entire life.... GG wild card you have alienated 1/3 of your player base, made it impossible for a build up on 1x, just wow. Gotta give us something after this bs 

[troil]

They provided a good deal of useful information and actually gave a date for xbox. Best community crunch in awhile. I do not ask alot just let me know what's going on

[Wildguy9999]

What about dreadnoughtus dossier? 

[Zeus1992]

Wow what a joke.... 

[Ridley500]

I guess this is great news? I'm really happy for Xbox and windows players but as a PlayStation player, I'm a little heartbroken. This is getting rediculous.

Now that i think about it will PlayStation players even get mods or is that a lie as well?

Edited November 4, 2023 by Ridley500

[Ultimopolvo]

I'm just sad and disappointed to be so disadvantaged as a Playstation player

[St1ckyBandit]

2 minutes ago, Fabl3dSchuck said:

Why is Sony lagging so far behind? Is this a “them” issue more than a Wildcard issue? Getting anticipation fatigue. It’s gonna launch and I won’t even care at that point. End up waiting till it’s released for free in a few years on the Ps Store. Dang.

Look at the state the game launched in. Look at all these delays. I highly doubt Sony is a fault here. It's classic WC delay of a delay of a delay.

[moaningmini]

As much as soon can be.  so playstation get two days to prep for extra life so no point then only get two weeks of bonus rates if you haven't lied so much a d gave us soon so much I wouldnt be so angry that I've now decided that I won't even bother as I'll be so far behind on cross play. I really don't think it will be end of November so it's by from me I've stayed up all night to be so disappointed 

[Gecko1611]

No Dreadnoughtus art, no creature vote, no anything. A bit of info about consol release. A nice reminder of delays (something we totally need). Nothing too substantial. As far as Community Crunches go, I'd give this a good 2.5/10.

Edited November 4, 2023 by Gecko1611