KI generiertes Bild aus Mischung von Atlas und ARK (Shastasaurus)
Genesis Part 1 fundamentally transforms the ASA architecture. At its center is the paid DLC "Tides of Fortune", part of the "Bob’s Tall Tales" pack. Studio Wildcard is targeting a release in summer 2026. However, since Lead Product Manager Dollie resides in Australia, the term "summer" should be taken with a grain of salt – in the worst-case scenario, it means December 1st. Before sails are set, the Unreal Engine 5.7 update in April or May 2026 will deliver the essential technical framework. The community and the modding elite are already trembling.
Update:
- May 2, 2026: UE 5.7 is postponed to late September 2026.
- May 23, 2026: Genesis 1 will be released on June 25, 2026
A Cohesive Ocean Instead of Isolated Biomes
The biggest change to the Genesis 1 map affects its fundamental architecture. While the original version consisted of isolated biomes between which players had to teleport, the remake will offer a continuous, map-wide water world. This global ocean acts as a link between the various zones. This eliminates the fragmented structure of the past, paving the way for true maritime exploration. To make traversing the swamp areas easier, the Paleoctopus will also be introduced, a creature that emerged from a community vote with over 23,000 votes.
The Atlas DNA
Studio Wildcard makes no secret of the fact that "Tides of Fortune" benefits heavily from the technical developments of their pirate epic Atlas. Co-founders Jeremy Stieglitz and Jesse Rapczak confirmed that the expertise in network-simulated ocean physics and ship construction was adopted directly from the Atlas project. However, while Atlas failed due to extremely tedious game mechanics and draconian penalties upon loss, the system in ARK is intended to be much more accessible. The goal is to retain the satisfying physics and feel of a real ship without putting players off with excessive grind potential. The construction and maintenance of the ships will be made more efficient, so that a sunken ship no longer means the loss of dozens of hours of work.
Water Physics via Unreal Engine 5.7
The upcoming engine update is far more than just a mere optimization. It is what actually enables the realistic rendering of waves, foam formation, and light refraction on the water's surface. In combination with the new ships, this creates a physical interaction that ARK previously lacked. The ships in "Tides of Fortune" are not static platforms, but modularly customizable vehicles. Players can place attachments like cannons, erect regular structures on the decks, and, of course, bring their dinosaurs on board. Thanks to the improved network physics, these large structures are expected to remain stable even in rough seas, opening up new technical possibilities for both the base game and the modding community.
Further information:
- Official Wiki: https://ark.wiki.gg/wiki/Tides_…
- Interview with Jeremy Stieglitz and Jesse Rapczak https://www.pcgamer.com/games/s…
