Does ARK Survival Ascended come with ASE DLC? Updates explained

ARK Survival Ascended is now out on Xbox and PC. It is not the sequel starring Fast and Furious megastar Vin Diesel, it is instead a complete remake and reimagination of ASE using the power of Unreal Engine 5. There is a whole new map to explore, and the game is absolutely gorgeous with all of its rocky terrains, jungles, and sparkling waterfalls. It is not a complete product yet as there are updates down the line. Some returning dino riding veterans are asking does ARK Survival Ascended come with DLC from ASE, and here you’ll find everything you need to know.

Unlike ASE and ARK 2 when it eventually releases, ASA is not on Xbox Game Pass for November 2023. It will likely join the Microsoft subscription in the service in the future, but it is not available from day one, unlike the sequel when it eventually comes out. Speaking of ARK 2, don’t expect it to become playable anytime soon as the release date has been pushed back to the end of 2024. This is a shame but ASA is an enjoyable experience in the meantime.

Does ARK Survival Ascended come with ASE DLC?

ARK Survival Ascended will add all of the DLC from ASE, but they are not available from day one. Per the Xbox partner preview, Studio Wildcard will add all of the previous DLCs along with fresh story content, quality-of-life improvements, and seasonal holiday events. Over time, there will also be the addition of 11 new creatures.

What’s especially good is that all of the DLC from ASE will be given away for free. ASA doesn’t launch with all of the content right away because it’s built using Unreal Engine 5. This means all of the ASE content needs to be repurposed and rebuilt to fit into the game. You can find Studio Wildcard’s release schedule for maps in their 2023/24 roadmap to see when updates are planned to come out. Unfortunately, this roadmap came out before the Xbox and now PS5 release dates were delayed, so it’s possible postponements could occur.

While DLC is always exciting, what’s even better is that users on Xbox and PS5 can download cross-platform mods through crossplay. Of course, mods can only be built on PC, but PS5 and Xbox gamers at least get to download and install the community creations. This will guarantee your game stays fresh as you add custom content.