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The Ark: Survival Evolved Genesis two-part expansion will add new maps, creatures, weapons and an AI companion, and will begin in December, as revealed in a livestream yesterday.
The second Season Pass for the game will unlock the fourth and fifth content packs that comprise Genesis. The livestream still stayed relatively secretive about everything headed to the survival game, but here’s what we know so far.
The Tek Claw weapon was previewed, which will increase the speed and ferocity of the double-fisted melee attacks as players deal out damage. This will doubtlessly be crucial for travelling the new map and fending off new creatures unscathed.
The first map coming to Ark includes fiery volcanic fields, water biomes and an ice-capped mountain, populated with unique creatures. One of these is nicknamed Lava Lizard; taking up the mantle of ‘hot girl summer’ quite literally. The sizeable siege dino draws up magma from the active volcano, using it as a projectile and an area-of-effect attack. It can even swim through lava, which makes it a formidable foe.
Tiny is found over in the snowy peaks of the map. It’s a sweet shape-shifting shoulder pet, and looks like a woolly fennec fox with an extra few limbs. If Tiny is fed enough Element, it’ll transform into a towering, rideable monstrosity. I think it’d get along well with the volatile Morpeko from Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Most exciting, however, is the Giant Turtle. It’s giant, like, Giant. Players will be able to build on its shell, while it grows harvestable resources and offers an oxygen bubble to shield the rider when underwater. The Great A'Tuin’s legacy is secure.
With all this content and more, it’s daunting to know where to start. Enter HLN-A, Ark's new fully voiced AI companion. It will be available to all who purchase the Season Pass, and will guide players through missions, in solo or multiplayer mode. And finally, the whole map is actually set inside a simulation, which gave Wildcard considerable freedom with possible wild and weird encounters for players.
The Genesis expansion will arrive in December for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Watch the announcement trailer below.
