The digital simulation of ARK: Survival Ascended is set for a major expansion on July 2, 2026. Studio Wildcard has announced the arrival of Genesis Ascended Part 1 alongside a new nautical-themed update, ARK Tides of Fortune. This update shifts the gameplay focus toward a vast, uncharted ocean frontier, introducing physics-driven water mechanics and naval combat.
Survivors will be able to construct custom fleets and navigate the open seas in search of buried treasure. The developers suggest that players should prepare for these changes by stockpiling resources and rallying their crews, as the ocean environment promises new challenges beyond the shifting weather patterns.
New Server Experiences: Classic and Conquest
Snail Games is introducing significant changes to the official server landscape. Starting July 2, at 4 PM PDT, current Classic servers will transition into the new Conquest mode. This mode is specifically tailored for large-scale PvP, featuring increased rates to help tribes recover from losses and prevent total wipes by mega tribes.
During the current Classic phase, Tek technology is disabled, with the exception of Cryopods, across 21 maps including The Island, The Center, Ragnarok, and Scorched Earth. Upon the transition to Conquest, Tek will be enabled, though specific items such as the Tek Grenade, Tek Railgun, and various Tek saddles will remain restricted.
Community Content and Giveaways
In celebration of the 11-year anniversary of the ARK franchise and the upcoming Tides of Fortune content, the developers have partnered with Alienware and IntelGaming for a hardware giveaway. Players can enter to win a custom-skinned Alienware Aurora 16X Gaming Laptop by engaging with the official ARK social media post and sharing their best tame using the hashtag #TidesofFortune.
The game continues to integrate community-made content through its in-game mod browser. Recent highlights include the Display Case Catalogue by Fernandess and Dani_FM, the Managaalm Skin, and Fera’s Creature Reforged: Wild Seas. These mods are available across all gaming platforms, with the development team highlighting new additions weekly.
Weekend Bonus Rates
To support players through the weekend, the official network has activated bonus rates active until Monday, June 29:
- PVP/PVE: 2x Harvesting, Taming, Experience, and Breeding.
- Small Tribes: 4.5x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience; 4x Breeding.
- ARKpocalypse: 5x Harvesting, Taming, Experience, and Breeding.
Additionally, ARKpocalypse servers have undergone their scheduled wipe today, with the next reset slated for July 24, 2026.