The highly anticipated remake of ARK: Survival Evolved, titled ARK: Survival Ascended, has not been without its fair share of problems since its release at the end of October. Developed as an interim game while players eagerly await the arrival of ARK 2, Survival Ascended was meant to provide an exciting experience for fans of the original survival game. However, the launch of Survival Ascended was met with frustration and disappointment.
Leading up to the release of Survival Ascended, the developers at Studio Wildcard made the decision to shut down all of Survival Evolved’s official servers to prepare for the new game. This decision upset many players who had expected the upgrade to be free, as originally suggested. The move to charge players for a game that was initially presented as an upgrade left a bitter taste in the mouths of those eagerly anticipating the release.
To make matters worse, the launch of Survival Ascended has been marred by rampant cheating, primarily among PC players. Console players have voiced their concerns over encountering cheaters who use speedhacks and exploit abilities to hit players through walls. This unfair advantage has caused frustration and a decrease in the overall enjoyment of the game.
In response to these issues, Studio Wildcard has made the decision to temporarily disable cross-platform play on four of Survival Ascended’s PVP server types, including standard PVP, Small Tribes, ARKpocalypse, and Modded variants. This move aims to address the cheating problem and provide a fair playing field for all players. However, this temporary solution has left Windows players disappointed, as they can no longer participate in cross-platform gameplay.
Studio Wildcard has acknowledged the impact of cheating on the game’s health and has committed to working with Microsoft and anti-cheat provider BattlEye to implement “robust anticheat measures” in the PC version of the game. The developers estimate that these measures will be in place by early next week, and crossplay PVP will be restored at that time.
It is important to note that the temporary disabling of cross-platform play only affects official public servers. Single-player and private servers will continue to operate unaffected by this change. This decision aims to prioritize the overall experience of the player base and address the concerns raised regarding cheating.
Given the troubled launch and subsequent issues, Survival Ascended has received a “Mixed” reception on the Steam platform, reflecting the dissatisfaction among players. The recent server problems caused by cheaters are unlikely to improve the game’s standing among its player base. However, it is crucial to consider the developers’ commitment to combat cheating and create a fair gaming environment for all players.
The battle against cheaters in the remake of ARK: Survival Evolved highlights the challenges faced by developers in maintaining a positive gaming experience. While the launch controversy and cheating issues have undoubtedly affected the game’s reputation, the steps taken by Studio Wildcard to address these concerns demonstrate their dedication to improving the game. As the developers work towards implementing stronger anti-cheat measures, there is hope for a better and more enjoyable gameplay experience in the future.
Leave a Reply