This latest Community Crunch highlights a significant push toward technical modernization and content expansion. Beyond the new aquatic threat, Studio Wildcard has confirmed that Genesis Ascended Part 1 will launch alongside the Tides of Fortune update. For players invested in the competitive meta, a major version update for the Lost Colony DLC is already live, addressing critical performance issues and fixing long-standing bugs related to boss fights, outposts, and thrall behavior.
Technical enthusiasts have even more to look forward to later this year. The studio has targeted late Q3 2026 for a massive engine upgrade to Unreal Engine 5.7. This isn't just a minor version bump; it includes the integration of World Creator, which should theoretically streamline how environments are rendered and potentially improve the game's overall stability and visual fidelity.
Key Dates and Server Sunsets
If you are playing on older official servers, take note of the upcoming maintenance window. Several inactive Island servers are scheduled for sunsetting on June 19. If your base is on one of these maps, make sure to utilize the transfer windows opening prior to that date to save your progress and tames.
- May 19: Community-voted creature TLCs begin, starting with the Araneo.
- May 29: Next ARKpocalypse server wipe.
- June 19: Inactive Island server sunset date.
- June 25: Genesis Ascended Part 1 & Tides of Fortune release.
- Late Q3 2026: Unreal Engine 5.7 upgrade launch.
The Palaeoctopus reveal suggests a shift toward more complex aquatic gameplay, likely providing new utility for underwater resource gathering or base defense. With the Araneo TLC also on the horizon for May 19, Wildcard is clearly focusing on bringing older, underutilized creatures up to the modern standards of the UE5 remaster.
Soren