Popular dinosaur-survival-crafting-multiplayer game ARK: Survival Evolved is heading to mobile devices. Studio Wildcard announced that mobile developer War Drum Studios is bringing the full ARK: Survival Evolved gameplay to iOS and Android. It’s going to be released as a free-to-play later title this spring.
The mobile version of ARK: Survival Evolved promises to deliver the same online multiplayer gameplay as the PC and console versions, featuring over 80 prehistoric creatures coexisting on a gigantic island to explore and build upon. Survivors will need to craft weapons, build shelters, and cook food. ARK can be played solo or online with up to 50 other players. Players can form tribes to share resources, XP, and building plans.
War Drum Studios has launched a closed beta on iOS in preparation for the full launch. Interested beta testers can sign up here for a chance to participate.
A blog post by War Drum Studios teases some of the changes that have gone into the mobile port: “While maintaining the true ARK experience as closely as possible the mobile version has undergone its own mutations which allow for the ultimate experience on a mobile device. This includes faster paced gameplay, a unique user interface and a specialized control setup developed specifically for the mobile game. ”
ARK on mobile will be free-to-play with microtransactions. These take the form of optional upgrades that allow players to progress faster, obtain buffs, build special structures, and revive lost dinosaurs.
ARK: Survival Evolved first launched via Steam Early Access in Summer 2015, and quickly gained popularity as one of the best online survival-crafting games. Studio Wild Card has diligently released numerous free patches, major content updates and a few big paid expansion packs in the years since.
ARK officially released last fall on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. It’s coming to the App Store and Google Play Store this spring.
