During the Game Developers Conference this week, Studio Wildcard announced ARK: Survival Evolved is headed to the Nintendo Switch. It’s launching this fall.
“The Switch’s handheld mode provides a fantastic new capability for survivors who want to fully immerse themselves in the vast worlds of ARK,” said Jeremy Stieglitz, lead designer and director at Studio Wildcard. “With this new version, Switch players can go directly from hunting and taming while sitting on the couch, to forming online tribes and searching out new conquests when on the bus, waiting in line, or wherever they happen to be.”
The Switch port is co-developed with Abstraction Games to bring the full ARK experience to the Switch, with over 100 prehistoric and fantastical creatures roaming on a shared island world.
The announcement comes just one week after Studio Wildcard announced that ARK: Survival Evolved is also headed to mobile devices. The mobile port is developed by War Drum Studios. Closed beta invites for iOS players have begun to go out. GDC 2018 attendees can be among the first to play the iOS version in the Epic Games booth on the show floor (ARK runs on the Unreal engine).
ARK: Survival Evolved originally launched via Steam Early Access in Summer 2015. It officially launched last fall on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The survival-crafting game has been praised for its visuals, depth of content, and consistent updates and patches. It’s been criticized for its time requirements, reliance on grinding, and obtuse designs.
Both the mobile and Switch ports should be out later this year. ARK: Survival Evolved is rated T for Teen with Violence, Blood, Crude Humor, and Alcohol.
