ARK Survival Ascended Roadmap: 2026-2027 Release Tracker
ASA roadmap tracker Reviewed July 31, 2026
ARK: Survival Ascended’s roadmap now stretches across remastered story content, original expansions, creator tools, engine work, and a narrative bridge toward ARK 2. This page separates released content from scheduled and undated plans.
Current headline: Genesis Ascended Part 1 and Tides of Fortune are live. Dragontopia’s staged rollout is underway ahead of its December skyworld, World Creator and Unreal Engine 5.7 target late Q3, and the official roadmap places Atlantis, Galaxy Wars, and Legacy of Santiago across 2027.
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The road to ARK 2.
Track what shipped, what is actively rolling out, and what remains a studio target.
Last verified July 31, 2026
ARK Survival Ascended 2026–2027 status table
| Project | Status on July 31, 2026 | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis Ascended Part 1 | Released | Launched in early July with a major ocean-biome overhaul. |
| Tides of Fortune | Released | Naval expansion with sailing, ships, progression, creatures, and structures. |
| Galleon | Planned with the final Astraeos update | The launch post first identified August; a newer update tied it to Astraeos. |
| Dragontopia | Rolling out; full world targeted for December | Day-one dragons are live before the map-wide skyworld release. |
| Survival of the Fittest refresh | July update target; awaiting confirmation | Studio Sirens is rebuilding the free competitive mode. |
| ASA World Creator + UE 5.7 | Late Q3 2026 target | In-game world editing intended for every ASA platform. |
| Atlantis | Q1 2027 plan | Water-oriented non-canonical map building on Tides systems. |
| Galaxy Wars / Genesis Part 2 | Q2 2027 plan | Space-focused continuation of Bob and Meeka’s story. |
| Legacy of Santiago | Q4 2027 plan | ARK 2 prequel intended to test mechanics planned for the sequel. |
Dates in ARK roadmaps can move. “Announced” means Studio Wildcard has described the project; it does not mean a finished release day is guaranteed.
Genesis Ascended Part 1 and Tides of Fortune are out
Studio Wildcard announced the release of Genesis Ascended Part 1 and Tides of Fortune in early July 2026. Genesis Part 1 retains its simulation structure and biome variety while adding Ascended upgrades, including a large overhaul of the ocean biome, updated legacy creatures and environments, multi-layer map support, and new creature variants.
Tides of Fortune expands that ocean work into a naval system. Its launch features include wind-driven sailing, broadside combat, ship progression, a Sloop, a Brigantine, a Shipyard, a server-wide Market, a Bounty Board, and new tameable companions such as the Tidepup and Parrot. Studio Wildcard said the larger Galleon would follow later and subsequently tied it to the final Astraeos update.
The key SEO and player-facing distinction is that Genesis Part 1 and Tides are no longer “upcoming.” Any older roadmap that still describes them that way is outdated.
Dragontopia is the major December project
Dragontopia is described as a non-canonical world of fire, stone, and sky. Its day-one creatures and progression started rolling out in July. Studio Wildcard presents the December phase as a map-wide skyworld with floating landmasses, procedural shattered islands, enemy outposts, aerial phenomena, new items and vehicles, and a larger roster of dragons.
The concept also introduces Dragon Skill Trees, a progression system centered on building a stronger bond with mythical creatures. December is the announced target, but players should still watch for certification and platform timing as the date approaches.
Roadmap rule: shipped beats scheduled
When an item releases, this tracker moves it out of the “upcoming” list. When a date changes, we preserve the new status instead of quietly rewriting history.
Atlantis, Galaxy Wars, and Legacy of Santiago
Atlantis
Atlantis is planned for Q1 2027 as a non-canonical map focused on water-oriented world design. Studio Wildcard says it will build on the dynamic seas and systems introduced through Tides of Fortune, extending the experience from the surface into a large sunken city.
Galaxy Wars and Genesis Part 2
Bob’s True Tales: Galaxy Wars is planned for Q2 2027 and is intended to continue and conclude Bob and Meeka’s journey while a revamped Genesis Part 2 expands into a map-sized outer-space biome. The roadmap mentions starfighters, bombers, capital ships, and colonizable planetoids. Those are announced concepts, not a final feature checklist.
Legacy of Santiago
Legacy of Santiago is planned for Q4 2027 and is the roadmap’s clearest narrative bridge toward the future of the franchise. Studio Wildcard describes it as an ARK 2 prequel that will introduce and test redesigned mechanics intended for the sequel.
Unreal Engine work, performance, and World Creator
The 2026 roadmap also emphasizes engine and performance work. Studio Wildcard’s May update moved the Unreal Engine 5.7 upgrade to a late-Q3 target and said World Creator is planned to launch alongside it. Engine schedules have shifted during ASA’s life, so players should still rely on current patch notes to confirm when the upgrade ships.
ASA World Creator is planned as a more approachable, in-game alternative to learning the full ARK Dev Kit. The announced toolset includes placing and modifying actors, editing world settings, configuring volumes and spawners, applying mods and skin packs, and using simple functional text scripting. It is intended to let creators build or edit worlds from any ASA platform and share them through the Mod Browser.
Other content expected through 2026–2027
The official roadmap also points to more creature TLC passes, holiday events, quality-of-life work, upgraded legacy maps, and new creatures. Survival of the Fittest is being reworked by Studio Sirens with refreshed mechanics, competitive matchmaking, and meta-progression rewards; the latest official update reviewed here targeted July for its next milestone.
These broad categories are important, but they should not be turned into invented dates. A weekly Community Crunch or patch note can supersede a high-level roadmap at any time.
How to follow the roadmap accurately
- Start with Studio Wildcard’s latest Community Crunch.
- Check launch posts and patch notes to confirm what actually shipped.
- Separate free remastered content from paid or premium expansions.
- Check platform certification notes when console timing matters.
- Review server and mod compatibility before updating a live cluster.
Return to the ARK: Survival Ascended hub for the latest articles. Server owners should pair roadmap planning with our ASA server settings guide, especially before adding a new map or mod set.
ASA roadmap FAQ
Is Genesis Ascended Part 1 released?
Yes. Studio Wildcard announced Genesis Ascended Part 1 and Tides of Fortune as released in early July 2026.
When is Dragontopia planned?
Its first creatures and progression are live, while the official 2026 roadmap targets December for the map-wide skyworld. Treat December as an announced plan until that phase launches.
Does Legacy of Santiago replace ARK 2?
No official source says that. It is described as a standalone expansion series and part of ARK’s future, while ARK 2 remains separately listed on Steam and Xbox.
Primary sources
- Community Crunch 490: The Future is Bright
- Community Crunch 505: roadmap timing update
- Genesis Part 1 and Tides of Fortune launch announcement
- Studio Wildcard interview on the 2028 ARK 2 target
- ARK Official Community Wiki: Survival Ascended
Reviewed July 31, 2026. Roadmap timing may change after publication.
Editorial review
How this guide was prepared
Written and maintained by ZeroCool for ARK2.com. Important release, platform, roadmap, mod, and configuration claims are checked against the primary references linked in the guide.
- Fact-checked
- July 30, 2026
- Last updated
- July 31, 2026
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