Ark: Survival Ascendedhas introduced Battlerigs to the franchise, opening the door forArk 2to expand on vehicles. The Battlerigs, added inASA’s Wasteland War update, are ferocious monster truck-like vehicles that can be used in various ways. All the different modifiers can make these war vehicles versatile and easily interchangeable. Though they can feel a bit out of place in this prehistoric survival world, a little innovation can’t do much harm.
Unfortunately, there has been little news about the highly anticipated sequel.Ark 2has gone through a series of delays and was meant to be released in late 2024. However, since that period has come and nearly gone at the time of writing, there is no exact date. It also seems likeAscendedhas plenty of content still planned, which may meanAscendedwill carry theArkfranchise forward.
What Vehicles Could Ark 2 Add
Moving To A Modern World
Based on the Battlerig, there are a few vehicle ideasArk 2could include. The first option is a completely open prototype helicopter. This isn’t too far out of the realm of possibility and stays balanced.Something like this could be used as a transportation device with a high carry weight, perhaps better than most non-rare tames. The alternative is making it into something ready for battle with turrets or heavy projectiles.
Option two is another land-based vehicle, something akin to a motorcycle. This wouldn’t be as versatile as the Battlerig, butcould be a good alternative for flatter maps. Due to its quickness, it could also be utilized in a more hit-and-run style that something like the rig and most tames can’t do. Theme-wise, a motorcycle-like vehicle is probably the most reasonable addition to the game without feeling too out of place.
The last option would take players to the waters in a gunboat. This would be the trickiest to manage, but could also be the most fun.Ark’s oceans can be dangerous, so something that makes them safer to navigate that isn’t a tamed creature would be a boon.This could come with a simple turret or harpoon gun, with enough speed to safely escape most encounters.
How Vehicles Could Change Ark
New Ways To Navigate And Battle
Vehicles, added and balanced properly, could be an exciting change forArk. It has already been stated by Studio Wildcard thatthe sequel has plans for numerous large changes. Given that the Battlerigs have been added, it might hint at what the plans are. This could all lead to a faster-pacedArkthat is complemented by dinosaurs rather than dictated by it.
This would makeArkmore of a blend of modern-day/futuristic equipment mixed with the prehistoric. Though the currentArkalready has a good bit of this,Ark 2could enhance it. This effect would only be amplified ifArk 2adds a new tech tier, which would make sense for a sizable upgrade. Overall,this blend would create new combos, synergies, and gameplay experiencesthat are impossible inAscended.
How Would Dinosaurs Interact With Vehicles In Ark
Keeping A Proper Balance
The key to adding vehicles inArk 2would be properly balancing them around the dinosaurs.Nothing should be indestructibleagainst the majority of creatures. Some early to mid-game dinos should be weaker against vehicles, but not to the point that something like the Rex oranother ofAscended’s best dinosaurscan’t be a threat. This would eliminate anything that is heavily armored and help balance vehicles for PvP too.
The other aspect of vehicles inArk 2could be how Dinosaurs function with them. The easiest example of this is vehicles that can carry dinosaurs, maybe even multiple, depending on the size. A more creative, but harder-to-implement, feature is the dinosaurs becoming a “part” of the vehicles. Something like a Thorny Dragon becoming a makeshift turret, or a large flying tame giving a land-based vehicle the temporary ability to fly.
Little things like this can add up in a big way for a game likeArk. If the dinosaurs and vehicles are separate, this can pull players in different ways and take away from what makesArkgreat. It will be crucial for any vehicles added inArk: SurvivalAscendedorArk 2to be carefully implemented and balanced among the creatures that make the game popular.
Ark: Survival Ascended
ARK: Survival Ascended is a reimagined version of the 2017 action-adventure survival MMORPG by the developers at Studio Wildcard and Grove Street Games. Built in Unreal Engine 5, players will return to ARK to build tribes, fight and tame dinosaurs, and brave the elements as they battle to survive in a unique sandbox where crafting and resource management is essential.
