How To Get the Scorched Earth DLC in Ark: A Comprehensive Guide
The arid landscapes and unique challenges of ARK: Scorched Earth beckon to many players of ARK: Survival Evolved. This expansion pack introduces a whole new environment, creatures, and items, making it a must-have for seasoned survivors and newcomers alike. But how exactly do you get your hands on this coveted DLC? Let’s break it down.
Getting Your Hands on Scorched Earth
The primary way to gain access to ARK: Scorched Earth is through purchasing a bundle that includes it or through a season pass. Unfortunately, you cannot purchase the Scorched Earth DLC individually anymore. Here are your current options:
Option 1: The Ultimate Survivor Edition
The most straightforward way is to acquire the ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition. This comprehensive package includes:
- The base game, ARK: Survival Evolved
- All of the expansion packs, including Scorched Earth, Aberration, and Extinction
- Various other bonus content
This is the most complete way to experience all of Ark’s content, including Scorched Earth. If you’re looking to dive deep into everything Ark has to offer, this is the most recommended choice.
Option 2: Season Passes (If Still Available)
While individual DLC purchases are no longer an option, there may be instances where you can find legacy season passes that include Scorched Earth. These passes bundled various expansion packs together, but they’re becoming increasingly rare, as newer versions and bundles supersede them. Keep an eye on official stores or secondhand marketplaces for possible offers if you prefer this approach. However, the Ultimate Survivor Edition is still the more current way to play the Scorched Earth DLC.
Option 3: ARK: Survival Ascended
The Unreal Engine 5 remaster of the original game, ARK: Survival Ascended, also includes Scorched Earth as one of the launch maps. This option is only available for the newer re-master of the game and won’t work on older versions.
Note: It is crucial to purchase the DLC or bundles through legitimate sources, such as the official stores for your gaming platform (e.g., Steam, Xbox Store, PlayStation Store).
Important Notes
- No standalone purchases: As previously mentioned, Scorched Earth can no longer be purchased as a standalone DLC. You will have to opt for the bundles mentioned above.
- Game required: Regardless of how you acquire Scorched Earth, it will always require the base game, ARK: Survival Evolved, to function.
- Platform Specifics: Availability may vary slightly depending on your gaming platform. Double-check the product descriptions on your platform’s store to confirm what is included.
- Ark: Survival Evolved Servers: It is important to note that official servers for the original ARK: Survival Evolved were shut down on September 29th, 2023. The content can still be played, but only through the ARK: Survival Ascended remaster or through unofficial servers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Scorched Earth Free in Ark?
No, Scorched Earth is not free. It is included within the ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition and was formerly included in some season passes. It is no longer available for individual purchase. You must pay for this content through the purchase of a full edition or the remaster.
2. Can I Still Buy Scorched Earth Separately?
No, you cannot buy the Scorched Earth DLC separately anymore. The game developers removed this option, so you’ll need to get it as part of a bundle or in the newer remaster of the game, ARK: Survival Ascended.
3. Do I Need the Base Game to Play Scorched Earth?
Yes, you absolutely need the base game, ARK: Survival Evolved, or ARK: Survival Ascended, to play Scorched Earth. It is an expansion pack, not a standalone game.
4. Is Scorched Earth Part of the Ark Season Pass?
It used to be, but the season pass approach is largely deprecated. Instead, focus on the Ultimate Survivor Edition or the remaster, as these include all the core Ark DLCs, including Scorched Earth.
5. Is Scorched Earth included in the ARK: Survival Ascended launch?
Yes, Scorched Earth is one of the three maps available on launch for the remaster, ARK: Survival Ascended. However, this is a different game to the original ARK: Survival Evolved.
6. What is included in the Ultimate Survivor Edition?
The Ultimate Survivor Edition is the most comprehensive way to buy the game, it contains:
- The base game, ARK: Survival Evolved
- All expansions, including Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Genesis Part 1, and Genesis Part 2.
7. If I have the DLC, can I use Scorched Earth items in other maps?
Yes and no. You can use spawn codes or admin commands on servers to add items and creatures from Scorched Earth to non-Scorched Earth maps. However, without using these codes, you will only encounter the creatures and items within their specific maps.
8. Will Ark 1 servers be turned off?
Yes, the official servers for the original ARK: Survival Evolved shut down on September 29th, 2023. This shutdown does not affect single player or private servers, but it does mean that if you want to play with others online, you have to use the ARK: Survival Ascended or a community server.
9. What is ARK: Survival Ascended?
ARK: Survival Ascended is the Unreal Engine 5 remaster of the original ARK: Survival Evolved. It has improved graphics, enhanced gameplay, and will eventually include all the original maps. This is a new game, not just an update. It is sold separately.
10. Do I Need Scorched Earth to Play Ragnarok?
No, you do not need to own the Scorched Earth DLC to play Ragnarok, as Ragnarok is a free DLC map. However, you do need Scorched Earth to get some of the items and creatures from that DLC that do not spawn on Ragnarok naturally.
11. Can you Ascend on Scorched Earth?
Yes, you can ascend on Scorched Earth. In a narrative content update, Studio WildCard added the ability to Ascend on Scorched Earth for a long time.
12. Are all Ark DLCs free?
No, not all Ark DLCs are free. While some maps are released as free downloads like Fjordur, Ragnarok, and Lost Island, expansion packs like Scorched Earth and Genesis are not free.
13. What is the “Scorched Earth Policy”?
This is not related to the game, but the term ‘scorched earth’ is a real-world military strategy that involves destroying resources in an area to prevent their use by an enemy. It is banned under international law.
14. Are there Spinos in Scorched Earth?
No, there are no Spinos (Spinosaurus) that spawn naturally on the Scorched Earth map. They are on other maps like The Island and Ragnarok.
15. What other maps does ARK: Survival Ascended have available on launch?
At launch, ARK: Survival Ascended only had three maps available: The Island, Scorched Earth, and Survival of the Fittest. New maps are planned for addition later.
Conclusion
While the method of obtaining ARK: Scorched Earth has changed over time, it’s still fully accessible through the Ultimate Survivor Edition or the new ARK: Survival Ascended. While you can no longer buy it individually, the complete bundles offer the best value for players looking to experience the breadth of the Ark universe. Now that you know how to get it, dive into the deserts of Scorched Earth and face its unique challenges!