Ark: Survival Ascended DLC Transforms The Game Into An Immersive Greek Myth

Ark: Survival Ascendedplayers looking to add some more mythical beasts to their game need to check out the Astraeos DLC. When it comes to providing the community with alternative ways of playing the massive survival game, Studio Wildcard struck gold by opening the floodgates of official mod support. Working hand-in-hand with popular creators, the developer has been able to provide fans with an abundance of extra content that manages to keep Ark feeling fresh but familiar at the same time.

Over on Steam, users can now check out the official release of Ark: Astraeos, a gigantic DLC mod that turns the dinosaur-ridden island into an "Elysian land of colossal proportions" inspired by Greek mythology. Originally developed by well-known modder Nekatus, Astraeos consists of a 264 square-kilometer map that's loaded with new bosses and enemies themed after iconic monsters like the Cyclops and Medusa. Survivors will also be able to explore a plethora of Greek temples and ruins, all while crafting the perfect set of Spartan armor to further sell the fantasy.

The press release describes the DLC as:

"a breathtaking Greek Odyssey-themed world created by acclaimed community map author Nekatus. Originally developed as a community mod, Astraeos is now an Official Partner DLC, featuring a new creature variant Maeguana, formidable new bosses, exclusive cosmetics and more! "

Playing Ark: Astraeos Has Never Been Easier

The Joys Of Mod Support

Players who may be unfamiliar with installing mods are in luck because Astraeos has finally made the jump to Steam as Studio Wildcard has worked with Nekatus to officially support the add-on. This means that those wanting to explore the wilds of ancient Greece in Ark: Survival Ascended will need to pay a premium to do so, but based on early reviews, it's well worth the cost of admission. Some players have noted that it's unfinished, so considering the in-development nature of the mod, it's better to treat it like an early-access release.

Astraeos is an incredibly ambitious expansion so those who purchase it should be prepared to wait for meaningful updates. Since it's a solo-dev project, it's reasonable to expect that fleshing out the world of ancient mythological Greece will take some time. There's currently no roadmap for the mod but with roughly one-third of the work complete, users should go in expecting some holes in the framework.

Ark: Astraeos Is An Impressive Feat

Modders Never Fail To Disappoint

A Greek warrior exploring an ancient tomb littered with bones

I think it's incredible that a single modder like Nekatus has been able to transform Ark: Survival Ascended in such a meaningful way. The change in theme and tone is staggering by itself, but going one step further to build new monsters and creatures to further sell the world is genuinely fantastic. As someone who's modded a fair amount of games, I'm pleased to see Studio Wildcard reward Nekatus and I hope that Astraeos' Steam launch encourages more players to check it out.

Source: Steam