Confirm the product before the plan
“ARK” is not a sufficient compatibility description. Ask for the full title or Steam App ID before arranging a purchase, a server or a tribe move. Survival Ascended is a separate product, not a free Evolved update. [S1] [S4]
| Field | Survival Evolved / ASE | Survival Ascended / ASA |
|---|---|---|
| Steam App ID | 346110 | 2399830 |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 4 | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Product relationship | Original survival game | Remake / remaster product line |
| Release marker in the research | August 2017 full-release window | October 25, 2023 Early Access launch |
| Progress between products | No shared live progress | Does not inherit an ASE survivor |
| Typical PC mod route | Steam Workshop | Different pipeline, including CurseForge |
The ASA launch marker is historical. It is not a claim about that product’s current release-stage label or every map available today. [S4] [W7]
Characters, bases and tames do not move as an update
Treat the two products as separate progress lives. Characters, creatures and bases established in Evolved are not an official shared live world with Ascended. Do not plan a tribe relocation around a presumed one-click upgrade or shared server. [W7]
This distinction is separate from transfers between maps within the same game and an allowed server cluster. An Obelisk transfer in ASE does not bridge the two products.
What changed for Evolved’s official network
The main Evolved official network closed on September 30, 2023. Official-era save snapshots were published for community hosting. Local single-player, unofficial servers and dedicated hosting are separate ways to play the original game. [W8]
An old official save hosted by a community remains a community-hosted environment. Rates, moderation, maintenance and transfer configuration belong to its current host; restoring a snapshot does not restore the historical official network.
The supplied research also records later Aquatica-specific official support announcements. Those were limited and dated. This guide does not infer a current all-ASE official service from them. [S3]
Mods require a second compatibility check
ASE’s established PC mod route centers on Steam Workshop. ASA uses a different installation and distribution pipeline, including CurseForge. A familiar mod name is not enough to establish that the same mod file, version or server configuration can be used in both games. [S1] [W7]
Within one product, check the destination host’s required mod list. Product identity and mod compatibility are two different checks; satisfying one does not solve the other.
Cross-play is conditional
The source project marks its detailed platform matrix as not fully verified. This page therefore avoids a universal “PC and every console can join” statement. Compatibility depends on the exact editions, storefronts, platforms and host configuration, and official rules can change. [W7]
Before sending friends to install a large game, record the server’s product, map, platform support, mod requirements and instructions. ASE and ASA themselves do not share a live server.
Keep DLC lists separate
An expansion should be matched to its product, not just its map name. Evolved has its own Season Passes, free maps and Aquatica. Ascended has its own releases and additional products. Shared place names do not make a store listing interchangeable. [S2] [W6] [W7]
Consult the ASE map directory before treating a roadmap item or an Ascended pack as Evolved content.
A practical decision checklist
| Your plan | Check before buying or installing |
|---|---|
| Join friends | Their exact game and server product |
| Return to an old base | Where that world is hosted now and which save it uses |
| Use an old Workshop setup | That it targets ASE and matches the host |
| Start a fresh local world | Hardware, installed maps and chosen edition |
| Follow a current announcement | Whether the announcement concerns ASE, ASA or Mobile |
This is a compatibility checklist, not a recommendation that the newer product is automatically the better choice. The correct choice is the one matching the world and people you intend to play with.