Is ARK: Survival Ascended on Game Pass?

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ARK: Survival Ascended is here! Players using different gaming systems can now enjoy this successor to ARK: Survival Evolved. But can you enjoy the game on Game Pass?

Is ARK: Survival Ascended on Game Pass?

Unfortunately, ARK: Survival Ascended isn’t on Game Pass at the time of writing. However, interested players must have a Game Pass subscription to use the game’s online multiplayer features. It’s unclear if ARK: Survival Ascended will be part of the pass roster in the future. One of the possible reasons could be Microsoft’s expenses in paying Studio Wildcard to have its games on the company’s gaming subscription service. In particular, a September 2022 SEC filing reveals that Microsoft paid Studio Wildcard $2.5 million to keep ARK: Survival Evolved in Game Pass for the first half of that year. Microsoft also paid the Kirkland, Washington-headquartered video game-developing company $2.3 million to bring ARK 2 to that service when the game is released. With that, it could be that Microsoft is holding onto its extra cash while considering ARK: Survival Ascended's addition. It doesn't come without its complications, as ARK: Survival Evolved has server restrictions, and that might also mean Survival Ascended also has server compatibility concerns. In particular, Survival Evolved servers are only compatible with Steam, Epic Games, and similar platforms, and they are incompatible with its console and Microsoft Store versions.