If you’ve spent any time scrolling through Ark: Survival Evolved community clips, you’ve probably seen the wild, space-themed biomes and crazy new tames that come with Genesis Part 2. As one of the most popular expansions the game ever released, it packs hundreds of hours of new content for solo players and tribes alike. Figuring out how to get Ark Genesis 2 and set it up correctly can be confusing if you’re new to purchasing DLC for the game, especially with all the different platform versions and bundle options out there. I’ve put together this guide after purchasing the expansion three separate times for PC, console, and my kid’s Switch, so I’ve run into every common mistake you can make along the way.
How to Get Ark Genesis 2 on Every Popular Platform
The process of purchasing and downloading the expansion varies slightly depending on what you play Ark on, but the core rules stay the same across all systems. Important note: You must own a copy of the base Ark: Survival Evolved game to install and play Genesis 2, it will not work as a standalone title. If you don’t own the base game yet, you can often find bundles that include the base game plus all DLC for less than buying each piece separately.
For Steam users, you can find Genesis 2 listed as a separate DLC on the Ark store page, or as part of the Genesis Season Pass which includes both Genesis Part 1 and Part 2 for a 20% lower price than buying both individually. If you already own the Genesis Season Pass, you already have access to Genesis 2, so you don’t need to make a separate purchase. For Epic Games Store users, the process is identical, just make sure you’re buying the DLC through the same store you got the base game from.
For Xbox and PlayStation users, you can find Genesis 2 in the first-party store on your console, either as a standalone purchase or part of the season pass. If you have an active Game Pass or PlayStation Plus subscription, you’ll often get a 10-15% discount on all Ark DLC, including Genesis 2. Switch users can only buy the standalone version of the DLC through the Nintendo eShop, as the Genesis Season Pass is not available for that platform. If you play on console, make sure you restart your system after downloading the DLC to make sure it shows up in your map list.
Avoid These Common Mistakes When Purchasing Genesis 2
I’ve made almost every possible mistake when buying this DLC, so I can tell you exactly what to watch out for before you enter your payment info. Most players who run into issues accessing Genesis 2 after purchase bought the wrong version for their base game client. For example, a Steam key for Genesis 2 won’t work if you own the base game on Epic Games, and console DLC codes are region locked in most cases.
Before you finalize your purchase, run through this quick checklist to avoid headaches later:
- Confirm your base game version matches the DLC you’re buying (Epic, Steam, console store versions are not cross-compatible)
- Check that you have at least 20GB of free storage space on your drive to avoid corrupted download errors
- Verify that any server you play on regularly has Genesis 2 enabled if you plan to play with friends right away
Another common mistake is buying the full Genesis Season Pass when you already own Genesis Part 1. Most stores don’t offer partial refunds for duplicate content, so double check your existing DLC library before you buy. Don’t buy third-party keys from untrusted sites either. A lot of cheap Genesis 2 keys floating around are stolen or region-locked, and your access to the DLC will get revoked within a few weeks when the original owner reports the key as fraud.
Setting Up Genesis 2 for First Play After Installation
Once you’ve downloaded Genesis 2, you don’t need to install any extra mods or adjust base game files to get it running. For single player users, just launch the base game, head to the map selection screen, and Genesis 2 will show up as an option alongside other official maps like The Island or Aberration. You can adjust your single player settings like taming speed, harvest rate, and player damage before you launch the map, just like you would for any other Ark map.
If you play on a public multiplayer server, you’ll need to select a server that specifically lists Genesis 2 as its active map. Most server browsers let you filter maps to only show Genesis 2 servers, so you don’t have to scroll through hundreds of irrelevant results. If you’re running your own private server for you and your friends, you’ll need to add the Genesis 2 server files to your server folder and adjust your launch parameters to load the Genesis 2 map by default. If you’re moving an existing character to Genesis 2, make sure you upload them to an obelisk or transmitter first on your current map, or you’ll lose all your progress.
If Genesis 2 doesn’t show up in your map list after installation, don’t panic. For PC users, verify your game files through your store client to make sure all DLC files installed correctly. For console users, make sure the account that purchased the DLC is set as the home account on your system, so other profiles on the same console can access it. I ran into this issue on my Xbox, and switching my main account to the home profile fixed it in 30 seconds.
First Steps to Take When Spawning in Genesis 2
Now that you have Genesis 2 up and running, there are a few small things you can do to make your first playthrough way smoother. Unlike most other Ark maps, Genesis 2 spawns you on a large space station with two distinct starting biomes: the peaceful, lush Eden zone and the harsh, corrupted Rockwell zone. Most new players should spawn in the Eden zone first, as the creatures there are far less aggressive and the resources are easier to access for early game gear.
Your first 10 minutes should follow the standard Ark loop: punch trees for wood, craft a stone pick and hatchet, then gather enough fiber and thatch to make basic cloth armor. But Genesis 2 has a few quirks you won’t find on other maps. You’ll find small glowing supply pods scattered all over the Eden zone that drop free basic gear, resources, and even consumables that give you temporary buffs. Grab as many of these as you can early on, they’ll help you skip hours of grinding for basic materials.
Don’t wander into the Corrupted zones within your first hour of play even if you see high-tier supply drops there. The corrupted Rexes, Shadowmanes, and other creatures in those zones hit for hundreds of damage, and they’ll one-shot you even if you have basic metal armor. Once you have a mid-tier tame like a Procoptodon or a Raptor, you can start exploring the edges of the Corrupted zone for better loot, but stick to Eden until you’re geared up. I made the mistake of running after a Tek Stryder on my first spawn and got one-shot by a corrupted Rex before I even got close, so learn from my error.
At the end of the day, getting set up to play Genesis 2 doesn’t have to be a headache if you follow the steps we laid out. Whether you’re picking it up for the first time or coming back to it after a break from Ark, the expansion has something for every type of player, from casual explorers to hard-core PvP tribes. Now that you know how to get Ark Genesis 2 and set it up correctly, you’re ready to jump in and start exploring the huge space station map and all the unique content it has to offer. Just watch out for the random Shadowmane attacks when you’re looting supply drops in the Eden zone, they’re far sneakier than you think.