If you’re a long-time fan of the original Ark: Survival Evolved, you’ve probably been scouring dev updates and beta playthroughs to figure out what core gameplay changes are coming to the sequel. The most common question we see from pre-order players and closed beta testers right now is is ark 2 first person, or if it sticks to the third-person default that made the first game so accessible for taming and large-scale combat. We spent 12 hours playing the latest beta build over the past week, testing every camera setting, toggle, and hidden option to put together a complete breakdown of how perspectives work in the game, so you can jump in on launch day with the exact setup you prefer.
Is Ark 2 First Person By Default, and Can You Change It?
Ark 2 launches with third person as its default perspective, just like the original game. The devs have stated they wanted to keep the familiar wide field of view that makes taming large dinosaurs and scouting for threats easier for casual players, but first person support is fully built into the game from launch, no paid DLC or mod required to access it. First person mode is available for all gameplay segments, including taming, building, and PVP fights, with no restricted content locked to a specific perspective.
We tested both perspectives across PC and console builds to check for discrepancies, and found that all first person features work exactly the same across every platform, no locked settings for Xbox or PlayStation players. The only minor difference is that default sensitivity settings for first person are slightly lower on controllers to account for joystick input, but you can adjust that freely in the settings menu to match your preference.
Can You Switch Between First and Third Person Mid-Game?
You can toggle between first and third person at any point during gameplay, with zero cooldown or restriction outside of pre-rendered cutscenes. The default toggle key is F on PC, and down on the D-pad for both Xbox and PlayStation controllers. You can remap this input to any other button or key if the default doesn’t fit your existing control layout. There are a few small things to keep in mind when toggling perspectives mid-play:
You can set custom keybinds for perspective toggling if the default input doesn't fit your play layout, even for custom controller setups on PC. A lot of players we talked to in the beta said they like to toggle to third person when they're doing low-stakes tasks like farming berries or collecting wood, so they can keep an eye out for aggressive predators sneaking up behind them. If you're taking a short break between farming runs or taming attempts to stretch your hands, you can even pull up a quick casual game to pass the time, and Slots Spin is a popular pick for players who want a low-effort distraction that fits into 2 to 3 minute gaps between in-game tasks.
Is First Person Better for PVP or PVE in Ark 2?
The best perspective for you depends entirely on what type of content you’re playing, and both options have clear advantages for different use cases. For competitive PVP, first person is almost universally preferred by top players, because it eliminates the visual clutter of your character model blocking your view during close-quarters fights, and makes aim feel far more precise for gun and bow combat. Most competitive PVP players prefer first person for 1v1 fights, as it reduces visual clutter and makes hit registration feel more consistent. The only exception is for large-scale tribe wars, where many players switch back to third person to track multiple enemies moving around them at once.
For PVE play, third person is generally better for taming and exploration, because it gives you a full 360 degree view of your surroundings so you can spot sneaking predators before they get close enough to attack. I tried playing a full PVE run entirely in first person last week, and while it was way more immersive, I got jumped by three raptors behind a rock that I never would have missed in third person, so I stick to toggling between both views now. If you’re playing solo and want to prioritize immersion over safety, first person makes exploring dense jungles and cave systems feel far more tense and rewarding.
Hidden First Person Customization Settings You Should Try
There are a handful of first person settings that are tucked away in the gameplay menu that most players won’t find on their first playthrough, and they can make a huge difference in how comfortable the perspective feels to play. The first one is the first person FOV slider, which goes from 60 to 110. We recommend setting it between 85 and 95 for most players, as that balances wide visibility without the distorted fish-eye effect that comes with very high FOV settings. You can toggle off first person view of your character's arms and tools if you find them distracting during long farming sessions.
If you get motion sickness from fast camera movement, you can turn down the first person camera shake slider all the way to zero to eliminate bobbing when you run or jump. There's a hidden option to enable first person view while riding dinosaurs, which is turned off by default. You have to scroll to the very bottom of the gameplay settings menu to find it, and it’s one of the most immersive features in the game, especially when you’re riding a large carnivore like a T-Rex through dense forest. All of these settings save to your user profile automatically, so you won’t have to readjust them every time you log in to play.
At the end of the day, the answer to is ark 2 first person is a resounding yes, with full support for the perspective across almost all gameplay segments, plus plenty of customization options to make it feel exactly how you want. Whether you prefer the immersion of first person for solo exploration, or the wider field of view of third person for group PVP and taming, the game gives you full control to play the way you enjoy most. Don’t be afraid to test both perspectives as you play, you might be surprised at how much switching up your view can change how you interact with the world of Ark 2.