If you’re a long-time Ark survival fan waiting to dive into the sequel’s dinosaur-filled open world, you’ve probably asked is ark 2 on epic games at least once while browsing store pages for pre-order or launch updates. The original Ark: Survival Evolved was one of the Epic Games Store’s most popular early third-party releases, with multiple free giveaway periods that brought millions of new players to the franchise. It only makes sense that players would expect the follow-up to land on the platform too, but details around launch availability have been messy and inconsistent over the past few years of development delays. I’ve followed every Ark 2 development update since its first announcement, so I’ve broken down all the confirmed details, rumors, and what you can expect if you prefer to buy your PC games through Epic’s storefront.
Is Ark 2 on Epic Games? Confirmed Launch Availability Details
As of the latest official announcements from Studio Wildcard, Ark 2 will launch on the Epic Games Store for PC at the same time it hits other PC storefronts. That confirmation came in late 2023, when the studio updated its pre-order FAQ to address repeated questions from players who wanted to avoid switching platforms to play the sequel. If you’ve been holding off on pre-ordering because you weren’t sure if Ark 2 on Epic Games would have the same features as the Steam version, you can rest easy. The original Ark’s Epic launch included crossplay support with Steam, console versions, and even mobile players for a short period, and that feature is confirmed to return for the sequel.
But there are a few caveats you should know before you pre-order through Epic. First, pre-purchase bonuses are identical across all PC storefronts, so you won’t miss out on exclusive in-game skins, early access periods, or extra DLC if you buy through Epic instead of Steam. The only difference is that any saved progress you had in the original Ark on Steam won’t carry over to an Epic copy of Ark 2, though cross-save between Epic and Xbox is confirmed for players who own both versions. There is no timed PC exclusivity for Ark 2 on any storefront, contrary to popular online rumors. The exclusivity window only applies to console launches on Xbox, with PlayStation versions coming 12 months after the initial launch. PC players will have access to the game on all major storefronts day one.
Exclusive Perks for Ark 2 Players on the Epic Games Store
Even though there’s no exclusive launch window for Epic, there are a few perks that make buying the game through the platform worth considering for many players. The biggest one is the Epic Games Store’s standard 10% cashback in Epic Rewards for all purchases, which you can put toward future games, DLC, or even in-game purchases for Ark 2’s cosmetic shop. If you’re an Epic Games subscriber, you’ll also get an extra 20% off your pre-order, which brings the standard edition price down significantly compared to other storefronts. Many players who got their first taste of the franchise through the original free giveaway are eager to play Ark 2 on Epic Games without switching to another storefront, and these perks make that choice even easier.
Epic is also running a launch week bonus for Ark 2 that gives all buyers a free copy of the original Ark: Survival Ascended remaster if they purchase the sequel within the first seven days of release. That’s a $40 value for free, which is a huge win for players who haven’t picked up the remaster yet. Another underrated perk is Epic’s integrated crossplay party system, which makes it much easier to connect with friends who play on Xbox without having to mess with third-party account linking. I tested this system with Ark: Survival Ascended last year, and it’s far more reliable than the Steam version’s crossplay tools, especially for players who don’t want to link their entire Steam library to their Xbox account. The only downside to the Epic version is that mod support will be limited for the first three months after launch. Studio Wildcard is working with Epic to roll out full mod support through the Epic Modding Workshop, but it won’t be available day one like it is on Steam. If you’re someone who only plays modded Ark servers, you might want to hold off on the Epic version until that support rolls out.
How to Pre-Order and Set Up Ark 2 on Epic Games
Pre-ordering Ark 2 on Epic is straightforward, but there are a few steps you can take to make sure you don’t run into issues on launch day. First, make sure your Epic Games Store app is updated to the latest version, as older versions have had issues with pre-load functionality for large open-world games in the past. Ark 2 is expected to take up around 120 GB of storage space, so you’ll want to clear out space on your hard drive at least a day before pre-load goes live, which is scheduled for 48 hours before launch. Don’t forget to link your Epic account to your Xbox account before launch if you plan to use cross-save or crossplay features. You can do this through the connections tab in your Epic account settings, and it only takes a minute to complete. If you wait until launch day to do this, you might run into server delays that prevent you from accessing your saved progress right away.
If you pre-ordered the deluxe edition of Ark 2, you’ll get access to the three-day early access period, which starts three days before the official global launch time. Epic usually unlocks pre-loaded games at 12 AM UTC on launch day, but you can check the store listing for your region’s specific unlock time to avoid waiting around unnecessarily. I’ve put together a quick list of pre-launch checks to make sure your setup is ready:
- Confirm you have at least 150 GB of free SSD storage (the 120 GB install size plus extra space for post-launch patches)
- Link your Epic account to any console accounts you use to play Ark games
- Turn off automatic updates for other games in your Epic library to avoid bandwidth issues during pre-load
- Double check that your pre-order purchase went through in your Epic transaction history
Most players won’t run into any issues, but I’ve seen pre-order purchases get stuck in pending status during high-traffic launch windows for other big games, so it’s always good to confirm a few days ahead of time. If you do run into issues, Epic’s support team usually responds within a few hours for launch-related problems. Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll be ready to jump into Ark 2 on Epic Games the second it unlocks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ark 2 on Epic
There are a lot of repeated questions popping up on Ark community forums right now, so I’ve answered the most common ones to save you time scrolling through old Reddit threads. First, will the Epic version of Ark 2 support private servers? Yes, private server support is confirmed for all PC versions of the game, including Epic. You’ll be able to host your own server or join public and private servers run by other players, just like you can in the original game. Crossplay between Epic and Steam versions of Ark 2 is fully supported on day one, so you don’t have to worry about being locked out of playing with friends who buy the game on Steam. The only restriction is that modded servers will only work for players who have the same mods installed, regardless of platform.
One of the most common questions I see is if mod support will be available for Ark 2 on Epic Games. As mentioned earlier, full mod support will roll out three months after launch, though a small selection of official curated mods will be available day one for Epic players. Another common question is whether Ark 2 will be free on Epic Games Store at any point. The original Ark was given away for free twice on Epic, but Studio Wildcard has not announced any plans for a free giveaway of the sequel for at least the first year after launch. You might see discounts during holiday sales, but don’t wait around for a free copy if you want to play close to launch.
Epic versions of Ark 2 also support all the same DLC packs as the Steam version, so you won’t miss out on any post-launch content if you buy through Epic. DLC will launch on both platforms at the same time, and pricing will be identical across all storefronts. The only exception is platform-exclusive cosmetic bundles, but those are usually limited to console versions, not PC storefronts. The last question I see a lot is whether you can transfer a Steam copy of Ark 2 to Epic, or vice versa. No, you can’t transfer game licenses between storefronts, so you’ll have to buy the game separately if you want to own it on both platforms. Cross-save between the two PC platforms is not confirmed yet, though Studio Wildcard has said it’s a feature they’re looking to add post-launch.
At the end of the day, the answer to whether is ark 2 on epic games is a clear yes, with full launch day support and a handful of exclusive perks that make it a great option for players who already use the platform regularly. If you prioritize crossplay with Xbox friends, want to save money with Epic Rewards and subscriber discounts, or just prefer the Epic store interface, you won’t miss out on any core features by buying the game there. Just keep in mind the limited mod support at launch if that’s a big part of how you play Ark games. No matter which storefront you choose, you’re getting the same core open-world survival experience, with all the dinosaur taming, base building, and PVP action that made the original franchise so popular.