If you’re an Ark fan scrolling through your Game Pass library looking for your next big adventure, you’ve probably wondered: is Ark Genesis Part 2 on Game Pass? As someone who’s sunk over 300 hours into Ark’s various DLCs over the years, I know how frustrating it is to hunt for a specific expansion without clear answers. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about its availability, what content you get, and how to jump into the Genesis Part 2 map as quickly as possible, no extra hassle required.
Is Ark Genesis Part 2 on Game Pass? Exact Availability Details
First, let’s get the straight answer out of the way to save you time. Yes, Ark Genesis Part 2 is on Game Pass, but only for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers at no extra cost. If you have a standard Xbox Game Pass for Console or PC subscription, you’ll get access to the base Ark: Survival Evolved game, but you’ll need to purchase the Genesis Part 2 DLC separately or upgrade your subscription to Ultimate to unlock it for free.
Microsoft added the full Ark DLC collection to Game Pass Ultimate back in 2023 as part of its partnership with Studio Wildcard, and there’s no scheduled end date for its inclusion as of now. You don’t have to jump through any extra hoops to access it either—if you’re an Ultimate member, just search for Genesis Part 2 in the Xbox store or your Game Pass library, install it, and launch it through your base Ark game.
One thing to note if you play on both console and PC: your Genesis Part 2 save files will only sync across devices if you have cloud saves enabled for your Xbox account. If you don’t turn that feature on, you’ll have separate progress on each device, which can be a big pain if you switch between platforms often.
What Content Is Included in Ark Genesis Part 2?
Genesis Part 2 is the final story DLC for the original Ark: Survival Evolved, and it’s packed with more content than most standalone games in the survival genre. The map is a massive, divided space station split between a lush, Eden-like biosphere and a harsh, corrupted industrial zone, so you’ll get two very different gameplay experiences in one DLC. There are over 20 new tameable creatures to collect, from the flying, teleporting Noglin to the massive, ship-sized Voidwyrm, plus dozens of new tools, weapons, and building pieces that don’t appear in any other Ark map. It also wraps up the core story of the original Ark series, so if you’ve been following the lore from the base game, this is the conclusion you’ve been waiting for.
Other key features you’ll get with the DLC include:
- 30+ hours of main story missions, plus side quests with exclusive rewards like rare resources and unique tames
- New PvP and PvE exclusive zones designed for both solo and team play, with custom rule sets for different play styles
- Cross-play support for Xbox, PC, and PlayStation players who own the DLC, so you can play with friends no matter what platform they use
- Free bonus cosmetic items only available to players who complete Genesis Part 2 story missions, which carry over to other Ark maps too
You don’t have to play the first Genesis DLC to enjoy Part 2, either. The story gives you enough context to follow along even if you never touched the first part, though you will get more out of the ending if you played through previous expansions. I jumped straight into Part 2 when it first came out, and I had no trouble following what was going on, even as a casual lore fan.
Tips for Playing Ark Genesis Part 2 Through Game Pass
Even if you’ve played hundreds of hours of base Ark, Genesis Part 2 has a lot of unique mechanics that can catch new players off guard, especially if you’re jumping in for free through Game Pass. First, make sure you install the correct version of the DLC that matches your base game. If you’re playing the Xbox version on console, don’t accidentally install the PC version through cloud gaming unless you plan to play on PC too, as save files don’t transfer between the two versions unless you use Xbox Cloud Save correctly.
Start in the Eden zone first if you’re a new player. The corrupted side of the map has much higher level enemies and environmental hazards that will kill you within seconds if you’re still wearing cloth armor. I made that mistake on my first playthrough, and I lost three hours of progress in my first 10 minutes on the map.
Take advantage of the mission system early. Missions give you tons of XP, rare resources, and even free tames that would take you hours to get on your own. If you’re playing with friends, group up for the higher difficulty missions—they’re almost impossible to beat solo, and the rewards are well worth the time you’ll spend coordinating with your team. Don’t ignore the Noglin tame if you see one early on. It can take control of enemy creatures and even other players in PvP, which makes it one of the most useful tames in the entire game, especially for newer players who don’t have high level mounts yet.
Common Issues Accessing Ark Genesis Part 2 on Game Pass (and How to Fix Them)
Even if you’re a Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, you might run into a few small issues when trying to install or launch Genesis Part 2, but most of them are easy to fix. The most common problem is the DLC showing as “paid only” even when you have an active Ultimate subscription. That usually happens if your subscription recently renewed, or if your console hasn’t synced your account details in a few days. To fix it, just restart your console or PC, sign out of your Xbox account, and sign back in. The store should update the price to free within a few minutes.
Another common issue is the DLC crashing when you try to launch it. That’s almost always caused by missing updates for the base Ark game. Go to your game library, check for updates for Ark: Survival Evolved, install any pending updates, and try launching the DLC again. Make sure you have enough storage space too—Genesis Part 2 takes up around 45 GB of space on top of the base game, so you might need to delete a few old games if your hard drive is full.
If you’re playing through cloud gaming, make sure you have a stable internet connection of at least 10 Mbps, as Genesis Part 2 has a lot of high-resolution assets that need a strong connection to load properly. Spotty internet will cause crashes or lag that makes the game unplayable, especially during busy missions with lots of enemies on screen. If none of these fixes work, you can contact Xbox support, but in almost all cases, a quick restart or update will solve the problem.
At the end of the day, if you’re a Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, there’s no reason not to give Ark Genesis Part 2 a try. It’s one of the most expansive, content-rich DLCs ever released for a survival game, and it’s completely free for your subscription. Even if you only play a few hours a week, you’ll get dozens of hours of fun out of it, whether you’re playing solo, with friends, or joining a public PvP server. Now that you know the answer to is ark genesis part 2 on game pass, you can jump straight into the action without wasting time hunting for availability details. Just make sure you start in the Eden zone, grab a Noglin as early as you can, and don’t forget to save often—you’re going to die a lot, and that’s half the fun.