If you’re a regular Ark player scrolling through your Gamepass library looking for new content to sink dozens of hours into, you’ve probably wondered is ark genesis part 2 on gamepass at some point. As the final, largest expansion for Ark Survival Evolved, Genesis Part 2 packs in two massive biomes, 12 new tamable creatures, hundreds of unique missions, and the game’s epic canonical ending. It’s no surprise players want to access this content without paying the full $19.99 expansion price tag. This guide breaks down exactly who can access Genesis Part 2 through Gamepass, what to do if you can’t find it, and how to make the most of your first playthrough if you do get access.
Is Ark Genesis Part 2 on Gamepass: Current Availability Breakdown
The short answer is it depends on what type of Gamepass subscription you have. Base Gamepass subscriptions (Console and PC) only include the core Ark Survival Evolved game, no expansions, so you won’t find Genesis Part 2 in your standard library if you’re on the $9.99/month basic plan. You can still buy the expansion separately through the Microsoft Store and it will work with your Gamepass base game copy, but it’s not included for free. Gamepass Ultimate subscribers get access to the entire Ark Survival Evolved expansion bundle, including Genesis Part 2, as part of their monthly Perks program at no extra cost.
These perks rotate every few months, so if you don’t see Genesis Part 2 listed in your Perks tab right away, check back in 4-6 weeks, or look for it in the Ultimate exclusive game library. I’ve had friends who missed out on the free Ultimate Perk drop for Genesis Part 2 last quarter, so they ended up buying the expansion on sale for 50% off during the Xbox summer sale, which is still a way better deal than paying full price. You can also buy the full Ark Genesis Season Pass, which includes both Part 1 and Part 2, for a discounted rate if you want access to all the Genesis content at once.
What You Get With Ark Genesis Part 2 Access
Unlike smaller Ark expansions that only add one new biome and a handful of creatures, Genesis Part 2 is a full, 100+ hour experience built for both new and veteran players. The map is set on a massive interstellar colony ship split into two distinct zones: the lush, low-risk Eden biome filled with docile creatures and abundant basic resources, and the harsh, corrupted wasteland biome with high-level predators, rare Tek resources, and endgame content. You’ll get access to fan-favorite new creatures like the teleporting Shadowmane, the flying laser-wielding Voidwyrm, and the gravity-defying Astrodelphis, all of which can be transferred to other Ark maps if you want to use them on your existing save files.
Genesis Part 2 also unlocks exclusive official server access for players who own the expansion, so you won’t get locked out of popular community servers if you have it. There are over 100 new missions to complete, ranging from easy races and creature taming challenges to hard boss fights that reward rare Tek engrams, high-level armor, and exclusive skins. You also get access to the game’s final canonical boss fight, which wraps up the entire Ark Survival Evolved story that started with the base game’s release back in 2017. Even if you’ve only played a few dozen hours of the base game, you’ll still have plenty of content to explore in Genesis Part 2 without feeling overwhelmed.
Common Issues Accessing Genesis Part 2 on Gamepass (And Fixes)
Even if you qualify for free access to Genesis Part 2 through Gamepass Ultimate, you might run into glitches that prevent the expansion from showing up in your library. Most of these issues are easy to fix in just a few minutes, with no need to contact support. Here are the most common fixes that work for 90% of players:
- Restart your Xbox or PC client: Sometimes Gamepass doesn't sync newly purchased or claimed content until you fully close and restart the app and your device. Make sure you close the game completely before restarting, not just minimize it.
- Check that you're logged into the correct account: If you claimed the expansion as an Ultimate Perk, make sure you're using the same Microsoft account that has your active Gamepass Ultimate subscription. If you share your console with other people, you might be logged into a family member’s account that doesn’t have the perk.
- Verify the base game is fully updated: Genesis Part 2 will not show up as playable if your core Ark Survival Evolved install is running an outdated version that doesn't support the expansion. Turn on automatic updates for the game to avoid this issue in the future.
- Check your region's Gamepass library: Expansion availability varies slightly by region, so use the Microsoft Store search function to confirm if Genesis Part 2 is included in your local Gamepass offering. Some regions get perk drops a few weeks later than the US and EU.
If none of these fixes work, you can submit a support ticket through the Xbox app to confirm if your subscription tier qualifies for free access, or if there’s a temporary outage affecting expansion access for your account. If you’re on PC Gamepass, make sure you’re using the official Xbox app for Windows to install the game, not the Steam version, as Steam copies of Ark don’t work with Gamepass expansion access.
Tips for New Players Starting Genesis Part 2
Genesis Part 2 is a lot more forgiving for new players than earlier Ark maps like Scorched Earth or Aberration, but there are still a few things you can do to make your first playthrough go a lot smoother. Don't rush into the corrupted biome in your first 10 hours of play: The corrupted side of the map has high level aggressive creatures that will one-shot even mid-tier tames, so stick to the Eden biome until you have at least a stone base, a full set of hide armor, and a few mid-tier tames like a Raptor or Parasaur to defend yourself.
Prioritize taming a low-level Shadowmane as early as you can. These creatures are fast, can teleport short distances, and can take down most early-game predators with ease, making them perfect for exploring the Eden biome and farming basic resources. Don’t ignore the mission system either: missions are the fastest way to get rare resources, high-level engrams, and free tames that would take you hours to find and tame on your own. Even if you prefer open-world exploration, doing a few easy missions every play session will help you level up much faster than just farming and building.
If you plan on playing PvP on Genesis Part 2 servers, build your first base in the hidden cave systems in the northern part of the Eden biome. These caves are hard to find, have plenty of space for small to medium bases, and are protected from most large siege tames that players use to raid bases. I’ve spent over 200 hours on Genesis Part 2 PvP servers, and these cave bases are by far the best option for new players who don’t want to get raided in their first week of play.
At the end of the day, whether you can jump into Genesis Part 2 right now comes down to the Gamepass plan you pay for. If you’re an Ultimate subscriber, you almost certainly have access to the expansion for free right now, either through your perks tab or the Ultimate exclusive library. If you’re on a basic Gamepass plan, you can either upgrade to Ultimate for a month to claim the perk for free, or wait for one of Microsoft’s regular expansion sales to pick it up for half price. No matter how you get access, the answer to is ark genesis part 2 on gamepass is worth looking into, as it’s easily one of the best expansions Studio Wildcard ever released for the game.