If you’ve sunk dozens or hundreds of hours taming dinos, building bases, and surviving harsh biomes in ARK: Survival Evolved, you’ve probably wondered about the future of the game’s paid content drops. For years, players have debated and asked: is ark genesis part 2 the last dlc for the original Survival Evolved client? I’ve been playing ARK since its early access launch, and I’ve followed every DLC release closely, from Scorched Earth to the Genesis saga, so I’m breaking down exactly what we know, what’s been confirmed, and what you can expect moving forward, no rumor mill fluff included.
Is Ark Genesis Part 2 the Last DLC for the Original ARK: Survival Evolved?
The short answer to this question is yes, if you’re referring to paid narrative-driven DLC that advances the core ARK storyline. When Studio Wildcard first announced the Genesis season pass in 2019, they framed the two-part expansion as the grand conclusion to the story they’d been telling since the game’s early access launch. Studio Wildcard explicitly stated at launch that Genesis Part 2 would be the final major narrative DLC for the base ARK: Survival Evolved game.
That doesn’t mean no new content came out for the game after Genesis Part 2’s 2021 release, though. The studio shifted to releasing free, community-focused content drops instead of paid expansions for the original client, to wrap up support before moving on to new projects. It’s a common point of confusion for new players, who see later map releases and assume they’re paid DLC, but that’s not the case.
You also have to draw a line between content for the original 2017 ARK: Survival Evolved client and content for the newer remaster, ARK: Survival Ascended. A lot of players mix the two up when asking about future DLC, so it’s important to clarify which version of the game you’re playing when looking for answers.
What Content Released for ARK After Genesis Part 2?
In the two years after Genesis Part 2 launched, Studio Wildcard released three major content drops for the original ARK client, all of which were free for all players who owned the base game. None of these releases fit the definition of a paid narrative DLC, so the studio’s original promise about Genesis Part 2 being the last paid story expansion still holds true.
- Lost Island: A free community-voted DLC released in late 2021, adding three new tamable dinos (the Amargasaurus, Dinopithecus, and Sinomacrops), a sprawling tropical jungle biome, and new hidden ruins and caves to explore.
- Fjordur: A free mod-turned-official DLC released in 2022, featuring a Nordic-themed open world, four new unique dinos (the Fjordhawk, Andrewsarchus, Desmodus, and Fenrir), and nine explorable mini-biomes across three separate magical realms.
- Ark: Survival Ascended: A full remaster of the original game, released in 2023, that includes all base game and original DLC content, plus cross-platform mod support, upgraded Unreal Engine 5 graphics, and improved server performance.
All of these releases were either free for original ARK owners or part of a separate remaster purchase, not a paid DLC for the 2017 client. All post-Genesis Part 2 content for the original ARK: Survival Evolved client was released for free, with no paid add-ons launched after 2021.
Modders also continued releasing hundreds of custom maps, dinos, and gameplay overhauls for the original client in the years after Genesis Part 2 launched, so there’s still no shortage of new content to play even if you never upgrade to the remaster.
Should You Buy Genesis Part 2 If You’re New to ARK?
Whether Genesis Part 2 is worth buying depends almost entirely on what you want out of your ARK playthrough. If you only play casual modded PvE servers or small PvP clusters that use custom maps, you might not get much use out of it, unless the server specifically uses Genesis Part 2 content. But if you care about the game’s story or want to experience all official content, it’s a must-buy.
If you plan to play through all official ARK content, Genesis Part 2 is non-negotiable, as it ties up every loose end from the game’s 6-year narrative arc. It also introduces some of the most popular and useful dinos in the entire game, including the Tek Stryder (a customizable robotic dino that can automate almost every base task) and the Shadowmane (a fast, aquatic predator that’s perfect for both PvE and PvP combat).
There are a few downsides to keep in mind, though. The Genesis Part 2 map is much more challenging than earlier DLC maps, with high-level aggressive creatures spawning even in starting areas. The story missions also require a lot of prep work, and most of the endgame missions are almost impossible to complete solo, so you’ll need a team of 2-4 players to get through the full story. I played through the full Genesis Part 2 campaign with three friends last year, and even with 1000+ hours of ARK experience between us, we still struggled through the final boss fight multiple times.
You’ll get the best value if you buy the Genesis season pass, which includes both Genesis Part 1 and Part 2 for a lower price than buying them separately. If you only buy one of the two, though, Part 2 is the better pick for most players, as it has more unique content and a more satisfying narrative payoff.
What’s Next for the ARK Franchise Beyond Genesis Part 2?
Studio Wildcard is now focused entirely on supporting ARK: Survival Ascended and developing the upcoming standalone sequel ARK 2, so there will be no new content for the original 2017 ARK: Survival Evolved client moving forward. That includes no new paid DLC, no new free content drops, and no official server support after the end of 2024, though unofficial servers will still run for as long as players want to host them.
Any new paid narrative DLC moving forward will release exclusively for ARK: Survival Ascended and the upcoming ARK 2, not the original 2017 ARK: Survival Evolved client. The first new narrative content for ASA will be upgraded remasters of all existing DLC, including Aberration, Extinction, and both Genesis parts, followed by brand new story expansions that lead directly into the ARK 2 storyline.
ARK 2 is scheduled to launch in 2025, and will feature a completely new storyline, new survival mechanics, and a focus on primitive, melee-focused combat instead of the Tek-heavy endgame of the original ARK. It will also have full cross-platform mod support, so players will be able to create and share custom content just like they did for the original game.
Community mod support for the original ARK client is still going strong, with thousands of new maps, dinos, and gameplay overhauls released every year. Even if official support ends, you’ll still be able to find new content to play for the original game for years to come, so you don’t have to rush to upgrade to the remaster if you’re happy with the original client.
At the end of the day, the answer to whether is ark genesis part 2 the last dlc depends entirely on what type of DLC you’re referring to. It is the final paid narrative DLC for the original ARK: Survival Evolved game, but it’s far from the last content ever released for the franchise, or even for the original client. If you haven’t played it yet and love ARK’s core gameplay loop, it’s well worth picking up, especially if you want to experience the full story before jumping into the remaster or the upcoming sequel. Just don’t go in expecting any more paid story drops for the 2017 base game, because Studio Wildcard has made it clear they’re moving forward with new projects for the foreseeable future.