If you’re a long-time Ark: Survival Evolved fan counting down the days until the sequel drops, you’ve probably asked the question: will Ark 2 be first person? The original game let players swap between first and third person freely, but early trailers for Ark 2 have leaned heavily on third-person, over-the-shoulder footage that looks a lot like popular action RPGs. We’ve dug through official dev updates, leaked playtest notes, and community Q&As to pull together everything we know about camera options in Ark 2 right now, so you don’t have to sift through hundreds of forum posts to get answers.
Will Ark 2 Be First Person? What Devs Have Confirmed So Far
Studio Wildcard has explicitly confirmed that first person mode will be available at launch, alongside the polished third-person view shown in most promotional content. The dev team noted that early trailers focused on third person to highlight character animations, narrative beats, and the performance of lead cast member Vin Diesel, not because first person was being cut. First person mode will be fully supported for all core gameplay activities, including building, taming, combat, and exploration, per the 2023 dev roundtable. They’re also working to fix common complaints from the original Ark’s first person mode, like clunky weapon sway, poor visibility when building, and awkward animations when riding smaller tames. You won’t be locked to one perspective either, the team confirmed that players can swap between first and third person at any time with a single button press, unless you’re playing on a custom server with specific rules around camera use.
How First Person Play Will Change Ark 2 Gameplay
First person mode won’t just be a throwaway addition in Ark 2, it’s being built to offer a distinct, viable playstyle for all types of players. First person gives you a much more immersive taming and exploration experience, especially when you’re creeping through dark redwood forests looking for rare dinosaurs or trying to sneak up on prey to harvest resources. It also solves a long-standing PvP issue from the original game, where third person players could peek around corners or over obstacles without exposing their character to enemy fire. For players who prefer a more realistic survival feel, first person removes the distraction of seeing your own character model on screen at all times.
Known Limitations for First Person Mode in Ark 2
While first person is fully supported, there are a few small restrictions you should be aware of before you plan your playthrough. Certain cinematic story missions will lock you to third person temporarily, per dev comments, to show key character interactions and story beats that would be hard to follow in first person. These missions are entirely optional for players who just want to play the open world sandbox mode, so you won’t be forced out of first person if you don’t care about the main story. Some very large tames may also have restricted first person views, since sitting on the back of a 100-foot titanosaur means you can only see a small patch of ground directly in front of you. The game will default to third person for these mounts, but you can manually switch back to first person if you prefer. If you play on community PvP servers, server owners can disable first person mode entirely if they want to level the playing field for players who prefer third person combat, so always check the server rules before you join if first person play is a non-negotiable for you. There is no planned support for VR first person at launch, though devs have said they are looking into VR support for post-launch updates if there is enough community demand.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of First Person in Ark 2
If you’re planning to play mostly in first person when Ark 2 launches, there are a few small tweaks you can make right off the bat to improve your experience. First, adjust your field of view (FOV) from the default 70 to somewhere between 90 and 100. The default FOV is way too narrow for fast-paced survival play, and bumping it up will give you much better peripheral vision without the distracting fisheye effect that comes with super high FOV settings. Turn on the first person building overlay in the settings menu to see exactly where your structure pieces will place, no more guessing if your wall is aligned correctly or if your foundation is level. This feature was added specifically to address complaints about first person building in the original Ark, and it works almost as well as third person building for most small to medium base projects. For PvP play, practice switching between first and third person quickly when you’re in combat. Use first person for accurate ranged shots, then swap to third for a quick look around your surroundings to make sure no one is flanking you. If you get motion sickness from first person movement, turn off head bob and weapon sway in the accessibility menu, those small tweaks make a huge difference for players who struggle with motion issues. I tested these settings during the closed playtest last year, and they cut my motion sickness issues completely while keeping the first person feel I love for exploration.
At the end of the day, the answer to will Ark 2 be first person is a resounding yes, with full support for the mode alongside the polished third-person option shown in early trailers. Whether you prefer the immersion of first person for roleplay and exploration or the wider view of third person for building and PvP, you’ll be able to customize your camera setup to fit exactly how you want to play. Just remember to check server rules if you’re playing on community servers, and tweak your settings first thing to get the most comfortable experience possible when the game launches.