ARK: Survival Evolved, developed by Studio Wildcard in collaboration with Instinct Games, Efecto Studios, and Virtual Basement, found critical success among players on a variety of platforms. The game was originally released in its early access form back in 2015 to PC via Steam where it faced notable developmental challenges, including an overly ambitious scope, performance issues, and repeated legal disputes between Studio Wildcard and Trendy Entertainment, which was settled out of court. Despite these initial obstacles, ARK: Survival Evolved reached substantial commercial success over time. It was praised for its vast open-world design and has made over $1.3 billion since its launch, according to Studio Wildcard’s CEO.

The game plunges players into a mysterious island setting, where prehistoric creatures and fearsome beasts wander a land filled with environmental hazards. Players must survive the island’s many dangers by crafting with any resources available, exploring the island’s secrets and taming dinosaurs on the way. ARK: Survival Evolved is known for its PvP (Player vs. Player) and PvE (Player vs. Environment) options, although plenty of players experience the game in solo runs.

The mobile port for ARK: Survival Evolved was first announced in March 2018, with a planned release later that year. This version of the game existed on mobile platforms for a few years, until a new adaptation titled ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition was announced in 2024. This mobile port promised to include all expansion packs and enhanced graphics and was set to release during the holiday season. It did just that a few days ago on December 18, reaching over one million downloads within 24 hours of its launch.

The time has come! ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition is out now on iOS and Android. Download now!
App Store: https://t.co/EAE2Kb5y8h
Google Play: https://t.co/fFNGBhVCDO
Epic Games Store: coming in 2025!https://t.co/p82pDnJy6T

— ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition (@PlayARKMobile) December 18, 2024

The mobile version of ARK boasts nearly all of the game’s original facets, including various multiplayer gameplay modes, dino-on-dino fighting, and an expansive open world. ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition is a free-to-play game, unlike its predecessor, which means that it depends on in-app purchases. Players have the option to pay a monthly subscription service which include monthly bonuses, additional in-game content and all current and future expansions.

Anyone interested in trying out ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition can download the game on iOS and Android devices to battle dinosaurs on the go!