Ark: Survival Ascended - New Update: Delayed once again, but there's good news.

After numerous promises, Studio Wildcard has once again had to postpone the release date of the remastered versions of the two expansion maps, The Center and Scorched Earth, in Ark: Survival Ascended.

Initially, Scorched Earth was scheduled to launch at the same time as Ascended last October. However, in July, the plan changed, the game was postponed to December, then again to March of this year. And according to the latest update, the official release date for Scorched Earth will be April 1, 2024.

Despite the delay, this remaster promises a completely new look with more beautiful graphics, a new dinosaur – Fasolasuchus – that can swim in the sand, and Western-style decorations for your base.

Scorched Earth and other expansion maps from previous versions of Ark will be free for Ascended users. However, Scorched Earth comes bundled with a new paid DLC pack – the Frontier Adventure Pack – which includes cowboy outfits, a construction train, and other desert-themed items.

While Scorched Earth has been postponed to April, players can find some solace in the good news about the remaster of The Center – a community-created map officially released in 2016. According to Wildcard, The Center will launch earlier than expected, at the end of February, along with a new dinosaur – Gigantoraptor.

Additionally, the update also indicates that Wildcard is working to improve server performance, network mobility, and prevent exploits and hacks. While not addressing the ongoing performance issues and crashes that are frustrating players, the studio promises to release a massive development tools update at the end of January.

This update will 'put unlimited game creation power in your hands,' allowing modders to create 'entirely custom Unreal Engine games' within Ascended. Wildcard also hints at the possibility of creating a Mario-style platformer within Ark.

As a former Ark: Survival Evolved player who had left the game for a while, I quite enjoyed The Island's remaster when I tested it late last year. However, the overall experience still had many issues. Hopefully, in the coming months, Wildcard will be able to deliver more significant improvements.