Studio Wildcard has released ARK Lost Colony, a new story-driven expansion for ARK Survival Ascended that marks the most narrative-focused release in the franchise’s history. Available now on Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC, the expansion introduces a massive frozen setting and serves as the first canonical expansion map for Survival Ascended.
Lost Colony takes players to the Lost King’s Dominion, a harsh new region made up of seven distinct biomes ranging from haunted forests to a gothic cityscape and the wreckage of a corrupted ARK. The expansion bridges the storyline between ARK Extinction and ARK Genesis, while also laying the narrative groundwork for the events of ARK 2.
A major highlight of the release is its expanded storytelling approach. Lost Colony blends MAPPA-produced hand-drawn anime sequences with Unreal Engine 5 cinematics using Metahuman technology. The story is supported by a notable cast, including Michelle Yeoh as Meiyin and Karl Urban as Bob, a long-running ARK character now redesigned in Urban’s likeness. Additional performances include Madeleine Madden, Auli’i Cravalho, and Keith David as the Lost King, and voice work tied to established ARK lore figures.
From a gameplay perspective, Lost Colony introduces more than 13 new creatures, many of which are deeply integrated into progression and combat. Players will encounter hostile monsters such as Neophytes and Revenants, while also gaining access to powerful allies, including massive flying beasts, evolving animal companions, and heavily armed creatures designed for large-scale encounters.
The expansion also debuts Thrall Mastery, a new system that allows players to recruit or subjugate intelligent enemy units. Thralls can be equipped with weapons, assigned to automate base tasks, or directly controlled through a neural link system, effectively turning them into playable avatars for combat and exploration. Enemy Thralls patrol the Lost King’s territory and defend fortified positions, adding new strategic layers to both offense and defense.
Progression in Lost Colony is built around a large skill tree featuring more than 70 unlockable abilities spread across multiple paths. Players weaken the Lost King’s influence by capturing outposts, collecting sigils, and ultimately opening access to his citadel for a final confrontation. New gear and construction options also play a major role, including advanced weapons, dual trait cursed equipment, Arctic armor, and expanded base-building systems such as templates and TEK bunkers.
ARK Lost Colony is available through the Lost Colony Expansion Pass for $29.99. The expansion can be downloaded now on consoles and PC storefronts, including Steam and the Epic Games Store. ARK Survival Ascended itself is also currently discounted by 50 percent as part of ongoing holiday sales, offering a reduced entry point for new players ahead of this major new chapter.
