What you might want to know
- Ark: Survival Ascended will supply cross-platform help for mods when the sport launches on consoles.
- To have fun cross-platform help, Studio Wildcard and Overwolf can be internet hosting the 2023 ARKathon Mod Contest.
- Particular person creators and recreation studios alike can create premium, DLC high quality mods for Ark: Survival Ascended and win prizes from a $350,000 prize pool.
Ark: Survival Ascended, the UE5 remake of the favored open-world survival recreation with dinosaurs from Studio Wildcard, has confronted a mess of delays since we initially discovered about it in October at an Xbox Companion Preview showcase. Whereas the sport’s console model remains to be and not using a concrete launch date, builders Studio Wildcard are nonetheless seeking to have fun the sport’s help for cross-platform mods by partnering with Overwolf for the 2023 ARKathon Mod Contest.
The ARKathon will give creators massive and small an opportunity to stretch their inventive muscle tissues and probably earn a bit of the $350,000 prize pool. ARKathon is ready to start on December 5 and run till February 5, with creators having the chance to take part in one in every of two out there tracks: the Modders monitor and the Studios monitor.
Particular person creators
The Modders monitor is meant for particular person creators who wish to construct customized maps, skins, and different mods for Ark: Survival Ascended. This monitor can be additional divided into two classes, one for maps and one other for all different creations. Entry is so simple as importing your mod to CurseForge. Judges will choose twelve finalists, with a neighborhood vote on Twitter/X to comply with.
A prize of $10,000 can be awarded to the map with probably the most votes, whereas the mod with probably the most votes will win $4,000. Two different maps and 4 extra mods can even be chosen by the judges to win the identical prizes, totaling eight winners and $50,000 in rewards. The winners of the Modders monitor can be introduced on February 28, 2024.
Recreation studios
The method for taking part within the ARKathon contest is a bit more concerned for recreation studios. Studio Monitor contributors might want to submit a brief “Kickstarter-like” proposal video to share particulars about their imaginative and prescient for a DLC-quality mod. The video should showcase the narrative, gameplay, and visuals deliberate for the premium mod. Studios that submit a playable demo together with their video will obtain further consideration.
Two winners can be chosen by a panel of judges, whereas one winner can be chosen by the neighborhood, with the outcomes of voting to be introduced on February 28, 2024. The three winners will obtain a $100,000 growth grant for his or her studios.
Modding Ark: Survival Ascended
Ark: Survival Ascended makes use of CurseForge, which is operated by Overwolf, as a white-label resolution for straightforward mod integration throughout recreation platforms. CurseForge advantages from open-source SDKs and plugins that make it simple to let gamers uncover and set up mods in-game, no matter platform or storefront. Studios have the choice to outline insurance policies and pointers for what’s permitted, and Overwolf gives moderation to make sure that the content material submitted accommodates licensed and acceptable content material. Creators may even monetize the mods that they create utilizing CurseForge.
“This contest isn’t simply a chance for creators and recreation studios to assist fund their imaginative and prescient for brand new dinosaurs and unimaginable locales,” mentioned Uri Marchand, CEO of Overwolf. “It’s a chance for gamers to see the unimaginable depth of expertise that’s on the market within the ARK and CurseForge modding neighborhood. We’re excited to have fun modding by this ARKathon and empower each particular person in-game creators {and professional} recreation studios to convey their unique content material and IP to ARK: Survival Ascended.”
Ark: Survival Ascended’s launch date on consoles has fluctuated as of late, with Studio Wildcard sharing that points had been introduced up through the Xbox certification course of that prevented it from releasing within the second week of November. Presently there isn’t any set date on when Ark: Survival Ascended will launch on Xbox Collection X|S consoles, although the builders are hoping to expedite the certification course of to fulfill a November launch window.
Extra data on the right way to take part within the ARKathon contest is on the market on CurseForge’s web site.
