The Center, an expansion to the ARK original maps lineup and introduced a diverse range of biomes, including those from The Island map along with a unique Lava Biome. Its features included lava caverns, towering waterfalls, expansive ocean systems, icy caverns, Ancient Ruins, intricate cave networks, and a mysterious floating island. This resulted in a map with dramatic variations in elevation, with both high and low areas offering distinct challenges and opportunities.
In the low-elevation regions, survivors could exploit air bubbles beneath the ocean surface for construction and establish entire underwater cities. Additionally, an underground area with its own ecosystem and sunlight provided further building possibilities. Conversely, the high-elevation areas posed risks of perilous falls.
The Center teemed with diverse dinosaur species engaging in battles, adding an element of dynamic gameplay. The map’s original difficulty setting of 5 allowed for encounters with dinosaurs up to Level 150 in the wild, yielding higher-quality loot and offering challenging end-game boss battles with lucrative rewards.
Survivors traversing The Center faced various hazards, including rivers and lakes of lava in the lava biome, and increasing darkness as they delved deeper into the ocean depths. The multitude of caves and caverns across different biomes harbored dangers and treasures alike, adding to the map’s allure and peril.
With 107 different creature species inhabiting The Center, survivors navigated a treacherous landscape where evasion or confrontation with formidable foes was essential. The removal of movement speed as a stackable stat in Survival Ascended heightened the danger, compelling survivors to adapt and overcome the perils of The Center.
While The Center expansion introduced a plethora of creatures to ARK: Survival Evolved, it did not introduce any new species. However, the Gigantoraptor is set to change that in Survival Ascended, thanks to a community vote expediting its inclusion. In terms of gameplay, survivors venturing onto PvP servers must exercise caution when selecting their tribe’s location, especially if Survival Ascended retains the triple damage mechanic applied to structures in caves, underground areas, underwater, and the Ancient Ruins. It remains uncertain whether the damage increase to sub-surface structures will carry over to this iteration.
Among the diverse fauna, notable Alpha Dinosaurs such as the T-Rex, Raptor, and Megalodon roam the landscape, posing formidable challenges to survivors.
Excitement surrounds The Center’s integration into Survival Ascended, drawing from the original map’s intriguing features. Despite limited official information regarding potential modifications, anticipation runs high as survivors eagerly await the opportunity to explore any updates or reminisce about past adventures. The forthcoming release is slated for June 3 and promises both novelty and nostalgia for players of ARK: Survival Ascended.
