The Ark: Survival Ascended Valguero release date has been set, as Studio Wildcard pushes the fantastical expansion back into late September due to “shifting priorities.” The dinosaur survival game’s UE5 remaster has a lot on the cards for the remainder of 2025, with the biggest talking point being its upcoming paid DLC, Lost Colony. While that’s still some time away, there’s good news if you’ve already bought the expansion pass, because you’re going to get one of the most gorgeous Ark companions ever when Valguero launches.
Ark: Survival Ascended continues to split opinion on Steam, with the full-scale UE5 reimagining of one of our best survival games boasting just a 59%-positive user rating on the Valve store. It’s certainly an impressive overhaul if you’re able to run it smoothly, however, and it’s about to get even better as one of the best ASE maps of all time arrives for free. Valguero Ascended is an update to the official, non-canonical zone that was created by an elite team including modder ‘Nekatus,’ who has brought us some of the best Ark mods of all time.
“Your next adventure is almost here,” Studio Wildcard writes in the new Community Crunch 470. “Valguero Ascended will officially launch on September 30, bringing its vast landscapes, breathtaking biomes, the dangerous Deinonychus, and the mysterious new Elderclaw to Ark: Survival Ascended.”
That’s a little later than the previously stated August window; the developer says that “shifting priorities in our schedule meant Valguero needed an updated launch plan to ensure your journey through this map lives up to its full potential.” Studio Wildcard also reminds players that the latest community-voted new dinosaur, the Megaraptor, will make its debut in Valguero Ascended, ensuring the region is even more terrifying.
What of the Elderclaw mentioned above, though? This new companion is “less like an animal and more like the living soul of the wild,” Studio Wildcard says, and I have to agree. It’s an absolutely stunning creature that looks like it’s fashioned out of the very environment. “Draped in blossoms and adorned with protective vines, this mystical guardian blends the strength of an apex predator with the serenity of nature itself,” the description continues.
While the Elderclaw isn’t prone to anger, Studio Wildcard warns that upsetting one could prove troublesome, as “the forest answers its call.” Likewise, you won’t simply be able to tame one with a handful of berries. “Survivors whisper about rare seedlings and cubs that must be nurtured to maturity, earning the trust of a being that embodies the land it roams. Those who succeed will find themselves gaining a steadfast warden capable of shielding its allies and drawing power straight from the earth.”
The Elderclaw arrives alongside Valguero Ascended, and it will be included as part of the Lost Colony Expansion Pass. Priced at $29.99 / £29.99, this pack gives you the upcoming DLC, which is currently scheduled for December 2025, along with a range of additional features that are already available in game. If you’re not interested in that, Studio Wildcard says the Elderclaw “will also be offered as a standalone Fantastic Tame purchase at a later date.”
The Ark Survival Ascended Valguero release date is Tuesday September 30. You can read through the latest Community Crunch courtesy of Studio Wildcard for more liveops updates, including extra details on Ragnarok server transfers and bonus rate events.
If that’s not enough prehistoric action to keep you satisfied, here are the best dinosaur games on PC today. You can also aim to bolster your in-game performance with an upgrade to the best gaming CPU in 2025.
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