The ARK Development Kit launched back in 2015, allowing the ARK: Survival Evolved community to become a driving force behind the game’s continued expansion. Today, Studio Wildcard released a ‘major’ update to the ARK Development Kit to allow its creative modders more ways to reshape ARK to their imagination. These updates include a Custom Cosmetic System and a Simple Game Framework – along with the capability for all Survivors to now start transferring items between official servers, on both PC and console.
The updates available as part of the revamped ARK Development Kit are numerous. However, some highlights outlined by Studio Wildcard include the new Custom Cosmetic System.

ARK Development Kit – Custom Cosmetic System
Survivors can now dynamically apply player-generated costumes to players and dinos, skins to armors and weapons. You can also apply skins to all the game’s structures, adding both visual variety and functional enhancements. These can be dynamically added onto any server, including Official Servers.
Included today are five examples ready for download and for use on Official Servers. The Steamboat Willie Cosmetics, Clean Glass Wall, Party Lamp Post, Tic Tac Toe Table, and Gun Rack. Studio Wildcard will release the source content for these items. Creators can jump in and see precisely how they have been set up. More advancements in Custom Cosmetics will be coming in the near future including the ability to add new hairstyles and emotes!
Revised Transfer System
In addition to the new cosmetic system, specific aspects of game progression are now open to player-created adjustments. Survivors can now move items, creatures and characters onto the map without restriction. Transfers are only for Official Servers at the moment, but soon the functionality will be made available on Unofficial Servers as well.
Sample Game & Demo
Studio Wildcard has created a framework that enables creators to build entirely new games from scratch inside of ARK. Custom maps, game modes, even entirely new experiences can be created as cross-platform mods.
Today’s update includes a fully playable cartoon platformer-game built in the framework (trailer below). It also includes the source for it in the ARK Development Kit. It’s a demonstration of the creative flexibility and freedom using Simple Game Framework.
ARK: Survival Ascended brings Mods to Console with ARK Development Kit
With the launch of ARK: Survival Ascended, for the first time ARK mods crafted on PC now run on consoles. There’s currently over 1,400 mods available for cross-platform play, and many more added every day. Everything from new weapons, armor, and creatures to fully-fledged game modes and high-quality maps are now available to both PC and console players through a dedicated Mod-browser found directly within the game.
ARK: Survival Ascended is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S Windows PC and Steam. The game recently ranked as one of Chit Hot’s best survival games to conquer in 2024, so what are you waiting for? Let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments below!
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