Early access finds a way.
Developer Studio Wildcard revealed today that its dino-infested Ark: Survival Evolved is coming to Xbox One on December 16. However, Ark is specifically releasing on the system’s preview program. You can still buy and play it, but this is with the understanding that it’s still a work in progress with additional tweaks and upgrades coming.
This is how Ark has thrived on Steam, where it has remained on that platform’s Early Access program since June and has attracted over 2.5 million players. The Xbox One’s preview program gives the console a similar system. The PlayStation 4 doesn’t have a similar program, though it does launch beta tests for games like World of Tanks before they launch.
“Ark is running beautifully on Xbox One, we’re really proud to deliver the first open-world online survival experience on console, a genre that is typically found only in PC games,” said Jesse Rapczak, the co-creative director and co-founder of Studio Wildcard, in a press release sent to GamesBeat. “Steam’s Early Access has given us a strong method to quickly iterate on player feedback, creating a strong relationship with our fans that constantly makes the game more fun. With Microsoft implementing a similar program, we’re able to form a direct connection between console players and our team, the likes of which has never before been possible.”
Ark is supposed to officially launch June 2016 on PlayStation 4 (where it will support PlayStation VR), Xbox One, and PC.