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ARK: Aquatica launched on July 15, 2025—not today—as downloadable content for ARK: Survival Evolved on Steam for PC. Snail Games’ launch announcement linked a new trailer for the underwater expansion, which Studio Sirens developed. Aquatica is not DLC for ARK: Survival Ascended, and Steam lists ARK: Survival Evolved as a requirement.
When did ARK: Aquatica launch?
Snail Games announced Aquatica as available on July 15, 2025. The “launches today” wording belongs to that dated announcement; the release is now historical. The publisher described Aquatica as a non-canonical, mythical side story about the origins of Element, introducing two characters and connecting multiple ARKs.
What does the launch trailer show, and who made it?
The trailer is promotional material presenting Aquatica’s submerged setting, creatures, and action. It should not be treated as independent evidence of performance or proof that every depicted mechanic works exactly as shown. In its July 15, 2025 Steam community launch post, ARK: Survival Evolved said: “The Official Launch Trailer was made again by an incredible community creator: Jukari.”
What is included in the Aquatica expansion?
Snail Games announced an ARK largely beneath the water but with land above the surface. Its launch materials described five biomes, 21 tameable creatures, and 74 new Engrams, including seven Tek Engrams.
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- ARK: Survival Ascended has completely recreated and redesigned the artwork and worlds of ARK to take advantage of the latest in videogame technology, Unreal Engine 5, using high-end graphics features such as fully dynamic Global Illumination (“Lumen”), so that light bounces realistically of off surfaces and provides realistic reflections, and advanced mesh streaming (“Nanite”) of hundreds of millions of triangles for extreme detail.
- Advanced new physics systems such as dynamic water so that every creature creates waves, ripples, splashes, and bubbles as they move through fluids, and fully interactive physical foliage where every blade of grass, bush, and tree reacts to characters, explosions, projectiles, and physics objects.
- ARK: Survival Ascended includes access to all of ARK’s worlds, including Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, ARK Genesis Part 1, ARK Genesis Part 2, and more. The Island is released now, with the subsequent expansion worlds to be added at no additional cost on a regular basis.
- Thorough Quality of Life revamps in every area: redesigned User Interfaces, dynamic navigation for intelligent creature pathfinding, Wild Babies, Photo Mode, new Camera systems, new Map system, Tracking System, new Structures and Items, new Creatures, and much more.
- Cross-Platform Modding: Download & play new custom content created by players, including new maps, creatures, items, and game modes, through a dedicated new Mod-bowser directly within the game! Enjoy an endless stream of new ARK content as the creativity and talent of the community is fully unleashed for the first time ever across gaming platforms!
- Underwater survival: The publisher highlighted Lead Boots, which let players walk on the ocean floor, and announced air pockets and propulsion vehicles.
- New content: The announced creature and Engram counts are publisher descriptions of the expansion, not independently tested results.
- Story: Aquatica is presented as a non-canonical tale about Element’s origins, with two new characters.
Which game and platforms is Aquatica for?
Aquatica is downloadable content for the original ARK: Survival Evolved, not ARK: Survival Ascended. The Steam product listing names Snail Games USA and Studio Sirens as developers, Snail Games USA as publisher, and July 15, 2025 as the release date. It requires the Steam version of ARK: Survival Evolved and is listed for Steam on PC; the reviewed listing does not establish availability on other platforms.
Steam lists single-player, MMO, and co-op features, Steam Workshop and Cloud, full Xbox controller support, and 21 supported languages. Controller support means a controller can be used; it does not mean one is required.
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- Brand new UK Import PAL version. Game in English. UK PSN store account required to use any online features
What does Aquatica cost, and how has it been received?
At launch, Snail Games advertised a two-week introductory price of $8.99, 40% off, as well as a discounted New Depths bundle. Those were temporary 2025 offers, not current prices. The Steam store snapshot dated October 7, 2026 listed the DLC at $14.99 and showed 1,795 user reviews, 14% positive, with the rating category “Overwhelmingly Negative.” Store prices, review totals, and ratings can change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are official Aquatica servers still supported?
The July 15, 2025 Steam launch announcement said official server support for the Aquatica map was expected to run through the end of 2025, with a possible extension. That was an announced plan, not confirmation of current server operations. The available announcement does not establish whether official support continued after that date.
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