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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The most recent free-to-keep giveaway of ARK: Survival Evolved on Steam that the sources below can confirm ran in June 2022. Earlier ARK promotions on Steam were free weekends, which gave temporary access and no permanent copy. Later database entries exist, but they do not establish another free-to-keep offer.
The latest free-to-keep offer: June 2022
A June 2022 promotion is the latest one the available sources support as a free-to-keep giveaway. SteamDB lists an “ARK: Survival Evolved Limited Free Promotional Package – Jun 2022.” A contemporary deal post on Reddit’s r/GameDeals describes the offer as 100% off and free to keep, and gives a claim deadline of June 19, 2022 at 9 PM. The time zone for that cutoff is not stated in the post.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved (PS4) | $18.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved - Xbox One | $23.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved (Nintendo Switch) | $35.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved - Xbox One (Renewed) | $21.17 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
ARK Survival Evolved Definitive Complete Guide & Walkthrough (Latest Update 2025) All Strategies,... | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The SteamDB listing confirms the month but not the exact deadline. The June 19 cutoff therefore rests on the community post, not on an official Steam announcement that the sources reviewed could confirm. Anyone who claimed the game in that window kept it; the offer has since ended.
Full timeline of ARK promotions on Steam
The table below lists every ARK promotion the sources identify, in date order. The ownership column is the one that matters most: a free weekend lets you play for a limited time, while a free-to-keep package gives you the game permanently.
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#1 Best Overall
- Use cunning strategy and tactics to tame, train, ride and breed the 100+ dinosaurs and other primeval creatures roaming the dynamic, persistent ecosystems across land, sea, air, and even underground Build your character's strengths and gain items, skills, and pet creatures using in-depth role-playing systems
- Start a tribe with hundreds of other players to survive and dominate competing tribes...and ultimately discover ARK's true purpose
- Build a fire or shelter, then craft customizable clothing & armors to help protect against damage and extreme temperatures on your way to unlocking advanced technologies and equipment
- Chop down trees and mine metal and other precious resources to build massive multi-leveled structures composed of complex snap-linked parts
| Date | Promotion | Ownership | Source and what it confirms |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 28–31, 2016 | Free weekend, starting 17:00 UTC July 28 and ending 20:00 UTC July 31 | Temporary play only | SteamDB package history (2016) |
| November 2018 | “ARK: Survival Evolved Free Weekend – Nov 2018” | Temporary play only | SteamDB package list. Exact dates not stated. |
| February 2020 | Free weekend, announced February 27, 2020; play available through Monday at 10 AM Pacific | Temporary play only | Steam official news (2020) and a SteamDB free-weekend package from February 2020. The closing Monday’s date is not stated. |
| June 2022 | Limited free promotional package, 100% off and free to keep; claim deadline June 19, 2022 at 9 PM | Permanent, free to keep | SteamDB package listing (month only) and Reddit r/GameDeals deal post (deadline, reported by the community). Time zone not stated. |
| Records updated March 2024 | “Free on Demand” package entries | Not established | SteamDB package index. Terms, public availability and whether the offer was free to keep are not stated. |
Why the 2024 package records don’t change the answer
SteamDB’s package index includes several “Free on Demand” entries with records updated in March 2024. A database update date shows when a record was changed, not when a promotion went live, and the entries do not say whether anyone could claim the game permanently. Until a store page or official Steam post confirms a free-to-keep offer from that period, the June 2022 promotion remains the most recent one the sources support.
Free weekend versus free to keep
Steamworks documentation describes a Free Weekend as a temporary package displayed alongside the paid package. When the event ends, Steam removes the temporary package. Players who took part still see the game in their library, but they can only uninstall it unless they buy the full version. Valve’s documentation states it this way: “Once the Free Weekend ends, the free package is automatically removed from your store page. Players who participated will still see your game listed in their Steam libraries, but they’ll only be able to uninstall it – continued play requires purchasing the full version.”
Rank #2
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
Steamworks also says an eligible game can run a Free Weekend once per calendar year. That platform rule explains how free weekends are scheduled, but it does not reveal whether ARK had a particular giveaway.
How to check whether ARK is free right now
The sources cannot tell you about promotions after their dates, so check the current status yourself before assuming the game is unavailable for free:
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRank #3
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game. Run too far and not only will you be exhausted, but you will also quickly get hungry and thirsty. Weather effects are based on real-world climates, and so you'll need to hide out from rain and snow, while making the most of sunny days
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Gather Resources, Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes and style of everything from the walls of your home, to your character's armor, weapons and more
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout. Make your way to the final boss and figure out why you've been dropped into this Jurassic-era experience
- Open ARK: Survival Evolved’s Steam store page and look for a free promotional package or a free weekend banner. Free weekends appear as a separate package beside the paid one.
- Look at the price shown on the store page. A “Free to Play” label, or a 100% discount with a “Add to Library” option, means the game can be claimed; a regular price means it cannot.
- Check the event’s end time and time zone on the official Steam news post or store page. Community posts often omit the time zone.
- Treat SteamDB package entries as records of past events. Use them to confirm a package existed, not that it is still open.
If you find a free-to-keep offer that is still active, claim it before its listed end time; once it closes, the game stays only in your library if you already claimed it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reader phrasing and what the answer covers
People searching this question often want to know whether a free weekend gave them the game permanently. The answer is no for every ARK weekend listed above, including the February 2020 event. Readers who remember a more recent giveaway most likely mean the June 2022 free-to-keep package, which is the latest one the sources identify.
Rank #4
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
This article covers Steam promotions only. It does not cover ARK’s availability on other stores or bundles, since the sources reviewed don’t address those offers.
Since the sources do not extend past their dates, check the store page for any new promotion before concluding that ARK is no longer free.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
