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ARK: Survival Ascended

ARK: Valguero Ascended - Release, New Creature, Expectations

Last Updated: November 7, 2025

ARK: Survival Ascended Valguero map featuring the new Elderclaw creature.

A sprawling, diverse wilderness beloved by veterans is on the horizon for ARK: Survival Ascended. Studio Wildcard is set to release Valguero, a fan-favorite map from the original game, completely remastered in Unreal Engine 5. This free update will not only bring a cherished landscape to the new generation of ARK but also introduce the community-voted creature: the formidable Elderclaw.

As part of the official content roadmap, the Valguero update is one of the most anticipated releases, promising new adventures and a powerful new ally to master.

Return to Valguero: A Fan-Favorite Reimagined

Slated for release in February 2025, Valguero is celebrated for its breathtaking beauty and incredible environmental diversity. Originally a community-created map that was integrated into the official game, Valguero captured the hearts of players with its unique combination of biomes packed into a single, seamless experience. Now, this expansive world is receiving the full 'Ascended' treatment, leveraging the power of Unreal Engine 5 to deliver a stunning graphical and performance overhaul.

Players returning to Valguero will find its iconic landscapes rendered in incredible detail. The signature White Cliffs, with their chalky peaks and cascading waterfalls, will be more majestic than ever. The dense Redwood forests will feel more alive with dynamic foliage and lighting powered by Nanite, while the frigid Tundra will present a harsher, more immersive challenge.

One of Valguero's most distinct features, its underground Aberration Trench, also returns. This massive subterranean biome, filled with bioluminescent flora and fauna, will benefit immensely from UE5's Lumen global illumination system, creating an eerie and beautiful environment fraught with unique dangers and rewards.

Key features to anticipate on the Valguero Ascended map include:

  • Diverse Biomes: Explore everything from lush plains and dense forests to snow-capped mountains, treacherous swamps, and sun-scorched badlands.
  • The Aberration Trench: Delve deep underground into a massive cave system teeming with creatures and resources from the Aberration expansion, accessible to all players on the map.
  • The Abyss: A deep underwater trench for aquatic-focused survivors seeking rare resources and powerful marine dinosaurs.
  • Legendary Base Locations: The map is renowned for its incredible variety of scenic and defensible base locations, from cliffside plateaus to hidden caves behind waterfalls.

Meet the Elderclaw: The Community's Choice

Arriving alongside the map is the Elderclaw, the winner of the Valguero community creature vote. This massive, crustacean-like beast is a "Fantastic Tame" concept that promises to be a formidable force, combining heavy armor with powerful crushing claws.

Based on its fan-created concept, which will guide the developers' final design, the Elderclaw resembles a colossal hermit crab or coconut crab, with a thick, stony carapace providing natural protection. Its enormous pincers are envisioned to deal devastating melee damage while also serving a utility function, such as harvesting resources like stone, metal, and obsidian with superior efficiency.

While its final abilities will be revealed closer to launch, the community concept for the Elderclaw positions it as a game-changing tame. Its presumed high defensive stats could make it an excellent 'tank' for soaking damage during boss fights or raids. Its potential as an all-terrain mount and a high-yield resource gatherer could make it invaluable for tribes looking to build and expand quickly. Taming this beast will undoubtedly be a significant challenge, but the reward will be a powerful and multi-purpose ally.

What This Means for ARK Survivors

The release of Valguero is a significant content injection for the ARK: Survival Ascended community. Following the launch of maps like The Center and Ragnarok, Valguero will offer a completely fresh landscape to explore, build on, and conquer. The launch of new official servers for the map will provide a clean slate, allowing all players to start on equal footing in a brand-new world.

The introduction of the Elderclaw has the potential to shift the creature meta. Depending on its final stats and abilities, it could rival established tames for roles in combat, resource collection, and defense. This encourages players to adapt their strategies and embark on new taming expeditions to secure this powerful asset.

This update reaffirms Studio Wildcard's development cadence for ARK: Survival Ascended, steadily revitalizing the entire ARK saga with modern technology and new content. It keeps the experience fresh for the dedicated player base and demonstrates a clear path forward for the game's life cycle, with maps like Extinction and Genesis still on the horizon.

Conclusion: A New Chapter of Survival Awaits

The upcoming launch of Valguero Ascended and the Elderclaw is more than just another update; it's a major expansion of the world and its inhabitants. It delivers on the core promise of ARK: Survival Ascended: to take the beloved experiences of the original game and elevate them with next-generation technology. In February 2025, players will have a vast, beautiful, and dangerous new world to call home, filled with fresh opportunities for adventure and a formidable new creature to master.