Everything we know about ARK Aquatica, coming July 15

ARK: Survival Evolved is celebrating its 10th anniversary by releasing its first expansion in three years, called ARK Aquatica. The DLC will feature a submerged map filled with various creatures, both old and new, along with different biomes. It aims to expand the ARK universe, although not much has been revealed on this topic by Snail Games USA.

The latest trailer showcased actual gameplay clips, which provided everyone a glimpse of what’s to come.

ARK Aquatica to add new creatures, biomes, and more

The ARK Aquatica expansion will release on July 15, 2025, and feature new dinosaurs and a vastly different gameplay environment than all previous expansions.

Here’s everything we know about the DLC:

Underwater gameplay with 5 different biomes

Underwater biomes in ARK Aquatica (Image via Snail Games USA)

The ARK franchise has previously done underwater settings, but not on this scale. This is a non-canonical story featuring a submerged ARK that will comprise the majority of gameplay.

There are a few islands showcased in the trailer, which can house the land base. As players progress and unlock TEK Air Pockets, they can build a base in the water. This can significantly reduce the need to go back to the surface, allowing more exploring time across various biomes.

New and returning items

Trident weapon in ARK Aquatica (Image via Snail Games USA)

ARK Aquatica will bring 74 new engrams. A complete list is expected to be available following the launch, but many of the items will be related to underwater survival. These include new gear that can be used for walking on the ocean floor or building a base inside the ocean.

Since not all creatures can survive in the ocean, some of the new items unlocked through engrams will help them mutate and gain underwater breathing abilities.

New tamable creatures

Monodon in ARK Aquatica (Image via Snail Games USA)

Each new ARK expansion brings new creatures, and for Aquatica, we have 21 unique dinosaurs. Six of them have already been revealed ahead of launch, while others remain a mystery. The roster includes both underwater creatures and amphibians.

The underwater biome will also feature familiar dinosaurs that have adapted to living underwater through various mutations. One of the new items will likely fast-track this mutation, allowing players to take land dinosaurs into the water safely.

Lore expansion

ARK Aquatica is bringing a new story (Image via Snail Games USA)

ARK has a complex lore, so much so that many players may not bother following it, but those who do may enjoy Aquatica. The DLC is set to further expand on the origin of Element, the primary ingredient used for crafting equipment in the game.

Throughout the story, players will engage in underwater battles and discover "a narrative that bridges multiple ARKs." Considering there will be no more content updates for Ark: Survival Evolved after this, the studio may want to complete the lore.

Complete details regarding the new biomes, creatures, and gameplay changes will be available alongside the release notes. Till then, check out our ASA guides:

About the author

Mayank Singh Rathour is an MMO writer at Sportskeeda. He graduated from college with a degree in Business Administration and has over two years of experience as an esports journalist.

Mayank was introduced to gaming at an early age and played Contra, Double Dragon, Castlevania, etc., on his Nintendo DS. When he was a little older, Counter-Strike — a title that majorly helped develop his passion for gaming — became his favorite pastime. Though he's played a bunch of games since then, his love of CS has remained strong. Shroud, a former Counter-Strike: Global Offensive pro, is an inspiration to him. He's also a fan of series' esports scene, following teams like Vitality, NAVI, and The Mongols closely.

When Mayank has some free time, he plays basketball and helps people build PCs.

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Edited by Adarsh J Kumar