Free to Play ARK Spinoff Hits Major Player Milestone

ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition's Impressive Debut: 3 Million Downloads in Three Weeks

ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition, the free-to-play mobile spin-off of the popular ARK: Survival Evolved franchise, has achieved a remarkable milestone. Within just three weeks of its December 18, 2024 launch, it surpassed three million downloads on iOS and Android.

This success comes despite mixed initial reviews. The game's popularity, however, continues to grow, currently holding a respectable position in app store rankings. On iOS, it's ranked 24th among adventure games, and 9th in top-grossing adventure games on Android. While user ratings are currently 3.9/5 on the App Store (412 ratings) and 3.6/5 on the Google Play Store (over 52.5K ratings), the download numbers clearly demonstrate strong player interest.

Developer Grove Street Games, known for its work on other ARK titles including the enhanced Nintendo Switch port of ARK: Survival Evolved, plans to expand the game's content significantly. Future updates will introduce new maps, including Ragnarok, Extinction, Genesis Part 1, and Genesis Part 2, adding further depth to the dinosaur-filled world. This expansion strategy mirrors the success of the original ARK: Survival Evolved, which exceeded one million downloads before its official release and later received a graphical remaster as ARK: Survival Ascended.

The game's availability will also expand beyond mobile platforms. A release on the Epic Games Store is planned for 2025, offering players greater platform choice. While the future of ARK 2 remains uncertain after missing its 2024 release window, ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition's strong launch demonstrates the enduring appeal of the ARK franchise and the continued success of Grove Street Games.