A separate Steam test client will let ARK: Survival Ascended players try the Unreal Engine 5.8 build before it reaches the main game. Studio Wildcard is asking for help stress-testing the upgrade. The PTR arrives Monday, October 5, but the official schedule gives no opening hour.

The full engine update is now due October 28 on all platforms. That means the production client moves to a new engine version, not that ARK leaves Early Access. Our catalog dates its PC Early Access launch to October 25, 2023; the test and the engine rollout are separate milestones.

Mod authors have another reason to pay attention. Overwolf's notes put the cooking-server shutdown and the beta DevKit on October 5, followed by batch recooking of mods. Modding is scheduled to reopen October 28, alongside a list of projects needing action from their authors. Those dates can still change after testing and recooking.

As checked October 4, the base game costs $11.24 in the US Steam store at a 75% discount. That purchase price should not be read as confirmation of the separate PTR's entry requirements: the announcement does not spell those out.

Studio Wildcard has not specified whether test-client progress will carry over. You can follow both dates on our ARK: Survival Ascended page.