**Challenging Times at Ark: Survival Evolved**
Following the launch of the newest DLC, devoted fans of the survival game Ark: Survival Evolved have voiced substantial disappointment. Ironically, it is the most dedicated players who seem to be the most frustrated. A notable example of this unhappiness is a Steam review by user Lacenes, which has gained traction on the review page.
As stated on Steam, Lacenes has logged an impressive 35,200 hours in the game. This translates to four years of his life engaged in the dinosaur realm of Ark, or perhaps just keeping his PC powered on for long stretches. Despite this lengthy playtime, Lacenes’ review is far from a glowing recommendation; instead, it reflects a status update of discontent shared by numerous community members.
**What Players Dislike About Ark Currently**
In his review, Lacenes expresses his discontent, especially regarding the most recent updates. With 35,000 hours of gameplay, Ark stands out as one of his top games, enjoyed alongside friends and family. Nevertheless, he feels that the gaming experience has suffered. He states:
“I’ve played Ark for 35,000 hours; it’s one of my favorite games that I love playing with friends and family. I’ve managed an ASM server with mods for years, until today. NOTHING functions anymore. The server is incompatible, the mods are ineffective, and all this just to push us towards ASA [Ark: Survival Ascended]. I have that game too, and it’s awful. That’s why we returned to ASE, and now you’ve ruined that as well.”
Numerous comments under the review emphasize the unlikelihood of receiving a refund after such extensive playtime, with one user humorously recommending Lacenes should request his life back instead.
Lacenes’ negative viewpoint is not isolated. Recent reviews have been mixed, with a spike in negative feedback since July 16. Players with diverse playtimes, ranging from 400 to over 1,000 hours, have echoed similar frustrations. The primary concerns arise from the recent update and the Aquatica DLC released on July 15, which led to performance issues and rampant mod incompatibility. These mods are vital for long-time players’ ongoing commitment to the game.
**Response from Developers**
The development studio reacted promptly to the players’ complaints, issuing a statement and creating a branch that permits users to revert to the game’s prior state before the DLC. Frequent updates are being rolled out to mitigate many of the recent DLC’s problems. However, this has yet to stem the influx of negative reviews on Steam.
The article “One user claims to have played Ark: Survival Evolved for 35,000 (!) hours. Now he’s written a negative review and is blaming the developers.” first appeared on Global Esport News.