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Patch NotesStudio Wildcard

ARK: Survival Ascended Community Crunch 515 Notes (18th July 2026)

Summer Bash is live through August 5th with bonus harvesting, taming, and breeding rates across all server types. Inflatable furnishings, dino balloons, and ridiculous weapon skins turn your base into a beach resort.

Nathan Lees8 min read
ARK Survival Ascended Summer Bash event with inflatable dinosaur balloons and beach cosmetics
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Summer Bash has arrived, and Wildcard is leaning hard into the chaos. From now until August 5th, the Official Network is running doubled rates across PvP and PvE (2x harvesting, taming, experience, and breeding), with Small Tribes hitting 4.5x harvesting and experience plus 4x breeding, and ARKpocalypse pushing 5x across the board. If you're rebuilding after a wipe or just want to accelerate your grind, the window is open.

The real draw here is the cosmetics and structure overhaul. Inflatable furnishings, storage boxes, sofas, beds, turn your settlement into something between a theme park and a fever dream. Dino balloons for Rex, Bronto, and Stego are new, alongside returning shark costumes, jellyfish swimsuits, and enough fish-themed skins to make your character unrecognisable. Even your heavy weapons are getting the treatment: Balloon Tek Rifles and Balloon Longneck Rifles exist now, which is either brilliant or a disaster depending on your tribe's sense of humour.

On the server side, Wildcard is spinning up additional Official Genesis 1 servers Monday evening, Pacific Time, to handle demand since launch. The full event roster, including every cosmetic, structure skin, and returning favourite, is below.

Full Patch Notes

Buff Tweak

🌴 Summer Bash is back from July 17 through August 5! 🌴

Suit up for some fun in the sun with a fresh wave of summer cosmetics. Dive into the deep end, slip into something shark-shaped, add a touch of jelly to your beach-day look, and keep an eye out for returning favorites from summers past!

Back at base, things are looking a lot bouncier. We’re dropping inflatable furnishings, dino balloons, and a bunch of new structure skins to turn any settlement into a proper summer paradise. Even your arsenal is getting a makeover, giving some of ARK’s heaviest firepower a wonderfully ridiculous new look.

It’s bright, it’s chaotic, and it’s going to leave you wondering whether that Tek Rifle is actually combat-ready or just one loud noise away from ruining a tribemate’s birthday beach party.

Download in full resolution

  • Start: Friday, July 17th, 2026
  • End: Wednesday, August 5th, 2026

  • PVP/PVE: 2x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience, and Breeding
  • Small Tribes: 4.5x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience + 4x Breeding
  • ARKpocalypse: 5x Harvesting, Taming and Experience, and Breeding

  • Slidy 'N Slippery Kairuku
    • Kill to get Popsicles to craft items from the event

  • Astrocetus *new*
  • Ammonite
  • Cnidaria
  • Manta
  • Plesiosaur
  • Straw Hat Otter
  • Deal With It Dodo

  • Festive Dino Candy (Summer Swirl Taffy)
  • Shark Jaw Trophy
  • Fisherman's Trophy Wall Mount Coel
  • Fisherman's Trophy Wall Mount Piranha
  • Fisherman's Trophy Wall Mount Salmon

  • Bounce House Tileset *new*
  • Rex Balloon *new*
  • Bronto Balloon *new*
  • Stego Balloon *new*
  • Inflato Bookshelf *new*
  • Inflato Storage Box Small *new*
  • Inflato Storage Box Large *new*
  • Bounce Sofa *new*
  • Bounce Couch *new*
  • Bounce House Bed *new*
  • Life Vest & Water Wings *new*
  • Swim Cap & Goggles *new*
  • Jelly Sandals *new*
  • Silicone Bracelets *new*
  • Balloon Longneck Rifle *new*
  • Balloon Tek Rifle *new*
  • Gone Fishin Swimsuit Top
  • Gone Fishin Swimsuit Bottom
  • Gone Fishin shirt 
  • Captain's Hat 
  • Fishing Top 
  • Fishing Pants 
  • Fishing Boots
  • Flower Crown Hat 
  • Flower Bracelets Glove
  • Flower Anklets Boot 
  • Fishing Chair
  • Tackle Box Small 
  • Squirt Gun Auto Turret 
  • Squirt Gun Heavy Auto Turret 
  • Sportsman's Speargun 
  • Angler's Fishing Rod
  • GoneFishing Swim Short Skin
  • GoneFishing Swim Bottom Skin 
  • Alpha Raptor Swim Short Skin
  • Alpha Raptor Swim Bottom Skin 
  • Eel Swim Short Skin 
  • Eel Swim Bottom Skin
  • Floral Swim Short Skin
  • Floral Swim Bottom Skin 
  • Ichthy Isles Swim Short Skin 
  • Ichthy Isles Swim Bottom Skin 
  • T-Rex Swim Short Skin
  • T-Rex Swim Bottom Skin
  • Giga Poop Swim Short Skin
  • Giga Poop Swim Bottom Skin
  • Jellyfish Swim Short Skin 
  • Jellyfish Swim Bottom Skin 
  • Fish Bite Swim Short Skin
  • Fish Bite Swim Bottom Skin 
  • Floaty Swim Short Skin
  • Floaty Swim Bottom Skin 
  • Crab Fest Swim Short Skin
  • Crab Fest Swim Bottom Skin
  • Alpha Raptor Swimsuit Top
  • Alpha Raptor Swimsuit Bottom
  • Floaty Swimsuit Top
  • Floaty Swimsuit Bottom
  • Giga Poop Swimsuit Top
  • Giga Poop Swimsuit Bottom
  • Eel Swimsuit Top
  • Eel Swimsuit Bottom
  • Jellyfish Swimsuit Top
  • Jellyfish Swimsuit Bottom
  • T-Rex Swimsuit Top
  • T-Rex Swimsuit Bottom
  • Floral Swimsuit Top
  • Floral Swimsuit Bottom
  • Crab Fest Swimsuit Top
  • Crab Fest Swimsuit Bottom
  • Fish Bite Swimsuit Top
  • Fish Bite Swimsuit Bottom
  • Ichthy Isles Swimsuit Top
  • Ichthy Isles Swimsuit Bottom
  • Inflatable Rex Costume
  • Sunglasses
  • Angler Hat
  • Floppy Straw Summer Hat
  • Bulbdog-Print Shirt
  • Hoversail-Print Shirt
  • Retro Glasses
  • Cool Noglin-Print Shirt
  • Ice Pop-Print Shirt
  • Sea Life-Print Shirt
  • Uncle Sam Hat
  • Gasbags-Print Shirt
  • Shadowmane Fishing-Print Shirt
  • Pineapple Sunglasses
  • Sun Visor
  • Fireworks Hat
  • Sarco Sandals
  • Puka Shell Bracelet
  • Shark Costume
  • Grilling Spatula
  • Fireworks Flaregun
  • Torch Sparkler
  • Fireworks Rocket Launcher
  • Flying Disc
  • Water Soaker
  • Balloon Sword
  • Balloon Axe
  • Balloon Pick
  • Water Pistol
  • Dino Uncle Sam Hat
  • Cooler
  • BBQ Grill

  • Balloon Animal *new*
  • Sit
  • ThisBig!
  • Air Guitar

  • Yellow
  • Light Yellow
  • Cream
  • Teal
  • MediumTeal
  • Turquoise
  • LemonLime
  • LeafGreen
  • Jade
  • Coral
  • Peach
  • Light Orange
  • LightPink
  • Light Red
  • Dino Light Red
  • Dino Albino
  • White
  • ActualBlack
  • From the Main Menu, select the mod tab.
  • Search for Summer Bash in the ARK Mod list and install it.  Mod ID: 927091
  • After it's installed, go back to your game setup screen and select 'Mod Settings'
  • You will see Summer Bash and any other mods you've downloaded in 'Available Mods'
  • Select Summer Bash and activate it.
  • If you would like to enable Summer Bash on your private servers, please add the mod ID to your server command-line launch arguments (-mods=modID). No other changes should be necessary to activate the event. Mod ID: 927091

It’s been great to see so many players jumping into Genesis 1 since launch. To help meet demand, we’re preparing to bring an additional batch of Official Gen 1 servers online, currently expected to go live Monday (July 20th) evening, Pacific Time.

The new servers will include a mix of PvP, PvE, Small Tribes, and Console Small Tribes. We’ll continue monitoring activity and capacity following the rollout.


Download & play new custom content created by players, including new maps, creatures, items, and game modes, through a dedicated new Mod-browser directly within the game. Enjoy an endless stream of new ARK content as the creativity and talent of the community are fully unleashed for the first time across gaming platforms, and stay tuned as we spotlight more Cross-Platform Mods each week!

This video features:


ARK Tides of Fortune's Galleon will release with the final Astraeos update.

This massive superfortress of a ship will support over 300 player-built structures on it!

Alongside the Galleon, we'll also be introducing new technical systems that will increase the number of player-built structures that can be placed on ships by up to four times, depending on the ship class. This will allow for even larger and more elaborate ship builds once the Galleon is ready to leave port. 


Conquest focuses on large-scale PvP, with increased rates, and other changes listed below. The increased rates will allow tribes to set up and establish themselves quickly and enable them to rebuild after potential losses instead of being wiped completely.

The official Conquest servers are open for PC, Xbox and PlayStation.

If you need any support during the Conquest season, join the Conquest Enforcement's Discord.

  • Conquest Season 8 details:
    • Total of 18 maps all Genesis part 1
      • Cluster A: 12 servers that had transfers enabled with Classic before they shut down.
      • Cluster B: 6 servers with Transfers only enabled between those 6 servers for 2 weeks, Transfers between Cluster A and Cluster B will open on July 17th at 10 am PT.
    • 5x Rates
    • Tek is enabled with the exception of:
      • Tek Grenade
      • Tapejara Tek Saddle
      • Megalodon Tek Saddle
      • Rock Drake Tek Saddle
      • Mosasur Tek Saddle
      • Tek Railgun
      • Map: all 18 maps will become Genesis Part 1

In celebration of 11 Years of ARK & Tides of Fortune,
we've partnered with Alienware & IntelGaming to give away a custom-skinned Alienware Aurora 16X Gaming Laptop.

The winner is... LilithiumDawn!

Congratulations!


The Official Network will be receiving bonus rates! It will be active until Wednesday, August 5.

  • PVP/PVE: 2x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience, and Breeding
  • Small Tribes: 4.5x Harvesting, Taming, and Experience + 4x Breeding
  • ARKpocalypse: 5x Harvesting, Taming and Experience, and Breeding

Fan Art Gallery | Screenshot Gallery | Artist Feedback Form

Creator: Etholdir

Etholdir gives you an exclusive tour of his survival tribe base on his Community Server.

Creator: Steph Lyon TV

Steph Lyon shows you how to correctly tame a Magmasaur in Ark Survival Ascended!

It is looking at me as if it wants to join the party.  by rosaschlueppi

It is looking at me as if it wants to join the party.  by aoishibaty

Is it time yet? Is it time yet?  by yuukuro07

Tenebris  by lightscameraemerald

Can't wait to see them  by bia2204

Edmund and Rockwell, ARK: Lost Colony  by chaosblades0321

Fan Art  by yoink_365

Photo Mode  by anhagath

My bloodstalker, Calypso  by specter0294

This is AAAARK  by henrymanson

Photo Mode  by yang098071

I’ve really enjoyed building this one  by kocie.lapki

Enjoy your weekend!
Studio Wildcard

Twitter: twitter.com/survivetheark
Discord: discord.com/invite/playark
Reddit: reddit.com/r/playark
Instagram: instagram.com/survivetheark
Twitch: twitch.tv/survivetheark
Steam: steamcommunity.com/app/346110
Youtube: youtube.com/survivetheark
Facebook: facebook.com/survivetheark
Threads: threads.net/@survivetheark
Official Wiki: ark.wiki.gg


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Written by

Nathan Lees

Gaming journalist and founder of XP Gained. Covering patch notes, breaking news, and updates across 160+ games.

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