Stranded naked, dehydrated and starving on a fiery, drought-ridden desert world, players must immediately seek water, hunt for food, harvest new flora, craft new items, and build shelter from the extreme heat. Players who survive the harsh arid conditions can travel back and forth from the Scorched Earth map to the ARK: Survival Evolved main game, taking with them newly collected tools, weapons, and their new tamed creatures to impress their friends and dazzle their combatants.
Scorched EarthScorched Earth adds 12 new creatures with 5 variations, 60 new engrams, a new boss, and a whole new map. Being entirely a desert rather than an island surrounded by water, water collection becomes a more challenging obstacle. Natural water sources are rare, requiring the collection of water from other sources, such as cactus, water wells, Jugbugs, or Morellatops. Heat stroke is a potential side effect of too much heat exposure, having a similar effect to being drunk. Also the naturally harsh environment damages generators and certain structures.
Unique Features:
Super Heat, Sandstorms, and Electrical Storms.
Extremely hot temperatures in the day.
Evaporation of Water in Canteens and Water Jars.
Electrical Generators that take damage whenever used.
Heat Stroke, which causes damage and creates a blurry effect on-screen. (Similar to being drunk)
Oil and Water Veins, which can be used to produce Oil and Water, respectively.
Unique Creature: Phoenix
Crossed items are no longer unique to this map.
StoryThe story is primarily told through notebooks and journals hidden all over the island, and through cutscenes that play after defeating all the bosses on each map. The Explorer Notes are either a Dossier or a piece of narrative from actual survivors.
Helena and Rockwell meet the dragon riding priestess from Ancient Egypt - Wali al Aswad, and learn that each artificial environment (a space station) orbiting earth acts as experimental group with genetically engineered wildlife to keep humans and other creatures contained within the artificial "ARK" islands. Anyone that becomes too advanced or discovers too much about the true nature of the ARKs, is destroyed by the floating obelisks. Wali al Aswad is one of the few natives of Scorched Earth aware of the ARKs true nature, having seen first hand how they destroy whole groups of people. Most other residents of the desert however, such as those at Prophet's Rest, remain ignorant and worship the obelisks as gods. Aswad assists Helena and Rockwell in reaching another gateway but chooses to remain on Scorched Earth.
Events continue in the Aberration DLC.