<P> The game is played from either a third - person or first - person perspective and its open world is navigated on foot or by riding a prehistoric animal . Players can use firearms and improvised weapons to defend against hostile humans and creatures, with the ability to build bases as defense . The game has both single - player and multiplayer options . </P> <P> Development began in October 2014 . The development team conducted research into the physical appearance of the animals, but took creative license for gameplay purposes . One of the game modes, Survival of the Fittest, was released as a free standalone game in March 2016 . Egypt - based developer Instinct Games was hired to facilitate the game's development . Several expansions to the game have also been released as downloadable content: The Center, Primitive Plus, Scorched Earth, and Ragnarok . </P> <P> Ark: Survival Evolved is an action - adventure survival game set in an open world environment and played either from a third - person or first - person perspective . To survive, players must establish a base, with a fire and weapons; additional activities, such as taming and feeding dinosaurs, require more resources . The game's world, known as the "Ark", is approximately 48 km (19 sq mi) in size: there is approximately 36 km (14 sq mi) of land with 12 km (4.6 sq mi) of ocean . </P> <P> To build a base, players must gain structure components--such as floors, doors and windows built with the resources littered throughout the world--which are earned as they progress and gain levels . These components can be crafted and placed in the world . Players can create any structure, as long as they have the logistics and resources; the structural integrity of the building is compromised when the pillars and foundations are destroyed . Creating structures out of metal make them the most durable; only titanosaurs and explosives can damage metal structures . Players can also craft items in the game, such as weapons, by collecting the resources and technology required for crafting . In addition, players can craft and attach accessories to their weapons, such as a scope or flashlight for a pistol or machine gun . Should players take damage, their health meter will gradually regenerate if they have consumed the necessary food, or if they craft items that regenerate the health meter at a faster pace . </P>

What does ark mean in ark survival evolved