Genesis Part 1 was one of the most divisive maps in Survival Evolved, and it is now the newest addition to ASA. If you never touched it in ASE, it is not a normal open-world ARK map. It is a simulation split into five biomes you teleport between, run by an AI companion called HLN-A, where progression is driven by missions and a currency called Hexagons instead of pure open-world grinding.
This guide covers what actually shipped on launch day and what changed from the original. For the systems underneath it there are four companion guides linked throughout: the mission walkthrough, the Master Controller boss, the exclusive creatures, and Hexagon farming.
Everything here reflects the launch as of 2026-07-02. ARK patches move fast, so treat exact numbers as a starting point and confirm anything progression-critical in game before you commit tames, time or payment.
What is Genesis Part 1?
Genesis Part 1 is a simulation map, not a single connected world. You spend the map inside five separate biomes and move between them through HLN-A's teleportation menu rather than walking across borders. Each biome has its own hazard, its own creatures and its own set of missions. Progression runs on completing those missions, earning Hexagons and spending them at HLN-A's store, which makes it feel different from tribute-and-boss maps like The Island.
- Bog: Titan Trees, toxic hazards and canopy-dwelling Bloodstalkers.
- Arctic: blizzards, avalanches and a whited-out eastern section.
- Ocean: deep trenches, whirlpools and the rebuilt open water.
- Volcanic: ash, lava and occasional eruptions.
- Lunar: low gravity, oxygen vents and solar rays that damage exposed survivors.
What is actually new in the ASA version?
The whole map got a full Unreal Engine 5 pass, so all five biomes have new art, lighting and level-design tweaks while keeping their original identity. The headline change is the ocean. The old contained ocean zone was rebuilt into ARK's first physically simulated water, with real buoyancy and wave mechanics, miles of open water and randomly generated islands and fortresses to find.
That ocean rework brings buildable, customizable ships you can mount cannons on, attach modules to and use to carry tames across the water, plus naval combat for both PvP fleet fights and PvE exploration. Wildcard adapted the tech from Atlas, their earlier pirate survival game. Most of the ship and pirate content is tied to the paid Tides of Fortune DLC rather than the free map, which is the next thing to sort out.
Do you need Tides of Fortune to play Genesis Part 1?
No. Genesis Part 1 itself is a free map update for every ASA owner, and the community-voted Palaeoctopus is part of that free map. Tides of Fortune is a separate paid DLC that runs alongside the launch. It adds pirate-themed structures, weapons and cosmetics, fully customizable pirate ships, a story campaign built around finding the Eternal Cave, and the Tidepup, a healer companion that grows into an amphibious mount. If you only want the Genesis map, the missions and the boss, you do not need to buy anything. The table below breaks down what sits on each side.
The exact Tides of Fortune price was not locked in at the time of writing, so check the store page rather than trusting a number from a guide.
Which creatures come with Genesis Part 1?
Five creatures return from the original Genesis Part 1: the Astrocetus in the Lunar biome, the Bloodstalker in the Bog, the Ferox in the Arctic, the Magmasaur in the Volcanic biome and the Megachelon in the Ocean. The new addition for the ASA relaunch is the Palaeoctopus, a kraken-style ocean creature that comes with the free map. You will also run into X-Creatures, which are biome-specific variants of ordinary wild dinos with unique skins and stat boosts. A common mixup worth clearing up now: Gacha, Karkinos, Featherlight, Bulbdog and Gasbags are Genesis Part 2 creatures, not Part 1, so they are not on this map. The full breakdown is in the exclusive creatures guide.
Did the Master Controller boss change?
No changes to the Master Controller fight were announced for the ASA release. The important thing to understand, especially coming from Island or Scorched Earth bosses, is that the Master Controller has no tribute summon. It is gated behind total mission completions and started through HLN-A's Arrival Protocol at Gamma, Beta or Alpha. The full unlock thresholds, phase breakdown and reward table are in the Master Controller boss guide.
Can you buy Genesis Part 1 services yet?
Genesis launched today, so service coverage for a brand new map is still ramping up. Rather than assume day-one stock for Genesis-specific lines, missions or boss help, ask in Discord for live availability. Existing ASA services still apply where they overlap, and Genesis Explorer Notes for leveling are already listed. The honest version is that the map is new for everyone, sellers included, so pricing and scope for Genesis work will settle over the first weeks.
Where to start
Read the mission walkthrough first if you want to reach the boss fast, or the creature guide if you want the tames. For leveling into the map, compare Genesis Explorer Notes and character services, then ask in Discord what Genesis coverage is live as it expands.