A recent update for the game Ark: Survival Evolved brings in a new monster for players to contend with, one whose name gives a clue towards its size and ferocity: Giganotosaurus.
Compared to the Tyrannosaurs and Spinosaurs already found on the island, Giganotosaurus is a giant. Developing studio Wildcard has stated that the dinosaur will prove a challenge for players to tame and ride. It should come as no surprise, as they are touting Giganotosaurus as a “flagship” dinosaur.
Larger tribes and late-game players will have the best shot as tangling with this animal requires the best skills and gear one can get. According to Wildcard, “Fighting a Giganotosaurus is always a bad idea, as its rage rapidly grows with every hit it takes. With all this rage, it builds increasing reserves of energy to use, making its iron-jawed bites progressively more deadly and enhancing its stamina.”
There’s a new king on the island
Taming a Giganotosaurus adds a fearsome ally into your tribe, but danger is never truly far away. Wildcard has warned that the dinosaur turning on fellow tribe members or bucking off a rider isn’t out of the question. Still, Giganotosaurus may prove too tempting with its Hulk-like rage system and sheer intimidating size.
Interestingly, the real life Giganotosaurus was used as a template for the Indominus Rex in Jurassic World and only rivals the size of Tyrannosaurus at its biggest; it’s clear the dinosaur’s size was amplified to reflect the danger it poses.
Ark: Survival Evolved remains a Steam Early Access game with a full launch expected in summer of 2016. PS4 and Xbox One owners will also get a chance to explore the island with the game releasing on their consoles, with Microsoft granting gameplay this winter through Game Preview.