Astraeos, the Greek mythology-inspired expansion for Ark: Survival Ascended, is getting its send-off. The final major update lands in late August and brings one last creature into the fold, a fiery hog called the Boaratos. After launching in early form back in February 2025 and growing steadily since, the map is wrapping up its run with a beast built for close-quarters brawling.
Quick answer: The final Astraeos update releases on Wednesday, August 26, and adds the Boaratos, a fire-based tameable hog, to Ark: Survival Ascended.
Release date and price for the final Astraeos update
The last content drop for Astraeos goes live on Wednesday, August 26. This is the final major upgrade to the map, so no further big additions are planned after it.
The expansion itself sells for $14.99 / £12.79. You will also need the base game to play it. You can grab the map from its official Steam product page.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Update release | Wednesday, August 26 |
| New creature | Boaratos, “the burning hog” |
| Expansion price | $14.99 / £12.79 |
| Update status | Final major update for Astraeos |
What the Boaratos does
The Boaratos is a heavy-hitting fighter that thrives when combat gets close and a little singed. It mixes raw physical power with fiery attacks and can leave enemies bleeding, which lets it stand tusk-to-toe with some of the toughest creatures in the game.
Its usefulness carries over outside of fights. Trees tend to end up charred before the Boaratos knocks them down, which points to a fast way of stocking up on charcoal without the usual burning process. If you decide to hunt one instead of tame it, the payoff is wild bacon, described as best enjoyed with a side of eggs.
Its creator has hinted that one aspect of the hog will make it an essential tame for everyone, though the full details are being held back until the update is out. Nothing revealed so far confirms exactly what that feature is.
Who made the Boaratos
The Boaratos comes from modder ‘Dragonheart,’ known for Arkology: New Encounters, an overhaul that adds variants to nearly every creature in the game. He built the hog with help from others in the modding community before sending it to Studio Wildcard for final touches and balancing.
How Astraeos got here
Astraeos started life as a free community mod for Ark: Survival Evolved by prolific modder ‘Nekatus,’ then moved to Ark: Survival Ascended as an official partner DLC in collaboration with Studio Wildcard. Since its early 2025 debut, it has kept expanding with new creatures, bosses, cosmetics, and myth-flavored challenges.
Its most recent major expansion was the Astraeos Mega Update, which introduced the Pyranthos desert wasteland, the amphibious Grand Tortugar fortress mount, and a five-headed Hydra boss buried in the Pyranthos ruins. With the Boaratos, the map’s run of new content comes to a close, making now a fitting moment to explore its hills, beaches, caverns, and ruins before the additions stop.
