ARK: Survival Evolved is free to play this weekend on Steam to celebrate new content drop

Good news ARK players (and to any PC player that has been looking to give Survival Evolved a test run)! ARK: Survival Evolved is going to be free-to-play weekend on Steam coinciding with the release of Primitive+, the second player created mod to become an official part of the game, following The Center map. The free weekend is already underway, as it began today and will run through Sunday, July 31st. During that time the game will also be on sale at 50% off, so there has never been a better time to get started in the world of ARK.

Primitive+ is a functionality mod for every single official ARK map that requires players to survive using only tools and weapons created from wood and stone, taking away the ability to craft guns (hence the name, Primitive). The Center map also expanded to include new biomes, islands, caves, and creature spawns so ARK: Survival Evolved has never been bigger.

Studio Wildcard's update (v245) also includes new dinosaurs, the Pelagornis and Allosaurus. Here are the official descriptions of the new dinosaurs:

Pelagornis (Species Pelagornis miocaenus): This creature is instantly recognizable from the more common Icthyornis by its size. With a wingspan rivaling Argentavis, it also possesses a beak filled with tooth-like projections for snagging fish and webbed feet for paddling upon the ocean surface. Because of its ability to fly, walk, and surface-swim, a tamed Pelagornis is one of the island's most versatile mounts, though this comes at a cost. The same webbed feet that allow Pelagornis to serenely maneuver along the ocean's surface prevent it from snatching prey from the ground, which may limit its appeal to some survivors.

Allosaurus (Species Allosaurus therotribus): Smaller but faster than Tyrannosaurus, larger but slower than Carnotaurus, Allosaurus is the island's resident pack-hunting theropod. While most aggressive theropods are relatively solitary creatures, Allosaurus lives in groups of three. One Allosaurus is the Pack Leader, while the others are its mates or a beta male. The Allosaurus has evolved to hunt in packs. Its saw-shaped teeth leave its prey bleeding and maimed, making escape difficult. Once an Allosaurus slows a creature with its cutting bite, the rest of its pack quickly close in for the kill…