While shadow map quality is massively improved from the first version, the developer uses cheaper SDF shadows for more distant shading. The engine is also used intelligently to mitigate the technological limitations of the Switch's mobile chipsets. The DRS window varies from 55 percent to 100 percent of output resolution, but typically what I saw seemed to operate at around the 70 percent mid-point. Developer Grove Street Games targets 1080p and 720p for docked and portable play respectively, with dynamic resolution working in combination with TAA upscaling to deliver a clean look. First impressions are very positive: the extremely low resolution of the original release gives way to a pleasing presentation. In fact, it's based on a relatively recent Xbox codebase running on Unreal Engine 4.26 - a more modern, mature version of the Epic technology. Nothing of the original version has been brought over to this new edition.

Watch on YouTube John Linneman and Alex Battaglia share their thoughts on the new version of Ark for Nintendo Switch.

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