ARK Survival Evolved for Nintendo Switch is the open-world survival game in which you wake up on a mysterious island, gather resources, build a base and tame dinosaurs. This particular box is the Code in a Box edition: the cover states Download Code Only and No game card is included, so inside you get a code to redeem on the Nintendo eShop rather than a cartridge. Nintendo lists the game with a PEGI 16 rating and a 7.5 GB download.
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ARK Survival Evolved on Switch: A Code, Not a Cartridge
Read the bottom of the cover before buying. The orange label says Download Code Only, with the line No game card is included. Unlike a normal Switch box, there is no cartridge to insert. You redeem the code on the Nintendo eShop, the game downloads to your console, and from then on it is a digital copy tied to your Nintendo Account.
That has practical consequences. You need an internet connection for the download, and you need free space: Nintendo lists the download size of ARK Survival Evolved on Switch as 7.5 GB. You also cannot lend the game to a friend or resell it the way you could with a game card, because the licence stays on the account that redeemed the code.
The Region of the Code Matters
This ARK Survival Evolved box carries a PEGI 16 rating, the European age label, which means it is a European release. Nintendo’s support pages state that a download code can only be redeemed if it is from the same country or region as the one set on your Nintendo Account, and give the example that a European code will not work on an account set to North America.
Before ordering, check which country your Nintendo Account is set to. If your account is set to a European country, the code should match it; if it is set to the United States or another region outside Europe, Nintendo says the code will not redeem. If you are unsure, contact us before you order and we will help you check.
Survive, Build and Tame Over 80 Creatures
Nintendo’s description of ARK Survival Evolved asks you to learn to survive on the island. That means managing food, water, temperature and weather, crafting tools and weapons, and building a base whose structures you can paint and customise. As you level up, new recipes and abilities open, so the game grows from bare survival into large-scale building.
The core idea of ARK Survival Evolved is taming. Nintendo lists over 80 creatures, from dinosaurs to other prehistoric beasts, that you can tame through a process of subduing and then nurturing them. Once tamed, they become mounts, carriers and fighters, and much of the long-term appeal comes from building a herd that changes how you explore.
Playing Alone, Locally or Online
Nintendo lists three ways to play. On a single system, ARK Survival Evolved is one player only; there is no split-screen. With local wireless, up to 8 Switch consoles in the same place can play together, each with its own copy. Online, up to 64 players can share a world.
Online play and cloud saves require a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership, which is sold separately. If you only plan to play alone, you do not need it, but you still need an internet connection once to download the game from the code.
TV, Tabletop and Handheld
The game supports all three Switch play modes listed by Nintendo: TV mode on a big screen, tabletop mode with the console standing on its kickstand, and handheld mode. A survival game built around long sessions of gathering and building suits handheld play, because you can keep chipping away at a base anywhere in the house.
ARK Survival Evolved is a big, demanding game on a portable console, so expect it to look less detailed than on a powerful PC or a current home console. Nintendo also sells a separate product, ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition, on the eShop; this box is the original ARK: Survival Evolved, not that edition.
Languages and Age Rating
For ARK Survival Evolved, Nintendo lists Japanese, English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Korean and Chinese as supported languages. Arabic is not on that list, so menus and text will not appear in Arabic.
The PEGI 16 rating on the box is given for violence. Hunting, fighting and taming creatures is part of the game, so it is not intended for younger children.
Who This Is Not For
Skip this box if you want a physical game card to collect, lend or resell. It contains only a download code, and the game lives on the account that redeems it. It is also the wrong choice if your Nintendo Account is set to a region outside Europe, because Nintendo states that codes only redeem on accounts in the matching region.
Players who want a quick, action-packed game should look elsewhere too. ARK Survival Evolved is slow by design, with taming and building that take hours, and it does not support Arabic or two players on one screen.
Ordering ARK Survival Evolved in the UAE
Orders reach every emirate in up to 3 business days, with free delivery on orders from AED 300. You can return a defective or non-matching item within 14 days, and shipping damage should be reported within 48 hours of delivery. The product is covered by a 1-year warranty from Totot.
Technical Specifications
- Game: ARK: Survival Evolved
- Edition: Code in a Box: download code only, no game card included
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Code region: European release (PEGI box); redeemable only on a Nintendo Account in the matching region, according to Nintendo
- Genre: Open-world survival
- Publisher: Snail Games USA
- Release date: 30 November 2018 (Nintendo Switch)
- Download size: 7.5 GB
- Creatures: Over 80 tameable creatures
- Single system: 1 player
- Local wireless: 1–8 players
- Online: 1–64 players (Nintendo Switch Online membership required)
- Play modes: TV, tabletop and handheld
- Languages: Japanese, English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Chinese (no Arabic)
- Age rating: PEGI 16 (violence)
- Warranty: 1-year warranty from Totot
Release date, publisher, player counts, play modes, languages, download size and creature count are taken from Nintendo’s official game page; the code-region rule comes from Nintendo’s support page on download codes, and the Code in a Box details are printed on the box. Full details are published on the Nintendo website.
FAQ
Is there a game card in the box?
No. The cover states Download Code Only and No game card is included; you redeem a code on the Nintendo eShop.
Will the code work on any Nintendo Account?
No. This is a European release, and Nintendo states a download code only redeems on an account set to the same country or region as the code.
How much storage does ARK Survival Evolved need on Switch?
7.5 GB, according to Nintendo’s game page.
How many people can play together?
1 on a single console, up to 8 by local wireless and up to 64 online with Nintendo Switch Online.
Does ARK Survival Evolved support Arabic?
No. Nintendo lists ten languages, and Arabic is not among them.
Do I need Nintendo Switch Online?
No for solo play, yes for online multiplayer and cloud saves, which Nintendo lists as requiring a paid membership.
Browse more in our Nintendo Switch Games range. Every order from Totot carries a 1-year warranty covering manufacturing defects, with our 14-day return policy for defective or non-compliant items, and nationwide UAE delivery.
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