Can You Use the Game-Changing S+ Mod on ARK Console?
As a hardcore ARK survivor with over 800 hours played across Xbox and PC, one of the top questions I see in gaming communities is "can you use the S+ mod on console?"
I‘m excited to report that yes, you can now use an official version of the popular Structures Plus (S+) building mod on both Xbox and PlayStation ARK! This game-changer integrates hundreds of new structures that give console architects immense creative freedom.
Keep reading as I break down everything you need to know about bringing S+ to console as an ARK player and mod enthusiast.
So What Does the Iconic S+ Mod Actually Do?
Simply put, S+ overhauls ARK‘s entire building system to fix flaws and massively expand possibilities. Some call it essential for enjoyable base building. Here‘s a sneak peek at what makes it so iconic across 160,000+ PC subscribers:
| Features | Examples |
|---|---|
| 300+ New Structures | Triangular builds, greenhouses, bridges |
| Customization | Configurable gates, colored lights |
| Quality of Life | Pickupable structures, hatchery |
Beyond stuff, S+ solves pain points like structures accidentally demolishing. It stops you losing 100+ hours of work to a miss-click! The automated features also remove grind around farming, hatching or raising dinosaurs.
Overall, S+ transforms what you can create versus vanilla ARK. With the help of sole developer Orionsun since 2016, it‘s no surprise S+ remains the #1 ARK mod with regular updates.
How Did S+ Finally Reach Our Consoles?
As console players begged for S+ year after year, progress was being made behind the scenes. According to survivor Xu from survivetheark.com, secret development started in 2018 to adapt S+ for certification and our locked-down platforms.
This ambitious initiative required direct collaboration between Orionsun and the console team:
- ARK developers provided optimization guidance tailored to Xbox and PlayStation.
- Hundreds of structures were reviewed to focus on most essential content only.
- The goal was integrating a scaled-down version of S+ into the base game itself.
- Rigorous platform testing and approval processes had to be passed.
After significant coding and testing efforts, a specially optimized edition of S+ finally got the green light from Sony and Microsoft in 2020!
What‘s Included in the Console Version?
Given the complex task of translating a PC mod, the initial console port understandably doesn‘t have full parity. But it nails the core functionalities that us base builders depend on most:
Essential Building Upgrades
Over 75 of the most practical structures made it over like triangle roofing, dynamic gates and reinforced walls that withstand dino damage. Thousands of survivor requests for key features were addressed.
| Feature Request | S+ Solution |
|---|---|
| Stop Structure Demo Accidents | Added toggle switch to prevent |
| Reinforce Against Griefers | Indestructible S+ walls |
| No More Wooden Box Bases | Greenhouse, crafting stations |
Automated Management
S+ workhorses that automate farming, hatching and other base tasks offer a lifeline against ARK‘s grueling grind. I can personally confirm the hatchery, crop plot and feeding trough mods already work great.
| Timesaver | Effect |
|---|---|
| 10x Faster Egg Hatching | Automated S+ Hatchery |
| 85% Less Crop Maintenance | Harvests itself |
| Feeds Babies For You | Nanny mod integration |
And while it doesn‘t contain all 300+ structures yet, the console dev team says we may see more S+ content added over time!
Will Console S+ Ever Match PC?
While our certified S+ edition shares the same DNA, the harsh reality is PC will likely always have more cutting-edge features from rapid unofficial development.
Some complex mechanics around electrical systems, plumbing and automated crafting still seem exclusive to the OG mod for now. And the PC version evolves way quicker with weekly patches versus slow platform approvals.
But I believe porting 25% of S+ already scratches our worst itches as builders. The devs themselves say console will never fully catch up, but will receive ongoing improvements in major ARK updates. Even 5-10 new structures would already make our year!
Final Verdict: Massive Game-Changer Despite Limitations
Speaking as an ARK console die-hard through early access who‘s felt the pain of primitive wood boxes, I can‘t express how much of a game-changer having official S+ is!
Do I want those automated crafting bots and undersea observatories from PC someday? Heck yes! But am I also bouncing-off-the-walls THRILLED that I can finally build greenhouses, missile turrets and bridge networks without glitching or losing it all instantly? Absolutely!
So in summary – we should appreciate that ARK‘s console developers invested immense efforts to make S+ possible against the odds. Is it still missing a few of those quality-of-life savers or fancy traps? Sure. But does it radically upgrade base building into something far more creative and dynamic? I can say a definitive yes even after just early days.
Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments, and get excited to architect the mother of all console bases!
