Death Count Display ( No Longer Supported
Tracking your deaths in a long ARK: Survival Ascended playthrough is a rite of passage for content creators. Manually editing a counter in post-production is tedious, and losing track of the number mid-recording can ruin a good narrative. That is where the Death Count Display ( No Longer Supported mod steps in. Although the mod's title suggests it is no longer receiving updates, it remains a functional and clever solution for players who want a live death tally without cluttering their screen with extra UI mods.
What Does Death Count Display ( No Longer Supported Do?
This mod was born from a direct community request. The original creator wanted a simpler alternative to manual editing for content creators who needed to show their audience exactly how many times they had fallen to a raptor pack or misjudged a cliff jump. The mod uses a game buff to display your current death count in the bottom right-hand corner of your HUD. This approach was chosen for the initial release because it was the fastest way to get the feature out to players, with a future plan to move the tracking to a dedicated UI element.
Key Features of the Death Tracker
- Live Death Counter: The mod automatically increments your death count every time you respawn, providing a real-time tally.
- HUD Buff Display: The count appears as a buff icon with a number in the bottom right corner, making it easy to glance at during gameplay.
- Reset Functionality: Using the multi-use wheel (often bound to the reload key), you can reset your death count back to zero. This is perfect for starting a new challenge run or a fresh episode.
- Hide/Show Toggle: The same wheel allows you to hide the buff from your HUD entirely. This is useful for cinematic moments or when you want a clean screen for screenshots.
Compatibility and Current Status
As the title indicates, Death Count Display ( No Longer Supported is not actively maintained. However, it was built for ARK: Survival Ascended and generally works with the core game versions that were available around its release. Because it relies on a simple buff system rather than complex engine hooks, it tends to be more resilient to minor game updates than other UI mods. Still, you should always check the mod's description page for any community notes regarding recent ASA patches. The mod is lightweight and does not conflict with most popular mods like structure packs or creature additions, though mods that heavily alter the HUD or buff bar might cause visual overlap.
How to Install the Mod
Installing this mod is straightforward. For most users, the easiest path is to subscribe to it via the in-game mod browser or the Steam Workshop. Once you have it in your library, you need to activate it for your single-player world or your dedicated server. If you are running a server, you will need to add the mod ID to your server's mod list and restart the server to ensure all players download the necessary files.
For those who prefer a more streamlined approach, you can also download Death Count Display ( No Longer Supported manually and place the files in your ARK: Survival Ascended mod folder. The foxygame.net launcher offers a convenient way to manage your ASA add-ons, including this one. Its launcher provides a one-click install option that handles version compatibility checks, ensuring that you are not trying to load a mod that is incompatible with your current game build. This is particularly useful for a mod like this one, where the "no longer supported" status means you might need to verify which game version it was last tested against.
Using the Mod in Your Playthrough
Once installed, you will see the death count buff appear shortly after you spawn. The number will match your current respawn count for that save. If you want to start fresh, open the reload wheel (default key is usually R or the dedicated wheel key) and select the reset option. You can also choose to hide the buff from the same wheel, which is a nice quality-of-life feature if you only need the count for specific recording sessions.
Tips for Content Creators
If you are recording a series, consider resetting the counter at the start of each episode. This gives your viewers a clear "deaths this episode" metric. For challenge runs, keep the counter visible at all times to add tension. The mod's simplicity is its strength; it does not try to be a full statistics tracker, but it does exactly what it promises. While the developer mentioned moving to a UI element in the future, the buff-based approach works well enough for most use cases.
Final Thoughts on the Mod
Despite the "No Longer Supported" label, this mod remains a reliable tool for those who want a basic death counter in ARK: Survival Ascended. It is a testament to the community's ability to create focused solutions for niche needs. If you are looking to add a bit of accountability to your survival series or just want to know how many times you have fallen to a Therizinosaurus, this mod delivers. Just remember to check your game version compatibility before diving in, and enjoy the added layer of storytelling it brings to your adventures.