Quality Living
Surviving in ARK: Survival Ascended is about more than taming dinosaurs and fending off predators. Eventually, you want to build a base that feels efficient, comfortable, and worth coming home to. The Quality Living mod delivers exactly that by expanding the standard of life around your base. It introduces new structures and improves existing ones without replacing any of the base game items you already know and love. Every structure in this mod is its own Engram, costs no points to learn, and simply requires you to learn the base Engram first to unlock the upgraded version.
What Makes Quality Living Different?
Many overhaul mods force you to choose between their content and vanilla structures. Quality Living takes a different approach. It does not replace any preexisting base game structures. Instead, it adds parallel versions that are strictly better in specific ways. This means you can keep your old setup or gradually swap in the new pieces as you gather resources. The mod was originally started to improve the single-player experience, but it has since grown to incorporate some aspects of the abandoned QoL+ mod to share with the wider community. Not all features are available immediately, and not all will make the transition, but the developer actively encourages player feedback on what should come next.
New Structures to Build
Quality Living introduces three brand-new structures that fill gaps in the vanilla progression. Each one is an upgrade to a familiar tool, crafted either in your inventory or at a Smithy.
- Bonfire - Unlocked at Level 25 and crafted in the player inventory. This is an upgrade to the Camping Fire, offering 15 slots and slightly faster crafting speed.
- Handmill - Unlocked at Level 33 and crafted in the player inventory. This is an upgrade to the Mortar and Pestle, providing 30 slots and faster crafting.
- Cauldron - Unlocked at Level 40 and crafted in the Smithy. This is an upgrade to the Cooking Pot, featuring 50 slots, faster crafting, and no dye recipes for simpler automated cooking.
Updated Structures for a Smoother Base
The core of Quality Living lies in its updates to existing structures. The mod focuses on reducing tedium and increasing capacity. All major structures have pin locking enabled, giving you better control over inventory management. The most noticeable changes include the removal of fuel requirements for several key items. The Standing Torch, Wall Torch, and Feeding Trough no longer need fuel, with the Quality Feed Trough also gaining increased range and a massive 100 slots. Crop Plots get a size upgrade with 15 slots, while Storage Boxes jump to 30 slots and Large Storage Boxes to 75 slots. The Compost Bin now holds 20 slots, the Smithy 100 slots, and the Preserving Bin 75 slots.
Beyond storage, Quality Living addresses one of the most annoying aspects of late-game bases: noise. Several industrial machines are silenced in their Quality versions. The Fabricator, Power Generator, Chemistry Bench, Industrial Forge, Industrial Grill, Industrial Grinder, and Industrial Cooker all operate quietly. The Industrial Forge also no longer requires foundations to be placed, giving you more freedom in base design. The Power Generator and Air Conditioner gain increased range, with the Air Conditioner also boosting insulation power. The Refrigerator gets a huge upgrade to 125 slots, and the Industrial Preserving Bin reaches 100 slots.
Steampunk Ascent Integration
For players using the Steampunk Ascent mod, Quality Living offers compatible upgrades. The Quality Steam Forge is silenced, uses Tek Power in addition to Element, and does not require foundations. The Quality Industrial Preserver is silenced with 100 slots, and the Quality Embryo Incubator and Quality Linked Storage are also silenced. This cross-mod support makes Quality Living a strong choice for modded playthroughs.
Compatibility and Installation
Quality Living is written from scratch and is not a port of any existing mod. It has been tested primarily in single player, so multiplayer testing is still ongoing. The mod is not crossplay compatible yet, so keep that in mind if you play with friends on different platforms. It supports the current versions of ARK: Survival Ascended, and the developer is actively updating it. To get started, you can download Quality Living from the Steam Workshop or your preferred mod manager. If you are looking for a seamless experience, the foxygame.net launcher offers a one-click install for Quality Living for ARK: Survival Ascended, automatically handling version compatibility and updates so you can jump straight into building.
When you are ready to add it, how to install is straightforward. Subscribe to the mod on the Workshop, enable it in your server or single-player settings, and launch the game. Remember that you need to learn the base Engrams first. For example, to craft the Quality Smithy, you must already know the standard Smithy. This keeps the progression natural and prevents early-game power spikes.
Final Thoughts
Quality Living is a thoughtful quality-of-life mod that respects the base game while making your life easier. Whether you are tired of refueling torches, frustrated by noisy generators, or simply need more storage space, this mod has you covered. The developer is open to feedback, and the mod is evolving based on community input. If you want a more comfortable base without sacrificing the vanilla experience, give Quality Living a try. It is a solid addition to any ARK: Survival Ascended setup, and with the convenience of the foxygame.net launcher, keeping it updated is effortless. Download it today and start living better in the ARK.