Honestly I don't think the switch will run this game, mainly because the game is poorly optimized on all platforms released.

During an interview with GamesIndustry, Studio Wildcard co-founder Jesse Rapczak said the system would be “a great platform for a game like Ark, because if the game is designed right, you can kind of pull out and do some stuff.” Rapczak added that the team is investigating Switch to “see what we can do there.”

The one challenge is that Switch “is a totally different platform”. Rapczak brought up that memory in particular could pose a problem in bringing Ark over. However, Rapczak did say that they’re “throwing some ideas around, just seeing if it makes sense right now.”

Rapczak’s full words:

“Switch is a little challenging because it is a totally different platform, so we’re throwing some ideas around, just seeing if it makes sense right now. We don’t have any concrete plans yet, but we’re very close to Nintendo up here in Seattle and we all love the Switch for portability gaming and stuff like that. Ark is one of those games where if you want to do everything you can in the game, it’s hard to pull away from it to go do real life. So I think Switch is a great platform for a game like Ark, because if the game is designed right, you can kind of pull out and do some stuff. It’s kind of like some players play it almost like you might play a mobile game – you know, you might want to go do something in the game for a few minutes, like tend to your dinos or your crops or something if you play Ark that way. The mobility of the Switch platform might be appealing to those players, because they can just kinda carry it with them.”

“So we do have a lot of hurdles there, especially with memory. But I will say, for sure, we’re not ignoring the Switch. I think it’s definitely proven to be a platform that is a little bit better this time around for third-party developers. People are buying it. People are loving the games. I think it’s just something that now is on our radar [so] let’s take a look at it and let’s see what we can do there.”

Source 1 and Source 2

This will be a huge challenge, will be fascinating to to see how this pans out

140p20
Don't even bother, just keep working on getting the current versions working.

ARK runs like crap tbh. but would be cool to have if they can make it stable framerate-wise

Meh, I'm sure this is PR talk. They've had problems fitting their game in other systems, and on top of that, the game is still early access. They still have to finish the game.

The best route for companies that don't think their game will run well on Switch, and want to port on it, is to make software exclusives for Switch. You don't really have many other options besides releasing a shitty port (Rime), taking time to optimize (Doom), or as I said make an exclusive title that plays to Switch's advantages (Mario + Rabbids). Don't just drop a game on there for the sake of being on Switch, please we already have a few of those games and they suck.

Or just ... don't release it on Switch

lol, forgot to add that choice. But I guess we assume if the developers want to develop for Switch.

Some companies are too greedy to do that.

Anyways they could just make a spin-off, now is the time to strike, if they could fill in the void of a portable Monster Hunter game in Japan that could be some big money.

Horrible dev at optimsing game + weak hardware = great combo.

Low expectations for anything they bring to the switch.