How to Set Up an ARK: Survival Ascended Server

ARK: Survival Ascended is the Unreal Engine 5 rebuild of ARK: Survival Evolved, and it is one of the most resource-demanding games you can host. Running your own dedicated server lets you control taming speeds, harvest rates, tribe governance, and every other aspect of the ARK experience. This guide covers everything from choosing hardware that can handle UE5 to setting up a multi-map cluster. By the end, you will have a fully configured ARK: SA server ready for players to tame their first dinosaurs.

What You'll Need

Before starting, have these prepared:

• ARK: Survival Ascended on Steam — You need to own the game to connect.
• A managed hosting plan (strongly recommended) — ARK: SA is extremely hardware-intensive. Plans start around $10-15/month but expect to spend $15-25/month for a comfortable experience.
• Patience — ARK server configuration has more settings than almost any other game. Initial setup takes 30-60 minutes to get right.
• A text editor — For editing .ini configuration files.
• A plan for your server type — PvP, PvE, or PvPvE? Official rates or boosted? Single map or cluster?

Step 1: Understand the Hardware Requirements

ARK: Survival Ascended on Unreal Engine 5 is one of the most demanding games to host. Here are the requirements:

| Component | Minimum | Recommended | Large Server (50+ players) | |---|---|---|---| | CPU | 4-core, 3.5GHz | 6-core, 4.5GHz+ | 8-core, 5GHz+ | | RAM | 8GB | 12-16GB | 16-24GB | | Storage | 40GB SSD | 60GB+ NVMe SSD | 100GB+ NVMe SSD | | Network | 100Mbps | 1Gbps | 1Gbps |

These requirements make self-hosting impractical for most players. Unlike lighter games such as Valheim or Terraria, ARK: SA genuinely needs enterprise-grade hardware to run smoothly. The server binary alone can consume 6-10GB of RAM on startup before any players connect.

Why managed hosting is essential for ARK: SA: The game requires fast NVMe storage (map loading and save operations are constant), high-frequency CPUs (UE5 is heavily single-threaded for game logic), and substantial RAM that grows with player count and base complexity. Managed hosts like G-Portal, Host Havoc, and Nitrado invest in hardware specifically rated for these workloads.

Step 2: Choose a Hosting Provider

When selecting a host for ARK: SA, these factors matter most:

• RAM allocation — Minimum 12GB, ideally 16GB. ARK: SA uses more RAM than almost any other hosted game.
• CPU priority — Look for providers that advertise high-clock-speed CPUs or dedicated cores. Shared CPU plans will struggle.
• NVMe storage — Standard SSDs are not fast enough for ARK: SA's constant read/write operations.
• Cluster support — If you want multi-map play (e.g., The Island + Scorched Earth), your host needs to support running multiple linked servers.
• Mod support — ARK: SA uses CurseForge for mods. Your host should support automated mod installation and updates.
• Official partnerships — G-Portal is an official ARK hosting partner, meaning they receive early server builds and optimizations from Studio Wildcard.

G-Portal stands out as the official hosting partner with the earliest access to server updates and dedicated ARK support. Host Havoc is known for raw performance with premium hardware. Nitrado offers strong console crossplay support if you have Xbox or PlayStation players.

Step 3: Set Up Your Server

Here is the typical setup process on a managed host:

1. Create an account and select an ARK: Survival Ascended plan.
2. Choose your RAM allocation — Start with 12-16GB for a server of up to 20 players. For 30-50 players, choose 16-24GB.
3. Select your map — You will choose your starting map during setup (more on maps below).
4. Choose a server location — ARK is latency-sensitive. Pick the region closest to your players.
5. Wait for provisioning — ARK: SA servers take longer to provision than most games (3-10 minutes) due to the large installation size.
6. Access your control panel — Review the server IP, port, and admin password.

After provisioning, the server needs time for its first startup. The initial launch can take 5-15 minutes as the map loads and caches are built. Subsequent restarts are faster.

Step 4: Select Your Map

ARK: Survival Ascended currently includes several maps, with more being released over time:

• The Island — The original ARK map and the best starting point. Balanced biomes, manageable size, and the most well-known caves and resource locations. Ideal for new servers.
• Scorched Earth — A desert-themed map with extreme heat mechanics, wyverns, and unique creatures. More challenging than The Island.
• The Center — A massive community-favorite map with stunning geography and more open building space than The Island.
• Aberration — An underground map with unique vertical gameplay, radiation zones, and exclusive creatures like the Rock Drake.
• Extinction — Features a ruined city on Earth with orbital supply drops and Titan boss fights.

For your first server, choose The Island. It offers the most balanced experience, has the most online guides and resources, and gives players access to the full progression from beach-bob to tek tier.

Configure the map in your control panel's startup settings. The map name is set with the MapName parameter:

TheIsland_WP          # The Island
ScorchedEarth_WP      # Scorched Earth
TheCenter_WP          # The Center
Aberration_WP         # Aberration
Extinction_WP         # Extinction

Step 5: Configure GameUserSettings.ini

The GameUserSettings.ini file is the primary configuration file for ARK: SA servers. Access it via your host's file manager or FTP. It is located in the ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/ directory.

Server Administration Section

[ServerSettings]
ServerPassword=your_join_password
ServerAdminPassword=your_admin_password
RCONEnabled=True
RCONPort=27020
MaxPlayers=40
MapName=TheIsland_WP
ServerName=My ARK Server
Message of the Day=Welcome to our ARK server!

• ServerPassword — Leave blank for a public server. Set a password to restrict access.
• ServerAdminPassword — Required for admin commands. Choose something secure.
• RCONEnabled — Enable remote console access (essential for remote management).

Taming Rate Multipliers

ARK's default taming speeds are notoriously slow. Most community servers increase them significantly.

[ServerSettings]
TamingSpeedMultiplier=5.0          # 5x taming speed (default 1.0)
DinoCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier=2.0  # Dinos get hungry faster = faster taming

Common taming rate presets:

| Server Style | TamingSpeedMultiplier | Description | |---|---|---| | Official-like | 1.0 | Vanilla rates. Taming a Rex takes hours. | | Slightly boosted | 3.0 | Taming takes 20-30 minutes for large creatures. | | Community standard | 5.0-10.0 | Most popular setting. Taming is quick but still meaningful. | | Instant tame | 50.0+ | Creatures tame almost instantly. Good for PvP-focused servers. |

XP and Harvest Rates

[ServerSettings]
XPMultiplier=3.0                     # 3x experience gain
HarvestAmountMultiplier=5.0          # 5x resources from harvesting
HarvestHealthMultiplier=2.0          # Resource nodes have more health (more hits = more total resources)
ResourcesRespawnPeriodMultiplier=0.5 # Resources respawn twice as fast

Breeding and Maturation

ARK's breeding system is a major time investment. Adjusting these rates is critical for player enjoyment:

[ServerSettings]
MatingIntervalMultiplier=0.1        # 10x faster mating cooldown
EggHatchSpeedMultiplier=10.0        # 10x faster egg hatching
BabyMatureSpeedMultiplier=10.0      # 10x faster baby growth
BabyCuddleIntervalMultiplier=0.1    # Imprint intervals much more frequent
BabyImprintAmountMultiplier=3.0     # Each imprint gives 3x the percentage
BabyFoodConsumptionSpeedMultiplier=2.0 # Babies eat faster (need more food in troughs)

Without boosted breeding rates, raising a Rex from egg to adult takes multiple real-world days of constant attention. Most servers boost these 5-20x.

Player and Dino Stats

[ServerSettings]
PlayerDamageMultiplier=1.0
PlayerResistanceMultiplier=1.0
DinoCountMultiplier=1.0              # Wild dino spawn density
DinoDamageMultiplier=1.0
DinoResistanceMultiplier=1.0
MaxPersonalTamedDinos=40             # Per-player tame limit
PerPlatformMaxStructuresMultiplier=1.5  # More structures on platforms

Quality of Life Settings

[ServerSettings]
AllowThirdPersonPlayer=True
AllowCaveBuildingPvE=True
EnablePvPGamma=True
ShowMapPlayerLocation=True          # Players see themselves on the map
AllowFlyerCarryPvE=True            # Flyers can pick up players in PvE
EnableExtraStructurePreventionVolumes=False  # Allow building in more locations
ClampResourceHarvestDamage=True
AutoDestroyOldStructuresMultiplier=1.0
PvEDinoDecayPeriodMultiplier=1.0

[SessionSettings]
SessionName=My ARK Server

[MessageOfTheDay]
Message=Welcome to our ARK server! Check Discord for rules.
Duration=10

Step 6: Configure Game.ini

The Game.ini file handles more advanced settings and is in the same directory as GameUserSettings.ini. This file controls engram overrides, per-level stat multipliers, and stack size modifications.

Engram Configuration

You can auto-unlock engrams at specific levels:

[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]
bAutoUnlockAllEngrams=True          # Unlock all engrams automatically

Or override specific engrams individually if you want a curated progression.

Per-Level Stat Multipliers

Control how much each stat increases per level-up for players:

[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]
PerLevelStatsMultiplier_Player[0]=2.0   # Health
PerLevelStatsMultiplier_Player[1]=2.0   # Stamina
PerLevelStatsMultiplier_Player[7]=2.0   # Weight
PerLevelStatsMultiplier_Player[8]=2.0   # Melee Damage

Step 7: Install Mods via CurseForge

ARK: Survival Ascended uses CurseForge for mod distribution (replacing the Steam Workshop from the original ARK).

On Managed Hosting

1. Find the mod you want on CurseForge.
2. Copy the Mod ID (a number found on the mod page URL or details section).
3. In your hosting control panel, find the Mod Manager or Active Mods section.
4. Add the Mod ID to your active mods list.
5. Restart the server. The mods download and install automatically.

Manually Adding Mods

If your host does not have a mod manager, add mod IDs to the -mods= startup parameter:

-mods=ModID1,ModID2,ModID3

Popular ARK: SA Mods

• Structures Plus (S+) — The most essential ARK mod. Adds improved building pieces, a pulling system for transferring items, and quality-of-life building improvements.
• Dino Storage v2 — Cryopod-like system for storing dinos as items. Reduces server lag from tamed dinos.
• Awesome SpyGlass — Enhanced spyglass showing dino levels, stats, and colors at a distance.
• Stacking Mod — Increases stack sizes to reduce inventory clutter.
• HG Stacking Mod — Another popular stacking option with configurable sizes.
• Castles, Keeps, and Forts — Medieval-themed building pieces.
• Lethal Reusables — Reusable bolas, grapples, and spears.

Performance note: Each mod increases server RAM usage and startup time. Limit your mod list to 10-15 active mods for the best stability.

Step 8: Set Up a Multi-Map Cluster

A cluster lets players transfer characters, dinos, and items between multiple maps. This is one of ARK's best features — a player can tame a Wyvern on Scorched Earth and bring it to The Island.

Requirements

• A separate server instance for each map (most hosts let you add additional servers to a cluster).
• A shared cluster directory between all servers.
• The same mods installed on every server in the cluster.

Configuration

Each server in the cluster needs these parameters:

-clusterid=MyClusterName
-ClusterDirOverride=/path/to/shared/cluster/directory
-NoTransferFromFiltering

On managed hosting, the cluster directory is usually configured through the control panel. Your host creates a shared storage location between your server instances.

Cluster Settings in GameUserSettings.ini

[ServerSettings]
PreventDownloadSurvivors=False
PreventDownloadItems=False
PreventDownloadDinos=False
PreventUploadSurvivors=False
PreventUploadItems=False
PreventUploadDinos=False
noTributeDownloads=False

Set any of these to True to restrict specific transfer types. Some servers allow character and dino transfers but block item transfers to prevent economy issues.

Step 9: Configure RCON for Remote Management

RCON lets you manage your ARK server without being in-game. Make sure it is enabled in GameUserSettings.ini:

RCONEnabled=True
RCONPort=27020
ServerAdminPassword=your_admin_password

Use an RCON client like ARKon (Windows), rcon.io (web-based), or BattleMetrics to connect.

Essential Admin Commands

You can also use these commands in-game after logging in as admin with enablecheats your_admin_password:

| Command | Description | |---|---| | ListPlayers | Show all connected players | | KickPlayer <SteamID> | Kick a player | | BanPlayer <SteamID> | Ban a player | | UnbanPlayer <SteamID> | Remove a ban | | Broadcast <message> | Send a message to all players | | SaveWorld | Force a world save | | DestroyWildDinos | Remove all wild dinos (they respawn) | | SetTimeOfDay 12:00 | Set the in-game time | | Slomo 2 | Speed up game time (1 = normal) | | GiveEngrams | Unlock all engrams for yourself | | ForceTame | Instant tame the creature you are looking at |

DestroyWildDinos is particularly useful after changing spawn settings. It clears existing spawns so new ones generate with your updated configuration.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Server takes very long to start (10-20+ minutes):

• This is normal for ARK: SA, especially on first launch or after updates. UE5 compiles shaders and builds caches during initial startup.
• Subsequent restarts should be faster (3-8 minutes).
• If startup consistently exceeds 20 minutes, check that your server has sufficient RAM and NVMe storage.

"Version mismatch" when connecting:

• ARK updates frequently. Both the server and client must be on the same version.
• Contact your host to update the server or check for an update button in the control panel.
• Steam sometimes forces a client update before the server build is available. In this case, wait for the host to push the server update.

Server lag and rubber-banding:

• Run stat fps in the console to check server framerate. Below 10 server FPS indicates serious performance issues.
• Reduce DinoCountMultiplier — Too many wild dinos are the leading cause of ARK server lag.
• Use DestroyWildDinos periodically to reset spawns.
• Check for tribes with excessive tamed dinos or structures. Set MaxPersonalTamedDinos and consider using the Dino Storage mod.
• Ensure your server has at least 12-16GB RAM allocated.

Mods causing crashes:

• Disable all mods and re-enable them one at a time to identify the culprit.
• Check the mod's CurseForge page for known issues and version compatibility.
• After ARK updates, mods often need updates too. Temporarily remove mods until authors release compatible versions.

Players cannot transfer between cluster maps:

• Verify all servers share the same -clusterid value.
• Confirm the cluster directory is properly shared between server instances.
• Check that PreventDownload/Upload settings are set to False.
• Transfers have a 15-minute cooldown between maps.

Structures disappearing (decay):

• PvE servers have a structure decay system. Tribe members must visit their base regularly to reset decay timers.
• Adjust AutoDestroyOldStructuresMultiplier to increase the decay period.
• In admin mode, use ShowMyAdminManager to view and adjust decay settings.

Out of memory crashes:

• ARK: SA is a memory hog. If your server crashes with memory errors, you need to increase RAM allocation.
• Each active mod adds to memory usage. Reduce your mod count.
• Reduce DinoCountMultiplier and MaxPersonalTamedDinos to decrease memory load.
• Consider reducing map size or switching to a smaller map.

Next Steps

Once your ARK server is running smoothly, consider these enhancements:

• Set up a website or Discord — ARK communities thrive with organized communication. Use Discord for tribe recruitment, event announcements, and rules.
• Create starter kits — Many popular servers give new players a basic kit (tools, a flyer, some building materials) to reduce the early-game grind.
• Schedule events — Boss fights, PvP tournaments, scavenger hunts, and taming competitions keep your community engaged.
• Configure backup schedules — Set backups every 1-2 hours. ARK world saves are large and corruption-prone.
• Plan your wipe cycle — Decide upfront whether your server wipes and how often. Communicate this clearly to players.

ARK: Survival Ascended demands serious hardware, but providers like G-Portal (the official partner), Host Havoc, and Nitrado have the infrastructure to handle it. With the right host and the configurations in this guide, your ARK server will deliver a smooth experience for dinosaur tamers of all skill levels.