You start the server, the first launch takes 15 minutes (shader compilation, don't close the window), and when it's finally ready, no player can connect. The port is TCP instead of UDP. Or you launched with -NoBattlEye to save time, and your friends on PlayStation can't find the server. ARK Survival Ascended is one of the most demanding games to host (16 GB of RAM minimum, no native Linux server), and configuration mistakes cost a lot of wasted time. This guide covers every installation step, including the ones quick guides skip.
Key takeaways
- The dedicated server is free and downloads through SteamCMD (AppID
2430930, anonymous login, no need to own the game). - Port to open: UDP 7777.
- 16 GB of RAM minimum (the server uses 8 to 14 GB depending on the map). 32 GB recommended with mods and lots of players.
- PC, Xbox Series and PS5 crossplay is enabled with
-ServerPlatform=ALLin the launch command. BattlEye must stay active. - The server is Windows only. There's no native Linux version (hosts use Wine/Proton).
Non-dedicated session or dedicated server?
There are two ways to play multiplayer on ARK. The choice determines everything that follows.
| Criterion | Non-dedicated session | Dedicated server |
|---|---|---|
| Max players | Limited (8 typically) | Up to 70+ depending on the config |
| Persistence | The world stops when the host leaves | The world runs 24/7 |
| Tether | Players can't wander away from the host | No distance restriction |
| Configuration | Limited (game menus) | GameUserSettings.ini + Game.ini (full customization) |
| Crossplay | Limited | PC, Xbox Series, PS5 |
| Mods | No | Yes (CurseForge) |
| Cost | Free (the game is enough) | Free (SteamCMD) or paid host |
The non-dedicated session is fine for trying out the game with two or three people. For a community server with no tether, custom rates and mods, the dedicated server is the only option. That's what this guide is about.
Requirements
ARK Survival Ascended is one of the most demanding game servers on the market. Don't underestimate the hardware requirements.
- RAM: 16 GB minimum. The server uses 8 to 14 GB depending on the loaded map. With mods and 20+ players, 32 GB offers real breathing room.
- CPU: 4 fast cores minimum, 8 cores recommended for a busy server. Per-core frequency remains the main factor.
- Storage: 30 GB SSD/NVMe minimum (10 GB for the server files + room for backups and mods). An HDD slows loading and saving times to the point of causing timeouts.
- System: 64-bit Windows only. There is no native Linux version of the dedicated server. On Linux, the server runs through Wine or Proton, a solution used by hosts but more technical for self-hosting.
- Network: stable upload bandwidth, UDP port 7777 open.
Installing the server with SteamCMD
Download SteamCMD and run:
steamcmd +force_install_dir C:\asa-server +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit
The download uses an anonymous login: you don't need to own ARK Survival Ascended to host a server. Only your players need to own the game. The server executable is then located in ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64\.
To update the server, stop it and rerun the same SteamCMD command. Client and server must be on the same version to connect.
First launch
The server is launched from the command line from the ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64\ folder. Here is an example for The Island map:
ArkAscendedServer.exe "TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName=MyServer?ServerAdminPassword=AdminPassword" -port=7777 -WinLiveMaxPlayers=30
Launch command parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
TheIsland_WP |
Map to load. Other options: Ragnarok_WP, TheCenter_WP, ScorchedEarth_WP, Valguero_WP, Aberration_WP, Extinction_WP, etc. |
?listen |
Enables listening for incoming connections (required) |
?SessionName= |
Server name shown in the session browser |
?ServerAdminPassword= |
Admin password for in-game commands. Must be the last parameter of the ? string |
-port=7777 |
UDP listening port (7777 by default) |
-WinLiveMaxPlayers=30 |
Max number of players (replaces the old MaxPlayers) |
The first launch is long (10 to 15 minutes). The server compiles the shaders and generates the ShooterGame/Saved/ folder structure. Don't close the window. Wait for the server to display "ready" in the console before configuring anything.
Create a start.bat file in ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64\ with your complete launch command so you don't have to retype it at every startup.
Configuring GameUserSettings.ini
The main configuration file is generated after the first launch. All gameplay customization goes through this file and Game.ini.
Location: ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\GameUserSettings.ini
Basic settings
| Setting | Section | Official value | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
SessionName |
[SessionSettings] | - | Server name in the session browser |
ServerPassword |
[ServerSettings] | - | Password to join (empty = public server) |
ServerAdminPassword |
[ServerSettings] | - | Admin password (required for in-game commands) |
Rates (gameplay multipliers)
| Setting | Official | Typical community server | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
XPMultiplier |
1.0 | 2.0 to 5.0 | Experience multiplier |
TamingSpeedMultiplier |
1.0 | 3.0 to 10.0 | Dinosaur taming speed |
HarvestAmountMultiplier |
1.0 | 2.0 to 5.0 | Amount of resources harvested |
DayCycleSpeedScale |
1.0 | 0.5 to 1.0 | Day/night cycle speed (lower = slower) |
NightTimeSpeedScale |
1.0 | 2.0 to 3.0 | Night speed (higher = shorter nights) |
DifficultyOffset |
0.2 | 1.0 | Server difficulty (1.0 = max dino level 150) |
Breeding and reproduction multipliers (maturation, hatching, mating intervals) are configured in Game.ini, located in the same place. Every change to GameUserSettings.ini or Game.ini requires a server restart.
For a community server, x3 XP / x5 taming / x3 harvest rates are a good starting point. Official rates (x1) are designed for players who put in hundreds of hours. A x1 taming means 3 to 6 hours to tame a high-level Rex. Most players on a private server don't have that patience.
Enabling crossplay (PC, Xbox Series, PS5)
ARK Survival Ascended supports full crossplay. To open your server to every platform, add this option to your launch command:
-ServerPlatform=ALL
Two conditions to meet:
- BattlEye must stay active. Console players can't join a server launched with
-NoBattlEye. If you disable BattlEye for debugging, re-enable it before opening the server to consoles. - You can restrict platforms if you don't want full crossplay:
-ServerPlatform=PC+XSXfor PC and Xbox only,-ServerPlatform=PC+PS5for PC and PlayStation.ALLaccepts them all.
Network configuration
ARK Survival Ascended communicates over UDP on port 7777 by default.
| Port | Protocol | Usage | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7777 | UDP | Game port (player connections) | Yes |
| 27020 | TCP | RCON (remote console, if enabled) | No |
The old QueryPort used in ARK Survival Evolved is no longer needed in ASA.
Windows firewall: New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "ARK SA Server" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 7777 -Action Allow
Linux firewall (ufw): sudo ufw allow 7777/udp
Linux firewall (iptables): sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 7777 -j ACCEPT
If you host at home, forward UDP port 7777 on your router to the local IP of the server machine. With an ARK host, the port is already open and configured.
In-game administration
Open the in-game console (Tab key) and authenticate with the admin password set at launch:
enablecheats AdminPassword
Most commonly used admin commands:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
cheat SaveWorld |
Forces an immediate world save |
cheat Broadcast Message |
Broadcasts a message to all connected players |
cheat KickPlayer SteamID |
Kicks a player |
cheat BanPlayer SteamID |
Bans a player |
cheat UnbanPlayer SteamID |
Unbans a player |
cheat DestroyWildDinos |
Removes all wild dinos (useful after changing spawns or adding mods) |
cheat SetTimeOfDay 12:00 |
Changes the time of day |
cheat GiveItemNum ItemID Quantity Quality 0 |
Gives yourself an item |
cheat DestroyWildDinos is a command you'll use often. After changing spawns (adding a dino mod, changing DifficultyOffset), the old dinos stay on the map with their old levels. This command removes them all to force a respawn with the new settings. The map repopulates within a few minutes.
Installing CurseForge mods
ARK Survival Ascended mods are hosted on CurseForge (not the Steam Workshop). Installation is done through the launch command by adding the mod IDs:
-mods=123456,789012
The server downloads the mods automatically at startup. Players get them when they connect, with no manual action on their part. Get the mod IDs from each mod's CurseForge page (the number in the URL).
A few popular mods on ASA servers:
- Structures Plus (S+): improved building (snap points, extra pieces, assisted demolition)
- Dino Storage v2: stores dinos in "soul balls" (essential for breeding bases)
- Awesome Spyglass: shows wild dino stats before taming
- Death Recovery: recover your inventory after dying
Add mods one at a time and test after each addition. An incompatible or badly configured mod can stop the server from starting without a clear error message.
Backups and updates
- Backups: regularly copy the entire
ShooterGame\Saved\folder (world, players, configuration, tribes). Automate it with the Windows Task Scheduler. The server saves automatically at regular intervals, but an external copy remains the only protection against corruption or an admin mistake. - Updates: stop the server and rerun the SteamCMD command (
+app_update 2430930 validate). Client and server must be on exactly the same version. If your players can no longer connect after a game update, the server simply hasn't been updated yet.
Performance optimization
- Watch RAM first. It's the first limit of an ARK Survival Ascended server. Usage grows with the number of structures, tamed dinos and connected players. If the server goes over 90% of the available RAM, it starts swapping to disk and performance collapses.
- Schedule a daily restart with a save. Memory usage grows over the course of sessions. One restart a day resets the RAM and prevents crashes.
- Limit structures and tamed dinos. On a busy server, massive bases and hundreds of stored dinos are the first sources of lag. Set structure limits per tribe in the configuration if necessary.
- Host on SSD/NVMe. World loading and saving times depend directly on disk speed. An ARK server on an HDD causes slow saves that freeze the game for several seconds.
- Reduce server view distances if performance is insufficient. The clamp settings in GameUserSettings.ini let you limit the load.
Hosting: at home vs server host
Self-hosted: free (electricity aside), but ARK Survival Ascended is one of the most hardware-demanding servers. 16 GB of RAM dedicated to the server means your PC needs 32 GB in total if you play at the same time. The server is Windows only, your IP is exposed, and you have to handle updates, backups and restarts manually.
Server host: dedicated IP, 24/7 availability, DDoS protection, a management panel with GameUserSettings.ini configuration through a web interface, simplified mod installation and automatic backups. For a community ARK server that needs to run around the clock, it's the standard choice.
Getting your server noticed
Once your server is configured and stable, list it on our ARK server list to gain visibility with players looking for a server to join.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ARK Survival Ascended dedicated server free?
Yes. The server tool (AppID 2430930) downloads for free through SteamCMD with an anonymous login, without owning the game. Only your players need to own ARK Survival Ascended to connect.
How much RAM do I need?
16 GB minimum: the server uses 8 to 14 GB depending on the map. With mods and lots of players, 32 GB offers real breathing room. It's one of the most RAM-hungry game servers on the market.
Can you host a server on Linux?
There is no native Linux server. The tool is provided for Windows only. On Linux, it runs through Wine or Proton, a common solution among professional hosts but more technical for self-hosting. If you're not comfortable with Wine, go with Windows or use a host.
Can console players join my server?
Yes. Launch the server with -ServerPlatform=ALL and keep BattlEye active (don't launch with -NoBattlEye). Xbox Series and PS5 players will be able to join your server alongside PC players.
How do I install mods?
Through CurseForge, the official platform. Add -mods= followed by the mods' CurseForge IDs (separated by commas) to the launch command. The server downloads the mods automatically, and players get them when they connect.
Which maps are available?
In September 2026, the available maps include The Island, Ragnarok, The Center, Scorched Earth, Valguero, Aberration, Extinction, and the Lost Colony expansion. Each map has a technical name ending in _WP (e.g. Ragnarok_WP) to use in the launch command.
Is the QueryPort needed like in ARK Survival Evolved?
No. The old QueryPort is no longer used in ARK Survival Ascended. Only UDP port 7777 is needed for the game. TCP port 27020 is optional, only if you enable RCON for remote administration.
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