How to create an ARK Survival Ascended server

Running your own ARK Survival Ascended server lets you:

• Play in a persistent 24/7 world, free of the tether distance that limits non-dedicated sessions.
• Set your own rates: experience, harvesting, taming, breeding.
• Choose your rules (PvP, PvE or PvX) and your CurseForge mods.
• Bring PC, Xbox Series and PS5 players together on one server thanks to crossplay.

With nine maps available in early 2026, including Ragnarok, Valguero and the Lost Colony expansion, ARK Survival Ascended has never offered so much content to host. A well-tuned private server remains the best way to enjoy the game as a community.

The ARK Survival Ascended server is demanding, especially on memory. Make sure your machine meets these requirements:

• ✔ RAM : 16 GB minimum (the server uses 8 to 14 GB depending on the map), 32 GB recommended with mods and many players
• ✔ CPU : 4 fast cores minimum, 8 cores recommended for a busy server
• ✔ System : 64-bit Windows: there is no native Linux server (hosting providers use Wine/Proton)
• ✔ Connection : Stable upload speed; the server communicates over UDP on port 7777
• ✔ Hosting : Local PC for testing, dedicated server or specialised host for a 24/7 server

Non-dedicated session (from the game)

Hosted directly from your own game. Simple, but your friends are limited by the tether distance that stops them from moving away from the host, and the world stops when you leave.

Dedicated server

A true persistent server, with no tether, available 24/7, with custom rates, mods and crossplay. That is what this guide covers.

The ARK Survival Ascended dedicated server (Steam app 2430930) installs with SteamCMD, Steam's command-line tool:

1. Install SteamCMD (download it from the Valve website)
2. Run the download command below (around ten GB)

steamcmd +force_install_dir C:\asa-server +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit

The server launches from the command line, with the map and session parameters. Example for The Island:

.\ArkAscendedServer.exe "TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName=MyServer?ServerAdminPassword=AdminPassword" -port=7777 -WinLiveMaxPlayers=30

Parameters to know

• TheIsland_WP - The map to load: TheIsland_WP, Ragnarok_WP, TheCenter_WP, ScorchedEarth_WP...
• -port=7777 - The UDP listening port (7777 by default)
• -WinLiveMaxPlayers - The maximum number of players (replaces the old MaxPlayers)

The main configuration lives in GameUserSettings.ini, generated after the first launch. Rates and advanced options are set in the [ServerSettings] section:

File location:

ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\GameUserSettings.ini

• SessionName - Server name shown in the session browser
• ServerPassword - Access password (leave empty for a public server)
• ServerAdminPassword - Administrator password, required for admin commands
• XPMultiplier - Experience multiplier (1.0 = official)
• TamingSpeedMultiplier - Dinosaur taming speed
• HarvestAmountMultiplier - Amount of resources harvested

[ServerSettings]
ServerPassword=
ServerAdminPassword=AdminPassword
XPMultiplier=2.0
TamingSpeedMultiplier=3.0
HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0

[SessionSettings]
SessionName=MyServer

ARK Survival Ascended supports full crossplay between PC, Xbox Series and PlayStation 5. To open your server to every platform:

-ServerPlatform=ALL

ARK Survival Ascended communicates over UDP on port 7777 by default. For your server to be reachable from the Internet, this port must be open.

Ports to open

• UDP 7777 (default, can be changed via -port)
• Optional port: TCP 27020 for RCON, only if you enable it; the old ARK Survival Evolved QueryPort is no longer used

Firewall rule examples

Windows Defender:

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "ARK SA Server" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 7777 -Action Allow

Linux UFW:

sudo ufw allow 7777/udp

Linux iptables:

sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 7777 -j ACCEPT

In game, open the console and authenticate with your administrator password to unlock the commands:

enablecheats AdminPassword

Essential commands

• cheat SaveWorld - Forces an immediate world save
• cheat Broadcast - Broadcasts a message to all players
• cheat KickPlayer / cheat BanPlayer - Kicks or bans a player
• cheat DestroyWildDinos - Resets wild creatures (useful after adding a spawn mod)

Installing CurseForge mods

Add the -mods= option followed by the CurseForge IDs, separated by commas: the server downloads the mods automatically, and your players get them when they connect.

-mods=123456,789012

• ✔ Backups: regularly copy the ShooterGame/Saved/ folder (world, players, configuration) off the machine. Automate it: manual backups always end up forgotten.
• ✔ Updates: stop the server, then run the SteamCMD installation command again. Client and server must be on the same version.

• ✔ Watch RAM first: it is the main limit of an ARK Survival Ascended server. Keep headroom before adding a map, mods or players.
• ✔ Schedule a daily restart with a save: memory usage grows over long sessions.
• ✔ Limit the number of mods and keep an eye on structures and tamed creatures: they are the main load on a busy server.
• ✔ Host on SSD/NVMe: world loading and saving times depend on it directly.