ARK: Survival Ascended Server Hosting

Why Run Your Own ASA Server

Official servers set the rules for everyone: the rates, the map, the people next door. A private server hands those decisions to you. Your tribe can tame at triple speed or keep it hardcore, play PvE with friends from three platforms, or build a cluster where survivors carry their dinos from The Island to Ragnarok.

Wildcard publishes the ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server for Windows, and a single instance needs several CPU cores and a lot of memory. Hosting it in a data centre keeps the world online around the clock and leaves your own PC or console free to play. Studio Wildcard's Community Crunch 527 also said inactive official servers will get a SUNSET prefix from 29 November 2026, one more reason some tribes are moving to a server they control.

Maps: Free, Paid and Planned

ASA brings the classic ARK maps across to Unreal Engine 5 one by one, alongside new ones. This is the line-up in October 2026.

Dragontopia, a paid pack on sale since July 2026, adds its creatures in stages, with its skyworld planned for December. Other classic maps are expected later, but Wildcard has not fixed dates, so check survivetheark.com before planning a wipe around one.

Crossplay and Server Platforms

Cross-platform play is part of ASA's design. Steam, the Microsoft Store version, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S players all browse the same Unofficial list and can share a tribe. Your server does not need a special plan or setting for this: it is open to every platform by default.

Some communities prefer one platform, for example to keep PC-only rules on aim assist or keyboard building. The official community wiki documents a -ServerPlatform launch option that limits a server to chosen platforms (PC, PS5, XSX or WINGDK, or combinations), while noting Wildcard has not documented it. Leave it out and the server accepts everyone.

Mods Through CurseForge

In December 2023 Studio Wildcard announced that ASA mods published through CurseForge are cooked for every platform. That changed what a modded ARK server can be: a structures mod or a new creature now works for console players too, as long as it is on CurseForge.

1. Stop the server and press the CurseForge button in the panel.
2. Search for each mod and install it.
3. Open the Commandline Manager, go to Custom Commandlines and create a new commandline; the mod IDs are added automatically.
4. Name it after the map, save, select it and start the server.

Behind the scenes the server reads CurseForge project IDs from the -mods= option and updates them when it starts, so a restart is usually all a mod update needs. Leave cosmetic mods off the server: they only affect how the game looks on each player's screen.

Choosing Slots and Memory

ASA is one of the most memory-hungry servers we host. Measurements on the official community wiki show empty servers using about 7GB to 8.5GB on Extinction, 7.5GB to 9GB on Scorched Earth, 8GB to 10GB on The Island and Aberration, and 10.5GB to 12GB on The Center. Players, tames, structures and mods all add to that.

That is why the smallest plan starts at 12GB and each larger one moves up a tier: 16GB on 30 slots, 20GB on 40, 24GB on 50 and 32GB on 70. Old saves grow too, as tribes build and breed. Check the memory graph after a month or two and upgrade from the client area if it stays near the limit.

Config Files, Rates and Admin Access

Two files hold almost every setting. GameUserSettings.ini carries the session name, passwords and most server options; Game.ini holds deeper rules such as per-level stats and engram overrides. Both sit in the server's WindowsServer config folder, and our Config Editor opens them as forms.

• SessionName: the name players search for in the Unofficial list.
• ServerPassword: optional, makes the server private.
• ServerAdminPassword: unlocks admin commands in game; on the launch line it must be the last ?option.
• RCON: off by default, on port 27020 when enabled, for remote admin tools.
• Player count: set with -WinLiveMaxPlayers, which defaults to 70.

Clusters and Transfers

A cluster links several servers so survivors, items and tames can travel between them. Technically, each server gets the same -clusterid and a shared transfer folder set with -ClusterDirOverride, and -NoTransferFromFiltering blocks transfers from servers outside the cluster.

On our side, clustering is set up through support: with two or more servers on your account, open a ticket and we link them. Many tribes run their main map on one server and rotate a second map on another, so players always have somewhere new to explore.

Updates in an Early Access Game

ASA patches often, and players' games update themselves, so a server that falls behind disappears from their list. After each patch, stop the server, run a Steam update and start it again; mods refresh on start. If it still does not show, purge the Steam cache from the More menu and update once more.

Bigger changes deserve a backup first. The move to Unreal Engine 5.8 is in public testing, and creature reworks such as the Giganotosaurus update planned for November can change balance on an established server. A snapshot before each one costs nothing and saves arguments.

What to Compare Before You Rent an ASA Server

Seven checks that matter more than the headline price.

1. Real memory per planASA uses 7GB to 12GB empty. A plan with less than that included will struggle the moment your tribe logs in.
2. CurseForge in the panelInstalling mods by ID through a support ticket gets old fast. Look for search and install in the panel.
3. Crossplay out of the boxConsole players should be able to join without extra fees or special plans.
4. Map switchingCheck you can change maps yourself, and that clusters are available when you want a second server.
5. Ping from where you playRun a ping test from the console or PC your tribe uses, not just a speed test.
6. Backups you can restoreEarly Access patches can break things. Make sure you can roll back without waiting for staff.
7. Billing termsCompare monthly against longer terms, and look for setup fees or minimum contracts.

ARK: Survival Ascended Server Glossary

ASA

ARK: Survival Ascended, the Unreal Engine 5 remake of ARK.

Unofficial server

Any server not run by Studio Wildcard, listed under the Unofficial tab.

Session name

The server name players search for, set in GameUserSettings.ini.

CurseForge

The mod platform ASA uses, which delivers mods to PC and console players.

Commandline

The launch settings for the server, including the map and the mod list.

Cluster

Two or more linked servers that let survivors and tames transfer between maps.

Cluster ID

The shared identifier that tells servers they belong to the same cluster.

Tribe

A group of players who share bases, tames and progress.

Rates

Multipliers for taming, harvesting, XP and breeding.

TLC

Wildcard's name for a creature rework, such as the Giganotosaurus update.

ARK: Survival Ascended Server Help and Next Steps

Official news and our own step-by-step guides.

• ARK news and patch notes, survivetheark.comCommunity Crunch posts and server patch notes from Wildcard.
• Dedicated server setup, official ARK community wikiLaunch options, ports and config files.
• How to install mods on our ASA serversThe CurseForge button step by step.
• Gaming Deluxe control panelWhat the panel does and how to log in.
• Our server locations
• Contact support24/7 help with maps, mods and clusters.