ARK: Survival Ascended server hosting for your tribe
Run your own ARK: Survival Ascended world with the maps, rates and mods your tribe wants. Mods come from CurseForge and install when players join, on PC and on console.
- The Island, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok and more
- CurseForge mods, installed when players join
- Crossplay with Xbox, PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Store
- Clusters for transfers between maps
- PlayersSet the limit with -WinLiveMaxPlayers on the command line; MaxPlayers in GameUserSettings.ini has no effect in ARK: Survival Ascended.
- 70 by default (-WinLiveMaxPlayers)
- PortsChange the game port with -port. RCON stays off until you enable it and set an admin password.
- 7777 UDP · RCON 27020 TCP
- Maps
- One map per server; clusters link them
- Mods
- CurseForge (-mods=IDs)
- CrossplayChoose who may join with -ServerPlatform, for example PC+XSX+PS5, or ALL for every platform.
- PC · Xbox · PS5
- Anti-cheat
- BattlEye
Maps
- The Island
- Scorched Earth
- The Center
- Aberration
- Extinction
- Astraeos
- Ragnarok
- Valguero
- Lost Colony
- Genesis: Part 1
Game facts from the official ARK wiki and CurseForge support, checked in October 2026.
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- DDoS protection
- 20 game server locations
ARK plans are being prepared
Tell us your maps, player count and mods, and our team will reply with the options. Or open a ticket and we will let you know when the plans are online.
How much RAM does an ARK server need?
Memory decides the most. Every map runs as its own server, so plan the size per map.
Find your size
| Feature |
Small tribe
One map, up to 10 players
|
Recommended Community
One map, up to 30 players
|
Busy map
One map, up to 70 players
|
Cluster
Two or more maps
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore. | 10 GB | 12 GB | 16 GB | 12 GB per map |
| CPU coresThe official wiki plans 4 logical cores per server; single-core speed matters most. | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 per map |
| Disk spaceThe server install is about 11 GB; saves, backups and mods come on top. | 30 GB | 40 GB | 50 GB | 30 GB per map |
| Typical use | Friends on one map | A community server with mods | Large tribes, high rates and many mods | Several maps with transfers |
-
Small tribe
One map, up to 10 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 10 GB
- CPU coresThe official wiki plans 4 logical cores per server; single-core speed matters most.
- 4
- Disk spaceThe server install is about 11 GB; saves, backups and mods come on top.
- 30 GB
- Typical use
- Friends on one map
-
Recommended
Community
One map, up to 30 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 12 GB
- CPU coresThe official wiki plans 4 logical cores per server; single-core speed matters most.
- 4
- Disk spaceThe server install is about 11 GB; saves, backups and mods come on top.
- 40 GB
- Typical use
- A community server with mods
-
Busy map
One map, up to 70 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 16 GB
- CPU coresThe official wiki plans 4 logical cores per server; single-core speed matters most.
- 6
- Disk spaceThe server install is about 11 GB; saves, backups and mods come on top.
- 50 GB
- Typical use
- Large tribes, high rates and many mods
-
Cluster
Two or more maps
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 12 GB per map
- CPU coresThe official wiki plans 4 logical cores per server; single-core speed matters most.
- 4 per map
- Disk spaceThe server install is about 11 GB; saves, backups and mods come on top.
- 30 GB per map
- Typical use
- Several maps with transfers
The official ARK wiki measured 8–10 GB for The Island and 10.5–12 GB for The Center on empty maps. Players, tames, bases and mods add to that.
Maps, mods, clusters and crossplay
What you can change on an ARK: Survival Ascended server, and what your players should know.
CurseForge mods
List mod project IDs with -mods. The server updates them when it starts, and players get missing mods when they join.
Premium mods
Some mods are paid. Every player buys them, and a purchase on one platform does not carry over to another.
Official maps
Start each server on a map such as TheIsland_WP or Ragnarok_WP. Astraeos and Lost Colony are sold separately.
Clusters
Give several maps the same -clusterid and a shared cluster folder, and survivors can move between them.
Crossplay
Steam, Xbox Series, PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Store players can play together; -ServerPlatform sets who may join.
Rates and rules
Set taming, harvesting and XP rates, PvE or PvP and much more in GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini.
Set up your ARK server
Four steps from the first map to your first tame.
-
Pick maps and size
One map or a cluster: plan the memory for each map with the table above.
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Pick a location
Choose the one closest to your tribe from our 20 game server locations.
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Set mods, platforms and rates
Add CurseForge mod IDs with -mods, choose the platforms with -ServerPlatform and set your rates in GameUserSettings.ini.
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Join the server
Tick Show Player Servers in the server list and search for your server, or type open with the address and port in the console.
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Frequently asked questions
Why can’t players see my server in the list?
Unofficial servers only appear when players tick Show Player Servers in the server list and refresh it. Players can also join through the console with open followed by the address and port.
How many players can join an ARK server?
70 by default. Set the limit with -WinLiveMaxPlayers on the command line; the MaxPlayers line in GameUserSettings.ini has no effect in ARK: Survival Ascended.
How much RAM does an ARK server need?
The official ARK wiki measured 8–10 GB for The Island and 10.5–12 GB for The Center on an empty map. Players, tames, bases and mods add to that, so plan 8–12 GB per map and more for busy servers.
Can PC and console players play together?
Yes. ARK: Survival Ascended has crossplay between Steam, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and the Microsoft Store. Choose who may join with -ServerPlatform, for example PC+XSX+PS5; writing ALL explicitly is the safest choice.
How do mods work on ARK: Survival Ascended?
Mods come from CurseForge. Add their project IDs with -mods; the server updates them when it starts. Players see the mods a server needs, and the missing ones install when they join, on PC and on console.
What are premium mods?
Paid mods on CurseForge. Every player who wants to use one buys it, and a purchase on one platform does not carry over to another.
Which maps can I run?
The Island, Scorched Earth, The Center, Aberration, Extinction, Ragnarok and Valguero, plus Astraeos, Lost Colony and Genesis: Part 1. Each map runs as its own server; Astraeos and Lost Colony are sold separately.
Can I link several maps?
Yes, as a cluster. Start every server with the same -clusterid and a shared -ClusterDirOverride folder, and survivors can transfer between the maps.
Where do I change rates and rules?
In GameUserSettings.ini under [ServerSettings] and in Game.ini: taming speed, harvest amounts, XP multipliers, difficulty and PvE or PvP. Restart the server after a change.
Is ARK: Survival Evolved the same game?
No. ARK: Survival Evolved is the original Unreal Engine 4 game, with its own dedicated server and Steam Workshop mods. ARK: Survival Ascended is the Unreal Engine 5 remake, and the two cannot join each other’s servers.
Ready for your tribe’s own server?
Tell us your maps, players and mods, and we will help you plan the right ARK server.