A dedicated ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) server gives your tribe a persistent world with your own rates, mods and rules, online around the clock. ASA is much heavier than the original ARK, so the right resources matter. Here is the full setup.
If you would rather not wrangle SteamCMD and INI files, a Vastrox ARK plan installs and updates the server for you.
Requirements
ASA is demanding. Plan for:
- A 64-bit Windows or Linux machine
- 16 GB RAM minimum, 32 GB for a busy server with mods
- A fast multi-core CPU and NVMe storage (ASA loads a lot from disk)
- Ports open: 7777/UDP (game) and 27015/UDP (query)
Step 1: Install with SteamCMD
The ASA dedicated server app ID is 2430930:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit
This is a large download, so give it time and disk space.
Step 2: Create a launch command
ASA launches with the map name and options in one query string. A typical start:
ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName="Your Server"?ServerAdminPassword=changeme?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015 -WinLiveMaxPlayers=50
On Linux the binary is ArkAscendedServer.sh with the same options. Swap TheIsland_WP for another map such as ScorchedEarth_WP.
Step 3: Tune the rates
After the first launch, edit Game.ini and GameUserSettings.ini to shape the experience:
XPMultiplier,HarvestAmountMultiplier,TamingSpeedMultiplierDifficultyOffsetandOverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0for higher wild dino levels- max players and the day/night cycle speed
Set a strong
ServerAdminPassword. It is what lets you run admin commands in game, and anyone who has it controls your server.
Step 4: Open the ports
Forward 7777/UDP and 27015/UDP. Behind a home router that means a port-forward rule plus a firewall allow. On a managed server the ports are already open.
Step 5: Connect
ASA uses the in-game server browser. Filter to unofficial servers and search your session name, or use direct connect with your IP and port. Add it to favorites so it is one click next time.
Keep it stable
- Back up the
SavedArksfolder before every update. - Restart daily. ASA memory use climbs over long uptimes.
- Update right after a patch, or players on the new build cannot join.
- If it stutters under load, it is almost always RAM, disk speed or CPU. See How to fix game server lag.
FAQ
How much RAM does an ARK: Survival Ascended server need?
16 GB is the realistic minimum, and 32 GB is better for higher player counts or mods. ASA is far heavier than the original ARK. See How much RAM does a game server need.
Why is my ARK server not showing in the browser?
Give it several minutes after first boot, confirm UDP 7777 and 27015 are open, and make sure the version matches the latest client patch.
Can I add mods?
Yes. ASA mods come from CurseForge. Add the mod IDs to your launch options and the server downloads them on start.
Want it online without the setup? Deploy an ARK server and invite your tribe.