Your own ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) server gives you full control: your own rules, mods and a cluster across several maps. The path runs through SteamCMD → download the server → launch script → open ports → tune GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini. This guide covers every step.

ARK: Survival Ascended server – coastal jungle player base with a tamed Triceratops and a Brachiosaurus in the mist

What you need

  • Windows or Linux with SteamCMD
  • Around 11 GB of free space for the server files
  • At least 16 GB RAM – ASA is far heavier than its predecessor
  • Open ports: 7777/UDP (game) and optionally 27020 (RCON remote admin)
Info
Unlike ARK: Survival Evolved, ASA no longer needs a separate query port. For players, opening port 7777/UDP is enough.

Step 1: Install SteamCMD

SteamCMD is the command-line tool for downloading Steam server files. Get it from Valve, extract it into its own folder (e.g. C:\steamcmd) and run steamcmd.exe once so it updates itself.

Step 2: Download the server files

The ASA dedicated server has the Steam app ID 2430930. In SteamCMD:

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

The first download takes a while – it's about 11 GB.

Step 3: Create a launch script

Start the server with a map, session name, port and RCON. Example (start.bat):

ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName=MyServer?Port=7777?RCONEnabled=True?RCONPort=27020?ServerAdminPassword=SECRET -WinLiveMaxPlayers=70
ParameterMeaning
TheIsland_WPMap (e.g. ScorchedEarth_WP, TheCenter_WP)
?Port=7777Game port (set via launch argument, not in the INI)
?RCONEnabled=True?RCONPort=27020Remote admin via RCON
?ServerAdminPassword=Admin password (required for RCON)
-WinLiveMaxPlayers=70Maximum number of players
Caution
Set the port only via ?Port=7777 in the launch command – not via ServerPort in GameUserSettings.ini. In ASA the launch argument controls the port exclusively.

Step 4: Open the ports

  • 7777/UDP – the game port players need (firewall + router port forwarding)
  • 27020 – only needed if you want to use RCON from outside
Important
Wrong or unforwarded ports are the top reason your server doesn't show up in the list or nobody can join.

Step 5: Configure the server

The two key files appear here after the first start:

ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/Game.ini
  • GameUserSettings.ini – basics: rates (taming, XP, harvest), server name, passwords, PvP/PvE
  • Game.ini – fine tuning: engrams, spawn rates, stat multipliers
Caution
ASA rewrites GameUserSettings.ini on shutdown and overwrites your edits. Always stop the server first before editing the file.

Install mods (CurseForge)

ASA mods come through CurseForge, not the Steam Workshop. Append the mod IDs to your launch script:

ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?listen?Port=7777 -mods=123456,789012

The mods load automatically on server start and are downloaded by players when they join.

Hardware recommendation

SetupRAM
Small, few players, no mods16 GB
Medium, more players + some mods24 GB
Large / cluster / many mods32 GB+

Cluster across several maps

For a cluster (transfer characters and dinos between maps) you start several servers with the same -clusterid= and a shared cluster directory. Each map runs as its own process with its own port.

FAQ

Which ports do I need to open for ARK: Survival Ascended? Only 7777/UDP for gameplay. 27020 in addition if you use RCON remotely. There is no separate query port like in ARK: Survival Evolved anymore.

Where are GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini? Under ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/. Stop the server before editing, otherwise changes get overwritten.

Where do ASA mods come from? Exclusively via CurseForge. The mod IDs go into the launch script with -mods=.

How much RAM does an ASA server need? At least 16 GB; with mods and more players, closer to 24–32 GB.

How do I set the server port? Via ?Port=7777 in the launch command – never via ServerPort in the INI.

Next steps