ARK: Survival Ascended

Overview

Release Date: October 25, 2023

Platform: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5

Engine: Unreal Engine 5.0

Server Type: Dedicated & Non-Dedicated

Max Players: 32-70 (configurable)

System Requirements

Minimum

OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit
CPU: Intel i5-6600K / AMD FX-8350
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 180GB SSD
Connection: 50Mbps upload

Installation Guide

1

Download Server Files

Download ARK ASA server files from Steam (180GB+)

2

Configure Server Settings

Edit GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini files

3

Open Firewall Ports

Open UDP ports 7777 (game) and 7778 (query)

4

Launch Server

Start the server or use a control panel like Nitrado/G-Portal

Server Configuration

[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]

ServerPassword=YourPassword

ServerAdminPassword=AdminPassword

GlobalVoiceChat=True

ProximityVoiceChat=True

bUseBattlEye=False

# Difficulty Settings

DifficultyOffset=1.0

MaxDifficulty=5.0

# Player/Dinosaur Settings

MaxPlayers=32

DinoCountMultiplier=1.0

Common Bugs & Issues

Dinosaurs Disappearing

Occurs when wild dinosaurs exceed max spawn limits. Solution: Adjust DinoCountMultiplier in config.

Building Destruction Lag

Known UE5 issue when structures are destroyed. Keep server updated to latest patch.

Memory Leak (Long Uptime)

Server uses more memory over time. Restart weekly or implement auto-restart schedules.

Mod Incompatibility

Some mods from ASE don't work with ASA. Test mods individually first.

Troubleshooting Guide

Players Can't Connect

Check firewall ports 7777-7778 are open
Verify server is NOT running on local network only
Check server password isn't empty if you set one
Restart server (sometimes takes 5+ mins to appear)

High Ping/Lag

Reduce max players setting
Lower DinoCountMultiplier
Disable unused mods
Use SSD for server files
Check CPU/RAM usage - might need better hardware

Performance Optimization

FPS Boost

Reduce max dinosaurs
Lower foliage quality
Limit mesh LOD distance
Disable weather effects

Memory Management

Weekly server restarts
Clean old dino corpses script
Limit structure count
Monitor memory leaks

Modding & Customization

ARK ASA supports Steam Workshop mods. Popular categories:

Quality of Life

Better inventory, crosshairs, UI improvements

Content Expansion

New dinosaurs, weapons, structures

Gameplay Balance

Difficulty tweaks, economy mods

Admin Tools

Server management, tracking, commands

Advanced Troubleshooting

Unreal Engine 5 Memory & Crashes

// Monitor UE5 memory usage
stat memory // In-game command

// Server startup parameters for memory optimization
.\ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland -server -log \
-MaxPlayers=70 -usedynamicsettings=True \
-nobattleye -gamemodlog

// Check crash logs
tail -f ./ShooterGame/Saved/Logs/ShooterGame.log | grep "Crash\|Assert\|Ensure"

Out of Memory Crashes: 32-bit allocation limits, increase system RAM or reduce max players
Assertion Failures: UE5 memory corruption, check GPU drivers, disable overclocking
Random CTD: Mod conflicts, revert to last stable build, enable debug logging
Shader Cache Corruption: Delete DerivedDataCache folder, allow rebuild on restart

Dinosaur Population & Spawn Debugging

# GameUserSettings.ini optimization
[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]
DinoCountMultiplier=1.0
TamingSpeedMultiplier=2.0
XpMultiplier=4.0

# Monitor dino spawning via RCON
rcon DoTame // Tame nearest dino for testing
rcon ListPlayers // Check active entity count

Wild Dinos Not Spawning: Increase DinoCountMultiplier, verify spawn regions not blocked
Herd Disappearance: Default cull when count exceeds multiplier limit, reduce player count
Taming Timeout: Increase TamingSpeedMultiplier, verify creature health not critical
Structure Persistence: Check save frequency, ensure not in collision with terrain

Workshop Mod Troubleshooting

# Mod directory and loading order
./ShooterGame/Content/Mods/

# Enable mod debug logging
[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]
bAllowMultipleTamedUnicorns=True # Some mod requirement
EnableExtraStructureSupport=True

# Check mod compatibility in Launch.ini

Mod Installation Fails: Verify Steam download complete, check free disk space
Broken Blueprint Paths: Mod likely references ASE content, requires ASA-compatible version
Duplicate Content: Don't load both ASE and ASA versions of same mod simultaneously
Server Won't Start With Mod: Check mod .pak file integrity, verify mod author supports ASA

Network Performance & Replication Tuning

# GameUserSettings.ini replication settings
[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]
MaxAuthoritiesFPS=30
PropertyUpdateDistance=50000
CharacterNameTagRangeLimit=600

# Network stats command
stat net // Monitor bandwidth and packet loss

High Ping: Reduce MaxPlayers, enable voice quality reduction, disable proximity chat
Desynchronization: Lower PropertyUpdateDistance, enable lockpitching for large structures
Packet Loss: Check ISP throttling, use dedicated FastDL server, reduce tick rate if needed
Network Floods: Monitor RCON events, limit tribe broadcasts, implement event throttling

RCON & Admin Command Debugging

# RCON connection verification
rcon cheat ListPlayers # Test connection

# Common admin commands
rcon cheat SetPlayerPos 0 0 1000 # Teleport player
rcon cheat Broadcast "Server restarting soon"
rcon cheat SaveWorld # Force world save

# Kick/Ban players
rcon KickPlayer player_id reason
rcon BanPlayer player_id reason

RCON Connection Failed: Verify admin password set, check firewall rules for RCON port
Command Parse Errors: Check command syntax, use cheat prefix for admin commands
Ban Not Applied: Verify player ID format, check ban list persistence after restart
Player Report Issues: Monitor tribe chat logs, use SaveWorld before enforcement actions

Pro tip: ARK ASA is newer with UE5 quirks - always maintain fresh backups before major updates. Monitor official patch notes for breaking changes.

Developer Resources

RCON Console

Remote control via RCON protocol for advanced server management

Console Commands

Extensive command set for player management, status checking, broadcasting

Server API

Query server status, players, and other metrics via standard protocols

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use ASE mods on ASA?

No, ASE mods are not compatible with ASA due to engine differences (UE5). Only Workshop mods made for ASA will work.

How do I backup my server?

Copy your SavedArks folder regularly. Schedule automated backups weekly or use your hosting provider's backup system.

What port do I need to open?

Open UDP ports 7777 (game port) and 7778 (query port). Both must be open for players to connect.