ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) is one of the heaviest game servers to run. The Unreal Engine 5 base makes the game visually impressive but demands significantly more resources than its predecessor ARK: Survival Evolved. Here is what you need to know before starting a server.
System requirements
- RAM: minimum 16 GB, recommended 20 to 32 GB. An empty server already uses 10 to 12 GB. With mods and players, that rises quickly.
- CPU: minimum 4 cores. ASA uses more threads than most game servers.
- Storage: 20 to 40 GB for server files, plus mods. SSD is strongly recommended.
- Operating system: Windows Server only. There is no official Linux server binary for ASA.
Server configuration
Configuration lives in two files:
- GameUserSettings.ini: basic game settings (XP multiplier, taming speed, day/night cycle, max players).
- Game.ini: advanced settings (per-dino stats, engram points, spawn settings).
Use an ARK Server Manager or edit the files manually. There are hundreds of settings; start with the important ones:
XPMultiplier: default 1.0. Most unofficial servers run 3 to 10.TamingSpeedMultiplier: default 1.0. On official servers, taming takes hours; most servers use 5 to 20.HarvestAmountMultiplier: default 1.0. At 3 to 5, you spend less time farming.MaxPlayers: default 70. Most private servers use 20 to 40.
Installing mods
ASA mods come via CurseForge. In the server configuration you add mod IDs that are automatically downloaded on startup. Popular mods: Structures Plus, Dino Storage, Awesome Teleporters.
Cluster: multiple maps
ARK supports clusters: multiple servers (each with a different map) where players can travel between them with their character and dinos. Each map requires its own server instance with full memory. A cluster with three maps therefore needs three times the resources.
Due to the high system requirements of ARK ASA, a KVM VPS with at least 16 GB RAM is the recommended solution.
Can I run ARK ASA on Linux?
Not officially. Studio Wildcard only provides a Windows server. Some hosts offer ASA on Linux through compatibility layers, but stability is not guaranteed.
Why is the server so heavy?
ASA is built on Unreal Engine 5. The server calculates AI for dozens of wild dinos, physical simulation for buildings and trees, and the complete game state for a large open world. This is inherently heavier than Minecraft or Rust.
How much does it cost to host an ASA server?
Considerably more than most games. The high RAM requirements (16 to 32 GB) and the need for Windows make it one of the most expensive servers to host. Compare this to Minecraft, which runs well on 2 to 4 GB.
