ARK is one of the most popular survival games and runs on thousands of servers worldwide. With the release of ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) alongside the original ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE), you now have two versions to choose from. This article compares both and explains how to set up a server.
ARK Evolved vs Ascended
Survival Evolved is the original on Unreal Engine 4. It runs on virtually any VPS with enough RAM and has a massive mod library via the Steam Workshop. Survival Ascended runs on Unreal Engine 5 and looks better, but is significantly heavier. ASA mods come through CurseForge instead of the Steam Workshop.
Important: Nitrado holds exclusive commercial hosting rights for ARK: Survival Ascended for a period of seven years. You can run ASA on your own VPS for private use, but commercially offering it as a hosting provider is restricted.
System Requirements
| Version | RAM | CPU | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survival Evolved | 6 to 12 GB | 2 to 4 cores | 20 to 50 GB per map |
| Survival Ascended | 16 to 24 GB | 4 to 6 cores | 40 to 70 GB per map |
ARK is one of the heaviest game servers in terms of resources. Choose a VPS with enough headroom, especially if you want to run multiple maps.
Installation (Evolved)
- Install SteamCMD on your VPS.
- Download the server with
app_update 376030 validate. - Configure
GameUserSettings.iniandGame.iniin theShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/directory. - Start with
./ShooterGameServer TheIsland?listen?SessionName=MyServer -server -log.
Setting Up a Cluster
With a cluster, players can transfer their character and dinos between multiple maps (The Island, Ragnarok, Fjordur, etc.). Set up a shared cluster directory with -clusterid=mycluster -ClusterDirOverride=/path/to/cluster on each server. All servers in the cluster must use the same clusterid.
Installing Mods
For Evolved: add mod IDs to GameModIds= in the command line or ActiveMods= in GameUserSettings.ini. The server downloads them automatically on startup. For Ascended: mods come through CurseForge. Follow the instructions for each mod for manual installation on your server.
Popular Settings
- XPMultiplier, TamingSpeedMultiplier, HarvestAmountMultiplier: adjust the speed of leveling, taming and harvesting.
- DifficultyOffset=1.0: determines the maximum wild dino level (1.0 = level 150).
- MaxStructuresInRange: limit the number of structures per area to prevent lag.
- bAllowFlyerCarryPvE=True: let flyers pick up players in PvE.
Which version should I choose?
If you want a large mod collection and lower server requirements, choose Survival Evolved. If you want the latest graphics and are willing to allocate more RAM, choose Ascended. Many communities run both versions side by side.
How much storage per map?
Evolved maps range from 15 to 50 GB depending on the map and mods. Ascended maps start at 40 GB. Budget an extra 20% for save files and backups.
Can I run multiple maps on one VPS?
Yes, as long as you have enough RAM. Two Evolved maps require 16 to 24 GB RAM total. Two Ascended maps require at least 32 GB. Use separate ports for each server instance.
Tip: at HostValues you can rent an ARK server and be online within minutes.