ARK 2 Server Setup & Hosting Guide
Last updated: May 2026 · 8 min read
Server Types
| Type | Max Players | Host | Persistence | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Dedicated | 4 | Your PC/Xbox | Only when host is online | Small co-op sessions |
| Dedicated (Self-Hosted) | 70 | Your hardware | 24/7 (if left running) | Medium tribes, modded servers |
| Dedicated (Rented) | 100+ | Hosting provider | 24/7 with DDoS protection | Large tribes, public servers |
| Official | 70 | Studio Wildcard | 24/7 | Vanilla experience |
Dedicated Server Requirements (Self-Hosted)
| Component | Minimum (20 players) | Recommended (70 players) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 4 cores / 8 threads @ 3.5 GHz+ | 8 cores / 16 threads @ 4.0 GHz+ |
| RAM | 16 GB | 64 GB |
| Storage | 50 GB SSD | 200 GB NVMe SSD |
| Network | 10 Mbps upload | 100 Mbps upload (unmetered) |
| OS | Windows Server 2022 / Ubuntu 22.04 | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS |
ARK servers are single-thread CPU bound. Clock speed matters more than core count beyond 4 cores. An AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the sweet spot for price/performance in self-hosting.
Recommended Hosting Providers
The following hosting providers are expected to support ARK 2 at launch based on their ARK 1 track record:
| Provider | Starting Price | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrado | $13.99/mo (10 slots) | Official ARK partner, instant setup, mod auto-update |
| G-Portal | $11.25/mo (10 slots) | EU-based, strong DDoS protection, cluster support |
| Survival Servers | $12.00/mo (10 slots) | US-based, full FTP access, custom launch params |
| GTX Gaming | $10.50/mo (10 slots) | UK-based, 24/7 support, one-click mod installs |
| Self-Hosted | Electricity + bandwidth | Full control, no slot limits, mod anything |
Server Configuration (Expected Settings)
ARK 2's server config is expected to follow a similar structure to ARK: Survival Ascended, using INI files. These are provisional settings based on developer interviews:
Game.ini — Core Settings
[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode] bDisableStructureDecayPvE=true bAllowFlyerCarryPvE=true bUseSingleplayerSettings=false PvPZoneStructureDamageMultiplier=6.0 TamingSpeedMultiplier=1.0 HarvestAmountMultiplier=1.0 XPMultiplier=1.0 MatingIntervalMultiplier=1.0 EggHatchSpeedMultiplier=1.0 BabyMatureSpeedMultiplier=1.0 BabyCuddleIntervalMultiplier=1.0 ResourcesRespawnPeriodMultiplier=1.0
GameUserSettings.ini — Player & World Settings
[ServerSettings] ServerAdminPassword=YourAdminPass ServerPassword= MaxPlayers=70 ServerPVE=false DifficultyOffset=1.0 ShowMapPlayerLocation=true EnableCrossplay=true ServerCrosshair=true AllowThirdPersonPlayer=true DayCycleSpeedScale=1.0 NightTimeSpeedScale=1.0
Admin Commands (Expected)
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
enablecheats <password> | Enable admin privileges |
god | Toggle god mode |
fly | Toggle flight mode |
walk | Disable flight |
ghost | Toggle noclip (pass through objects) |
giveitemnum <id> <qty> <quality> | Spawn item by ID |
summon <creature_id> | Spawn a creature |
forcetame | Instant tame (aim at creature) |
dotame | Tame targeted creature |
teleport | Teleport to crosshair location |
teleportplayeridtome <id> | Teleport player to you |
saveworld | Force world save |
broadcast <message> | Send server-wide message |
banplayer <steam_id> | Ban a player |
Server Cluster Setup
ARK 2 uses cross-ARK travel differently from ARK 1. The single world map eliminates the need for map-hopping clusters. However, tribe-based server clusters can still link multiple servers for overflow or event maps:
- Cluster ID: Set a shared ClusterID in Game.ini to link servers for cross-server tribe chat and shared tribe ownership.
- Cross-server transfer: Expect limited cross-server character/data transfer. The focus is on a single persistent world per server.
- Event servers: Like ARK 1, seasonal event servers (Fear Evolved, Winter Wonderland) will be separate instances with item transfers back to your main server.