{"id":3777,"date":"2026-10-27T17:09:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:09:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gameteam.io\/blog\/ark-survival-ascended-server-settings\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T17:09:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:09:39","slug":"ark-survival-ascended-server-settings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gameteam.io\/blog\/ark-survival-ascended-server-settings\/","title":{"rendered":"ARK: Survival Ascended Server Settings: The Best Settings for a Private Server"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every rule on an ARK: Survival Ascended private server lives in two files: GameUserSettings.ini<\/code> for rates, PvE rules and passwords, and Game.ini<\/code> for breeding and deeper tuning.<\/strong> A few more, like the player cap, mods and crossplay, are launch options. Set ServerPassword<\/code> and the server is private. Below: where each file is, the settings worth changing with their defaults, ready-to-paste presets, boosted rates, and the mistakes that make settings quietly not apply.<\/p>\n

Where ARK: Survival Ascended server settings live<\/h2>\n

Both config files sit in ShooterGame\/Saved\/Config\/WindowsServer<\/code> in the server’s folder. That stays true even when the server runs on Linux through Proton, because ASA only has a Windows build. Settings must sit under the right section header in the right file, or the server ignores them. The player cap, mods, crossplay and clusters go in the launch line instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Where<\/th>\nSection header<\/th>\nWhat goes there<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
GameUserSettings.ini<\/code><\/td>\n[ServerSettings]<\/code><\/td>\nRates, difficulty, PvE\/PvP, passwords, day and night, limits, RCON<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GameUserSettings.ini<\/code><\/td>\n[SessionSettings]<\/code><\/td>\nSessionName<\/code>, the server name in the list<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Game.ini<\/code><\/td>\n[\/script\/shootergame.shootergamemode]<\/code><\/td>\nBreeding, XP by source, stats per level, tribe size, engrams<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Launch line<\/td>\n(no header)<\/td>\n-WinLiveMaxPlayers<\/code>, -mods<\/code>, -ServerPlatform<\/code>, -clusterid<\/code>, -exclusivejoin<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Game.ini<\/code> isn’t created by default. If it’s missing, create it and put the header on the first line.<\/p>\n

How to change server settings in ASA<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Stop the server.<\/li>\n
  2. Open the file, find the section header, and put each setting on its own line as Name=Value<\/code>. Don’t add a second copy of a line that already exists.<\/li>\n
  3. Save and start the server. Settings load at start, so every change needs a restart.<\/li>\n
  4. Check in game that the change took. If you raised difficulty, run cheat DestroyWildDinos<\/code> as admin. Creatures that already spawned keep their old levels until the map respawns them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to make your ARK: Survival Ascended server private<\/h2>\n

    A password is all it takes. Put ServerPassword<\/code> under [ServerSettings]<\/code> and only people who know it can join. For a stricter, invite-only server, start it with -exclusivejoin<\/code> and add each player with the AllowPlayerToJoinNoCheck<\/code> command. Keep ServerAdminPassword<\/code> different from the join password. Anyone with the admin one can run every command.<\/p>\n

    [ServerSettings]\nServerPassword=only-our-tribe\nServerAdminPassword=a-different-long-password\n\n[SessionSettings]\nSessionName=OurTribeOnly<\/code><\/pre>\n
    A private server for PS5 or Xbox players<\/strong> has to run on a PC or with a host, because the ASA server tool is Windows-only. Crossplay is a launch option. -ServerPlatform=PC+PS5<\/code> makes a crossplay PS5 and PC private server, and with no value at all, every platform may join. The password works the same for everyone.<\/p>\n
    On ARK: Survival Ascended server hosting<\/a> from GameTeam you pay per GB of RAM, not per slot, so a private server for five friends costs the same per GB as a public one.<\/p>\n
    The ASA server settings that matter, with defaults<\/h2>\n
    Most of what people mean by “server settings” is a short list: rates, difficulty, breeding speed, PvE rules and a few limits. Each one is a multiplier or a True\/False value, and 1.0 or the listed default is what you get when the line is missing. The tables below give each setting’s file and default value, and say what a change does in play.<\/p>\n
    Rates (GameUserSettings.ini, [ServerSettings])<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Setting<\/th>\nDefault<\/th>\nWhat it does<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    XPMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nExperience for players, tribes and tames<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    TamingSpeedMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nHow fast creatures tame<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    HarvestAmountMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nResources per hit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    ResourcesRespawnPeriodMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nResource regrowth; lower is faster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    ItemStackSizeMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nBigger stacks; useful with high harvest rates<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    PlayerCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier<\/code> \/ PlayerCharacterWaterDrainMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nHow fast survivors get hungry and thirsty<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
    Difficulty<\/h3>\n
    OverrideOfficialDifficulty<\/code> sets wild creature levels directly and beats DifficultyOffset<\/code> when both are set. OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0<\/code> gives the familiar level-150 cap for most wild creatures. 0.0<\/code>, the default, turns the override off, and DifficultyOffset<\/code> (default 1.0) then works from the map’s own difficulty. Both go in GameUserSettings.ini<\/code>.<\/p>\n
    Breeding (Game.ini)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Setting<\/th>\nDefault<\/th>\nFaster breeding means<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    MatingIntervalMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nLower: shorter wait between matings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    EggHatchSpeedMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nHigher: eggs hatch sooner<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    BabyMatureSpeedMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nHigher: babies grow up sooner<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    BabyCuddleIntervalMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nLower: imprint care comes round more often<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    BabyImprintAmountMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nHigher: more imprint per care session<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    LayEggIntervalMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nLower: eggs laid more often<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
    Speed up maturing without lowering the cuddle interval and babies grow up before anyone can finish imprinting them. Change the two together.<\/p>\n
    PvE, PvP and survival rules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Setting<\/th>\nDefault<\/th>\nWhat it does<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    ServerPVE<\/code><\/td>\nFalse<\/td>\nTrue turns PvP off<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    AllowCaveBuildingPvE<\/code><\/td>\nFalse<\/td>\nLets PvE players build in caves<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    DisableStructureDecayPvE<\/code><\/td>\nFalse<\/td>\nTrue stops abandoned PvE bases decaying<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    PvEStructureDecayPeriodMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nScales how long PvE structures take to decay<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    PreventOfflinePvP<\/code><\/td>\nFalse<\/td>\nTrue turns on offline raid protection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    ServerHardcore<\/code><\/td>\nFalse<\/td>\nTrue sends characters back to level 1 on death<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    bDisableFriendlyFire<\/code> (Game.ini)<\/td>\nFalse<\/td>\nTrue stops damage between tribemates, their tames and structures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
    Quality of life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Setting<\/th>\nDefault<\/th>\nWhat it does<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    ShowMapPlayerLocation<\/code><\/td>\nTrue<\/td>\nShows your own position on the map<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    AllowThirdPersonPlayer<\/code><\/td>\nTrue<\/td>\nAllows third-person view<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    ServerCrosshair<\/code><\/td>\nTrue<\/td>\nShows the crosshair<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    ShowFloatingDamageText<\/code><\/td>\nFalse<\/td>\nTrue shows damage numbers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    DayCycleSpeedScale<\/code> \/ DayTimeSpeedScale<\/code> \/ NightTimeSpeedScale<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nSpeed of the whole day, of daytime, and of night<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    bAllowUnlimitedRespecs<\/code> (Game.ini)<\/td>\nFalse<\/td>\nTrue removes the 24-hour Mindwipe Tonic cooldown<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    SupplyCrateLootQualityMultiplier<\/code> (Game.ini)<\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\nBetter loot in supply crates, from 1.0 to 5.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
    Limits that keep the server healthy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Setting<\/th>\nDefault<\/th>\nWhat it does<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    MaxTamedDinos<\/code><\/td>\n5000<\/td>\nTame cap for the whole server<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    MaxPersonalTamedDinos<\/code><\/td>\n0 (off)<\/td>\nTame cap per tribe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    TheMaxStructuresInRange<\/code><\/td>\n10500<\/td>\nStructures allowed within one area<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    MaxPlatformSaddleStructureLimit<\/code><\/td>\n75<\/td>\nPlatform saddles and rafts per map<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    MaxNumberOfPlayersInTribe<\/code> (Game.ini)<\/td>\n0 (no limit)<\/td>\nTribe size cap<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    AutoSavePeriodMinutes<\/code><\/td>\n15<\/td>\nMinutes between world saves<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    PreventDownloadSurvivors<\/code> \/ Dinos<\/code> \/ Items<\/code><\/td>\nFalse<\/td>\nBlocks characters, tames or items arriving from elsewhere<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    RCONEnabled<\/code> \/ RCONPort<\/code><\/td>\nFalse \/ 27020<\/td>\nRemote admin over RCON<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
    Best server settings for ARK: Survival Ascended<\/h2>\n
    The best settings are the ones that fit how often your group plays. Default 1x rates are slow going for a group with a few hours a week. A tribe that meets two evenings a week usually wants taming, harvesting and breeding sped up, so progress doesn’t stall between sessions. Treat these presets as starting points, then tune one setting at a time.<\/p>\n
    Small tribe, PvE, a few evenings a week<\/h3>\n
    ; GameUserSettings.ini\n[ServerSettings]\nServerPVE=True\nXPMultiplier=2.0\nTamingSpeedMultiplier=3.0\nHarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0\nAllowCaveBuildingPvE=True\nDisableStructureDecayPvE=True\nShowFloatingDamageText=True<\/code><\/pre>\n
    ; Game.ini\n[\/script\/shootergame.shootergamemode]\nMatingIntervalMultiplier=0.25\nEggHatchSpeedMultiplier=4.0\nBabyMatureSpeedMultiplier=4.0\nBabyCuddleIntervalMultiplier=0.25<\/code><\/pre>\n
    PvP with offline raid protection<\/h3>\n
    ; GameUserSettings.ini\n[ServerSettings]\nServerPVE=False\nPreventOfflinePvP=True\nXPMultiplier=2.0\nTamingSpeedMultiplier=2.0\nHarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0\nOverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0<\/code><\/pre>\n
    One or two players<\/h3>\n
    For a duo, try bUseSingleplayerSettings=True<\/code> in Game.ini<\/code>. The game then balances its settings for an individual player, much like its own single player mode does.<\/p>\n
    ARK: Survival Ascended boosted server settings: 3x, 5x and 10x<\/h2>\n
    A boosted server is one with raised rates. “5x” usually means taming, harvesting and XP at 5.0, with breeding sped up to match. Raise rates together so nothing lags behind, and lift stack sizes once harvesting is high, or inventories fill and players hit weight limits within minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Setting<\/th>\n3x<\/th>\n5x<\/th>\n10x<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    XPMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n3.0<\/td>\n5.0<\/td>\n10.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    TamingSpeedMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n3.0<\/td>\n5.0<\/td>\n10.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    HarvestAmountMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n3.0<\/td>\n5.0<\/td>\n10.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    ItemStackSizeMultiplier<\/code><\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\n2.0<\/td>\n3.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    MatingIntervalMultiplier<\/code> (Game.ini)<\/td>\n0.33<\/td>\n0.2<\/td>\n0.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    EggHatchSpeedMultiplier<\/code> (Game.ini)<\/td>\n3.0<\/td>\n5.0<\/td>\n10.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    BabyMatureSpeedMultiplier<\/code> (Game.ini)<\/td>\n3.0<\/td>\n5.0<\/td>\n10.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    BabyCuddleIntervalMultiplier<\/code> (Game.ini)<\/td>\n0.33<\/td>\n0.2<\/td>\n0.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
    The pattern is simple: multipliers go up by the boost, and intervals go down by the same factor. Stack sizes are a judgment call, so raise them until the inventory stops being the bottleneck.<\/p>\n
    Official server settings, and how to match them<\/h2>\n
    Official servers take their multipliers from a dynamic config file that Studio Wildcard updates for evolution events, so official rates rise during an event and drop back afterwards. Outside an event they are plain 1x: when we read the file in late October 2026, every multiplier in it was 1.0. The file uses the same setting names as your own server, so to copy an event’s rates, put each value it lists on the matching line.<\/p>\n
    ; GameUserSettings.ini  [ServerSettings]\nTamingSpeedMultiplier=\nHarvestAmountMultiplier=\nXPMultiplier=\n\n; Game.ini  [\/script\/shootergame.shootergamemode]\nMatingIntervalMultiplier=\nEggHatchSpeedMultiplier=\nBabyMatureSpeedMultiplier=\nBabyCuddleIntervalMultiplier=\nBabyImprintAmountMultiplier=<\/code><\/pre>\n
    Using an ARK: Survival Ascended server config generator<\/h2>\n
    A server config generator is a web form that writes these same lines for you. It saves typing, but it can’t see your server, so check its output before you paste it in. It’s easy to get an ASE-era setting or a line under the wrong header. Five checks catch nearly every problem.<\/p>\n