How to Play ARK Survival Ascended with Friends (2026)

To play ARK: Survival Ascended with friends, either host a non dedicated session from your own game, which is free but tethers everyone to the host and runs only while you play, or use a dedicated server, which stays online, has no tether and supports crossplay between PC, Xbox and PlayStation. Once in the same world, create a tribe so you share tames, structures and doors.

What are the ways to play ARK Survival Ascended with friends?

The short version: a non dedicated session is fine for a weekend with one friend on the same platform. For a tribe that plays on different schedules, wants dinos to mature overnight or mixes PC and console, a dedicated server is the answer.

How does a non dedicated session work?

A non dedicated session runs the server inside the host's game. The host starts a world from the main menu as a hosted session instead of single player, sets a password and the game rules, and friends join from the Join Game list.

It has real limits:

• Tether distance. Other players must stay within a set distance of the host, because the host's game only simulates the area around them. Wander too far and you are pulled back. That makes splitting up to farm or tame on opposite sides of the map impossible.
• The world only runs while the host plays. Crops do not grow, babies do not mature and nobody else can log in when the host is offline.
• The host's PC does double duty. It renders the game and runs the server, and ASA is already heavy on both.
• No crossplay. Everyone has to be on the same platform as the host.
• Same version and mods. Every player needs the exact same game version and mods as the host.

If your group outgrows any of these, move the save to a dedicated server. Our guide on transferring an ARK single player save to a server covers the files.

Should we play on official or our own server?

Official servers are run by Studio Wildcard at default rates. They are free and always on, but you share them with strangers, you cannot change rates, and on PvP servers your base can be wiped while you sleep. Taming a high level dino at official rates also takes a long time, which is hard for groups with jobs.

Your own server changes all of that:

• Rates. Faster XP, taming and harvesting make ARK fit a few evenings a week.
• PvE. Turn off player damage so the tribe can build without raids.
• Privacy. A password or whitelist keeps strangers out.
• Mods. Add CurseForge mods, including cross platform ones for console friends.

How do friends join an ARK dedicated server?

1. Launch ARK: Survival Ascended and click Join Game.
2. Switch the list to Unofficial and turn on Show Player Servers.
3. Search for the server name, click Join and enter the password if there is one.
4. On PC, you can also press Tab on the main menu and type the address:

open 203.0.113.10:7777

Xbox and PlayStation players cannot type an address, so they always join from the list. A new server can take a few minutes to show up. If it never appears, see ARK server not showing up.

Can PC and console friends play ARK together?

Yes, on dedicated servers. ASA servers accept Steam, the Microsoft Store version on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 by default, controlled by the -ServerPlatform launch option (ARK wiki). Non dedicated sessions do not support crossplay. Two things to watch: every mod on the server must be marked cross platform, or console players cannot join, and console players can only find the server through the list. Our ARK Survival Ascended crossplay server guide covers the details.

How do I make a tribe with my friends?

A tribe shares ownership of tames and structures, so everyone can ride the dinos, open the doors and use the storage. Without one, your friends' dinos attack you and your doors stay locked to them.

1. Open your inventory and go to the Tribe Manager.
2. Create a tribe and give it a name.
3. Look at a friend and use the interaction menu to invite them to the tribe.
4. They accept, and they are in.

Set tribe ranks so new members cannot release dinos or demolish the base. On a server, the MaxNumberOfPlayersInTribe setting caps tribe size if you want small tribes only.

What settings should a friends server change?

These live in GameUserSettings.ini under [ServerSettings]. Edit with the server stopped, because it rewrites the file when it shuts down.

[ServerSettings]
XPMultiplier=2.0
TamingSpeedMultiplier=3.0
HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0
ServerPVE=True

Breeding and maturation speeds sit in Game.ini. Raise them gently, since more dinos means more server load. The full list is in best ARK Survival Ascended server settings, and the sizing side is in ARK server requirements.

How do I become admin on our server?

Open the console with Tab and type enablecheats followed by the admin password. On Xbox and PlayStation, turn on Console Access in the advanced settings first, then use the controller combo. The command list is in ARK Survival Ascended admin commands.

Playing ARK with friends on GamezServers

A dedicated ARK server is heavy: 12 GB of RAM at minimum, a Windows machine (or Proton on Linux) and a PC that stays on for dinos to mature. Our ARK: Survival Ascended hosting starts at 29.99 USD a month for 12 GB and 10 slots, with 16 GB at 39.99 USD as the pick for most tribes. XP, taming, harvest, PvE, password and whitelist are panel settings, it is cross platform, and your tribe can each pay a share from a link. New customers get 50% off the first month on monthly plans.

FAQ

Can you play ARK Survival Ascended with friends for free?

Yes. Host a non dedicated session from your game, or join an official or community server together. Non dedicated sessions only run while the host plays and tether everyone to the host.

Does ARK Survival Ascended have a tether in multiplayer?

Only in non dedicated sessions, where players must stay near the host. Dedicated servers have no tether.

Can PC and Xbox or PS5 friends play ARK together?

Yes, on a dedicated server with only cross platform mods. Non dedicated sessions do not support crossplay.

Do my friends need to own ARK Survival Ascended?

Yes. Every player needs their own copy of the game. A dedicated server itself needs no license.

How do I share dinos with my friends in ARK?

Join the same tribe. Tribe members share ownership of tames and structures, so everyone can ride the dinos and open the doors.