Modded ARK servers, mods by ID
Paste the IDs, press Restart, tame something new.
Survival Ascended mods come from CurseForge, and our panel has a box for them. Paste the project IDs, restart, and the server downloads every mod on start while players pick them up automatically when they join.
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- DDoS protected
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- Live the moment you pay
- Split the billUp to 10 friends, own cards
- Custom plansAny RAM up to 32 GB
- Prepaid or monthly3 days to 1 year
- Live in 60 secondsNo setup, no waiting
- Cancel any timeNo contracts, ever
Mods without the start line
One box instead of a launch line
On a self hosted server you add mods with a -mods= flag on the start line and hope you got the commas right. Here you open Settings, find CurseForge mod IDs and paste a list like 928708,929420, commas between them and no spaces. Press Restart and the panel adds the flag for you.
Use the Project ID from the About Project box on each mod page, not a file ID or the number in a download link. Mods listed first win when two of them change the same thing.
Mod maps in two settings
A mod map is two changes. Add the map's project ID to your mod list, then type the exact map name from its CurseForge page, usually ending in _WP, into the Map setting. Each map keeps its own save, so trying a mod map never deletes your Island or Ragnarok world.
The same Map setting switches between the built in maps too: TheIsland_WP, TheCenter_WP, ScorchedEarth_WP, Aberration_WP, Extinction_WP, Ragnarok_WP, Valguero_WP, Astraeos_WP, LostColony_WP and Genesis_WP.
Console tribemates can use mods too
Survival Ascended servers are cross platform, and Xbox and PlayStation players get your mods when they join, as long as every mod in the list is marked cross platform on CurseForge. One PC only mod locks console players out of the whole server, so check each one before you add it.
When a patch breaks a mod
The server updates the game on every restart, and a Studio Wildcard patch can stop a mod that is not updated yet. If the server will not start after a patch, take the newest mods out of the list one at a time until it does. Update on restart can be turned off to hold a version while you wait for a mod author, as a short term fix.
Removing a mod removes everything it added, tames included, so press Backup before you change the list. Your world is also backed up before every game update.
Memory for a heavy mod list
ARK idles at around 8 to 10 GB on The Island before anyone builds, and new creatures, structures and a mod map can add several GB more. Pro gives you 24 GB and room for up to 70 players for 59.99 USD a month, the comfortable size for heavy mod lists and large bases. A handful of mods runs well on Standard with 16 GB, and you can change plans any time.
Pick your ARK plan
Every plan is live the moment you pay. Upgrade or cancel from your dashboard any time.
Starter
12 GBThen $29.99/mo. $1.00 a day.
Splitting with 3 friends? $8.52 each/mo
- 12 GB RAM
- 3 vCPU cores
- Up to 5 players
- DDoS protection included
- 24/7 support
Standard
16 GBThen $39.99/mo. $1.33 a day.
Splitting with 3 friends? $11.02 each/mo
- 16 GB RAM
- 4 vCPU cores
- Up to 15 players
- DDoS protection included
- 24/7 support
Pro
24 GBThen $59.99/mo. $2.00 a day.
Splitting with 3 friends? $16.02 each/mo
- 24 GB RAM
- 6 vCPU cores
- Up to 35 players
- DDoS protection included
- 24/7 support
What comes set up on a ARK server
CurseForge by ID
Paste project IDs into the panel and the server downloads every mod on start.
Mod maps
Add the map's ID, type its name in Map, and every map keeps its own save.
Console friendly
Cross platform mods reach Xbox and PlayStation players when they join.
Backups before updates
Your world is backed up before game updates, and Backup is one click before a mod change.
24 GB for big packs
Pro has the memory for new creatures, structures and a mod map together.
Split the bill
Each tribemate pays their own share from a link, so nobody fronts the whole server.
A look inside ARK
Real screenshots from the game. Click any of them to see it full size.
This is the panel. Click around.
This is the ARK panel you get. Click any button, or type a command.
ARK Server
play.gamezservers.com:7777
[12:00:00] Starting ARK: Survival Ascended server
[12:00:03] Loading world
[12:00:06] Server started on port 7777
[12:00:09] Ready for players. Try a button.
Power
ARK actions
How to join your ARK 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 and click Join. Enter the password if you set one.
- 4
On PC you can also open the console and type open
203.0.113.24:7777and press Enter.
Common problems
Cannot find the server
Set the list to Unofficial and turn on Show Player Servers. A new server can take a few minutes to appear.
Joining from the PC console
Press Tab on the main menu, paste the open command from this page and press Enter.
Version mismatch
The server updates itself on every restart. After a game patch, restart the server and update the game on every device.
Stuck after adding a mod
Mod IDs are CurseForge project IDs separated by commas with no spaces. A mod that was removed or is not updated for the current patch can stop the server loading, so take it out and restart.
Server not responding
Make sure the server is online. Servers sleep after 4 days with nobody playing, and anyone with access can start them again from the dashboard in one click.
Use the server address
Do not use localhost, 127.0.0.1 or your own IP from a home hosting guide. Copy the exact address of the server.
No port forwarding or firewall changes
Opening ports on your router is only for hosting a server at home, so there is nothing to change to join this one. If Windows asks whether to let the game through the firewall, choose Allow.
Common questions
How do I add mods to my ARK server?
Copy the Project ID from each CurseForge mod page, paste the IDs into CurseForge mod IDs in Settings separated by commas with no spaces, and press Restart.
Do my friends need to download the mods first?
No. The game downloads the server's mods automatically when they join. The first join with a big list takes a little longer.
Can I use ARK Survival Evolved mods?
No. Survival Ascended runs on a different engine, so Steam Workshop mods from Survival Evolved do not work. Many popular mods have been rebuilt on CurseForge.
Can Xbox and PlayStation players join a modded server?
Yes, if every mod in the list supports console. One PC only mod blocks console players from joining.
Does removing a mod wipe my server?
Not the whole world, but everything that mod added disappears, including structures, items and tames. Take a backup first.
Which plan do I need for a modded ARK server?
Standard with 16 GB handles a few mods comfortably. Pick Pro with 24 GB for heavy mod lists, mod maps and large bases. You can upgrade later.
Why does ARK need so much RAM?
Survival Ascended is one of the heaviest servers around. 16 GB is the sweet spot for most tribes.
Can I run a cluster?
Not yet. Each server runs one map on its own, and characters and dinos cannot transfer between servers. You can switch a server to another map at any time.
Can console players join?
Yes. Survival Ascended servers are cross platform, so Xbox and PlayStation players can find your server under Unofficial with Show Player Servers turned on. Any mods you add need to support console too.
Can my friends and I split the cost?
Yes. At checkout choose "Me and my friends" and up to 10 people each pay their own share with their own card, on any plan length, from 3 days to a year. It is not a payment plan: nobody pays in parts over time, each friend simply pays their own share. You pay yours, send each friend their link, and the server starts straight away. Each share includes a $1 payment fee.
Can I build a custom plan?
Yes. Every game has a Build your own page: pick any amount of RAM up to 32 GB, any length from 3 days to 1 year, prepaid or a subscription, plus your server type and settings. A custom size costs 15% more per GB than the standard plans next to it.
Can I pay once instead of a subscription?
Yes. Pick Prepaid and pay once for 3 days, 30 days, 6 months or a year. Nothing renews: when the time is up the server pauses and keeps its world for 14 days. Add time or switch to a subscription from your panel any time. Short rentals cost more per day, since every server is set up from scratch.
How fast is setup, really?
Your server starts building the moment Stripe confirms payment. Most are online in under a minute, and the address and login appear on your dashboard automatically.
ARK servers for every crew
PvE servers
ARK PvE servers where nobody wipes your base
Tame and breed on your schedule, not a raider's.
Server for friends
A private ARK server for your tribe
No host tether, no strangers, no 10 hour tames.
Free servers
A free ARK server your tribe can actually run
A real dedicated Survival Ascended server, paid for by the people who click your link.
ARK server guides
ARK7 min readHow to Host an ARK Survival Ascended Server (Quick Start)
How to host an ARK: Survival Ascended server in minutes. Pick a plan, get your address, set rates in GameUserSettings.ini and add CurseForge mods.
ReadARK5 min readARK Ascended "Connection Timeout" After a Mod Update? Fix It
ARK Survival Ascended players time out joining right after a mod update. Why it happens and how to get the server and clients back in sync.
ReadARK5 min readHow to Roll Back an ARK Survival Ascended Server to an Earlier Save
Roll back an ARK Ascended dedicated server by restoring a timestamped .ark save, plus how to recover single players and tribes from .bak files.
ReadARK5 min readHow to Set a Tame Limit on an ARK Survival Ascended Server
Cap tames per tribe and server wide in ARK Ascended with MaxPersonalTamedDinos, MaxTamedDinos and the soft tame limit, with values that keep servers smooth.
ReadARK5 min readARK Survival Ascended Crossplay Server: PC, Xbox and PS5
How ARK Survival Ascended crossplay works on a server: Steam, Xbox and PS5 on one map, the -ServerPlatform option, cross platform mods and what breaks it.
ReadARK5 min readARK Survival Ascended Patch Notes: Cerberax, Astraeos 1.0 (2026)
ARK Survival Ascended patch notes for August to October 2026: Astraeos 1.0, Cerberax, Gargantar, Therizino TLC and the new GameUserSettings.ini options.
Read
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