Is ARK: Survival Ascended Cross-Platform? (2026 Crossplay Status)
Short answer: Partially. PS5 and Xbox play together on every official ASA server. PC-to-console is blocked on official PvP (still, since January 2024, anti-cheat work in progress). Unofficial servers can enable any combination with the -ServerPlatform flag, but you lose Workshop mods if console players will join.
ARK: Survival Ascended Crossplay Compatibility (2026)
| Platform A | Platform B | Official Servers | Unofficial Servers |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 | Xbox Series X|S | Yes | Yes |
| PC (Steam / Epic) | PC (Steam / Epic) | Yes | Yes |
| PC (Steam / Epic) | PS5 | PvE yes, PvP no | Yes (admin sets -ServerPlatform=All or PC+PS5) |
| PC (Steam / Epic) | Xbox Series X|S | PvE yes, PvP no | Yes (admin sets -ServerPlatform=All or PC+XSX) |
| Steam | Epic Games Store | Yes (same PC pool) | Yes |
| Non-dedicated sessions | Any other platform | No (single-platform only) | No |
What "Disabled on Official PvP" Actually Means
Studio Wildcard pulled PC access to official PvP servers in January 2024 after a wave of cheating reports overwhelmed manual moderation. The official statement framed it as a temporary measure while Studio Wildcard, Microsoft, and BattlEye built a robust anti-cheat for the PC build.
That "temporary" is now two years old. As of 2026 the restriction is unchanged and there is no public timeline. PvE official servers were never affected; cross-platform PvE play between PC and console continues to work. The block is specifically on PvP.
What this means in practice:
- If you're on PvE, official servers give you PC + Xbox + PS5 crossplay with no setup.
- If you're on PvP, official servers split PC away from console. The fix is to use unofficial servers.
- If you don't care which, unofficial servers are more flexible across the board.
Enabling Crossplay on Your Own ASA Server
Unofficial (privately hosted) ASA servers can enable any platform combination the admin wants. The control is one launch argument: -ServerPlatform.
The -ServerPlatform Flag
| Flag value | Platforms allowed to connect |
|---|---|
-ServerPlatform=All | PC + Xbox + PS5 (recommended for friend groups) |
-ServerPlatform=PC+PS5 | PC and PS5 only |
-ServerPlatform=PC+XSX | PC and Xbox only |
-ServerPlatform=PS5+XSX | Console-only (default behavior on Nitrado console plans) |
| (flag omitted) | PC-only |
Example Launch Command
ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?listen?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=20 -ServerPlatform=All -EnableIdlePlayerKickThe ?-separated section before the dash is the standard ARK URL-style config; the dash-flags after are launch arguments. -ServerPlatform belongs in the launch-argument section.
How Players Join a Crossplay Server
- The server admin shares the connection IP and port (e.g.
123.45.67.89:7777). - PC players: open the in-game server browser, switch to the Unofficial PC tab, filter by name, or use the "Add to favorites" direct-IP path.
- Console players: in-game server browser, Unofficial tab, filter by name. Direct-IP join is not exposed in the console UI: name search is the only path on PS5 or Xbox.
- If your console can't see the server, the most common cause is the
-ServerPlatformflag not allowing your platform. Double-check the admin set it for your console.
The Mod Problem
This catches almost every crossplay group:
Mods are PC-only. The Workshop ecosystem doesn't ship to consoles. A server with -ServerPlatform=All that also has Workshop mods loaded will work for PC players but console clients fail to download the mod content and disconnect during the join handshake.
The choices, if your group includes console players:
- Run vanilla. Drop all mods. Console can join. The most reliable path.
- Run cosmetic-only mods. A handful of mods are config-only and don't ship binaries; some of these load on console. Verify each mod individually in the Workshop description before adding it to a mixed server.
- Split into two servers via a cluster: one modded PC-only, one vanilla all-platforms. Players who own both platforms can use the modded server with their PC character and the all-platforms server with their console character. Save data does not transfer between the two.
Cross-Save and Cross-Progression
| Combination | Cross-save |
|---|---|
| PS5 to Xbox Series X|S | Yes (official cross-save, set up via Studio Wildcard account link) |
| PC to console | No |
| Same platform, different accounts | No (character is account-bound) |
Common Crossplay Issues
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| "Console friend can't see my PC server" | Default -ServerPlatform is PC-only. Add -ServerPlatform=All and restart. |
| "PC friend can't see my Xbox-hosted server" | Xbox-hosted plans default to console-only. Switch the platform flag from the hosting panel. |
| "Workshop mods break the join for console players" | Console can't download Workshop mods. Run vanilla or split into a cluster. |
| "BattlEye keeps kicking console players" | Some PvP servers disable console crossplay explicitly via a separate flag. Check the server description; switch servers if needed. |
| "PC players see the server but consoles don't" | If using a name-only search on console, the server name must be unique enough to surface in results. Rename the server to something distinctive. |
Hosting ASA Crossplay (2026 Options)
Self-hosted on PC via SteamCMD
Free if you have spare PC hardware and a wired internet connection. You manage updates, port forwarding, and uptime yourself. The launch flag works as documented above.
Rented dedicated server
The supported path for stable mixed groups. Most providers expose -ServerPlatform as a panel toggle, removing the need to edit launch arguments by hand. Hosting plans differ on whether they allow PC + console mix or split them by tier.
Nitrado console plans
Officially supported on Xbox and PS5 but default to console-only crossplay. PC inclusion is a configuration change in the panel.
Will PC-to-Console PvP Crossplay Ever Come Back?
Studio Wildcard has not committed to a restoration date. The official anti-cheat workstream with Microsoft and BattlEye continues to be referenced in patch notes but without a public milestone. The realistic expectation is "when it ships, it ships." Don't plan a PvP group around its return.
Run an ASA Server Where Crossplay Just Works
If you'd rather skip the launch-flag dance and the Nitrado console-only defaults, rent an ASA dedicated server with Supercraft. -ServerPlatform is exposed in the panel, PC + console mixing is the default for friend-group plans, and the mod-vs-console tradeoff is documented up front so you don't lose three evenings to it.
Related ARK Guides
Looking for managed ARK: Survival Evolved server hosting? Supercraft runs ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated servers with daily backups, instant setup, and 5 region options. Plans from $5.99/mo.