Menu
  Log out
 

ARK: Survival Ascended Server Migration Guide

Ark Guide • Updated Feb 27, 2026

ARK: Survival Ascended Server Migration Guide

ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) rebuilt the game on Unreal Engine 5, meaning the old ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE) save format is incompatible. However, a structured migration process exists. This guide walks through the official and community-developed pathways to preserve your tribe's progress, tamed dinos, and base structures when making the leap from ASE to ASA dedicated servers.

⚠️ Format Incompatibility

ASE's older .arktribe and .arkprofile formats cannot be directly loaded in ASA. Character re-creation or profile conversion tools are required.

🦕 Dino Export

Use the community Dino Export / Import feature (enabled in server config) to transfer tamed creatures via encoded dossiers before switching server app IDs.

Step 1: Backup Everything from ASE

Before installing ASA, locate the old save directory and archive all files:

~/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/
  - TheIsland.ark       ← World save
  - TheIsland_WildDinos.arkworld
  - Players/            ← Individual .arkprofile files
  - tribes/             ← .arktribe files

Step 2: Install ARK: Survival Ascended Dedicated Server

ASA uses a new Steam App ID (2430930). Update via SteamCMD:

steamcmd +login anonymous \
  +app_update 2430930 validate \
  +quit

Step 3: Configuration Adjustments

ASA's GameUserSettings.ini shares many parameters with ASE, but some keys have changed. Key differences to review:

  • NaniteEnabled=True — Enable UE5 Nanite geometry at the cost of RAM
  • MaxOutgoingTransferBuffer=10000 — Increase for ASA's larger asset sizes
  • CleanupDinoCountBuffer=20 — Prevents dino memory leaks with large populations

Cluster Migration: If you cluster ASA servers (cross-ARK travel), ensure all nodes in the cluster run the same ASA build version. Mismatched builds cause corrupted character transfers.

Step 4: Performance Tuning for UE5

ASA is significantly more resource-intensive than ASE. For a smooth 20-player experience, allocate at minimum:

  • RAM: 16 GB dedicated (32 GB recommended for modded)
  • CPU: 8 physical cores at 3.5 GHz+ (UE5 is multi-threaded but favors fast clock speeds)
  • Storage: NVMe SSD—ASA map files exceed 20 GB

Professional Hosting

Making the jump to ASA? Launch your ARK: Survival Ascended server with Supercraft and get pre-configured UE5 settings, automated backups, and one-click updates.

← Back to Ark Guides
Top