ARK Survival Ascended: Hosting the Astraeos Map — Complete Server Setup Guide
The Astraeos expansion is a paid DLC map for ARK: Survival Ascended featuring a Greek mythology-inspired world of ruined temples, astral creatures, and mythic boss encounters. The Pyranthos desert landmass was added on February 25, 2026, expanding the map significantly with new hostile terrain, hidden pathways, and new tameable creatures including the Grand Tortugar — a massive amphibious beast that can serve as a mobile base.
This guide covers everything you need to host an Astraeos server, from the correct launch code to cluster integration and performance tuning.
DLC requirement: Astraeos is a paid DLC. The server itself does not require the admin to own the DLC, but all players connecting to an Astraeos map must own the expansion to join.
Prerequisites
- ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server installed via SteamCMD (App ID:
2430930) - Server is updated to the latest version (check SteamDB for current build)
- Astraeos DLC content downloaded (included in the server update automatically)
- Minimum 12 GB RAM for Astraeos (map is larger than TheIsland)
The Map Code: Getting It Right
The single most common issue when setting up an Astraeos server is using the wrong map identifier. The correct code is:
Case-sensitive: The map code is case-sensitive. astraeos_wp, Astraeos, or ASTRAEOS_WP will all fail. You must use exactly Astraeos_WP. The _WP suffix (World Partition) is required for all ASA maps.
Launch Command (Linux)
Launch Command (Windows)
GameUserSettings.ini Configuration
The main configuration file is located at:
- Linux:
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini - Windows:
ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\GameUserSettings.ini
Key settings for an Astraeos server:
Adding Mods to Astraeos
Astraeos itself is a mod (CurseForge mod ID: the Astraeos listing). Additional mods are specified in the launch command using the -mods= argument:
Mod order matters: Place Astraeos at the start of the mod list if you need it to load before other mods. Conflicts between Astraeos creature spawns and other spawn-modifying mods (like Primal Fear or Ark Additions) are the most common issue — check each mod's compatibility notes.
Cluster Setup: Adding Astraeos to an Existing Cluster
Many admins want to add Astraeos as a second (or third) map in a cluster alongside TheIsland, Aberration, or other maps. The process is the same as any ASA cluster:
- Choose a shared
clusteridname — every server in the cluster must use the same value - Set a shared
clusterdiroverridepath where cluster data is stored:
Port conflicts: Every server in a cluster must use a unique set of ports (Port, QueryPort, RCONPort). The most common cluster setup issue is two servers sharing the same port.
Pyranthos Expansion: What Server Admins Should Know
The Pyranthos landmass added in February 2026 significantly expanded the Astraeos map. Key considerations for server admins:
New Creatures and Taming
- Grand Tortugar — Tameable, acts as a mobile base with openable/closeable carapace. Very large entity; limit player-owned Grand Tortugars per tribe if performance is a concern.
- Manticore — Boss creature. Does not persist on the map; spawns only during boss encounters.
- Hydraskos the Unbroken — Five-headed hydra boss. Spawns in the Pyranthos desert interior. High CPU cost during the encounter due to complex AI.
Performance During Boss Fights
The new boss encounters in Pyranthos (especially Hydraskos) are CPU-intensive due to multi-part boss entity simulation. On servers with 30+ players, boss fight periods may cause temporary TPS drops. Mitigation:
Performance Tuning for Astraeos
| Setting | File | Recommended Value | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| MaxPlayers | Launch arg | 20–40 | Astraeos is large — 30 is a comfortable cap for most hardware |
| MaxStructuresInRange | Game.ini | 6000 | Limits structure density; prevents mega-base TPS drops |
| TheMaxStructuresInRange | GameUserSettings.ini | 6000 | Same as above for older config paths |
| ServerAutoForceRespawnWildDinosInterval | Game.ini | 86400 | Respawn wild dinos every 24 hours; prevents stale spawns in Pyranthos |
Expected Hardware for Astraeos
| Players | RAM | CPU |
|---|---|---|
| 1–10 | 12 GB | 4 cores @ 3.5 GHz |
| 10–30 | 24 GB | 8 cores @ 3.5 GHz |
| 30–50 | 32 GB | 12 cores @ 4.0 GHz |
Astraeos's Unreal Engine 5 world partition system means the server only loads map sections near active players. A 30-player server where players are spread across the map costs less CPU than 30 players concentrated in one zone.
Want a one-click Astraeos server with pre-configured settings and automatic mod updates? Supercraft ARK: Survival Ascended hosting supports all ASA maps including Astraeos.