Ready to dive into the prehistoric world of ARK: Survival Ascended with friends? Whether you’re hunting dinosaurs together or building an unstoppable base, multiplayer servers are where the real adventure begins. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to find, join, and thrive on ARK: Survival Ascended multiplayer servers — step by step.
How to Find & Join a Multiplayer Server in ARK: Survival Ascended
Joining a multiplayer server in ARK: Survival Ascended is straightforward once you know the steps. Launch the game and select “Join Game” from the main menu. From there, click the “Unofficial” category and type your desired server name into the search bar. Once the server list refreshes, locate your server, select it, and press the “Join” button in the bottom-right corner to connect. Note: if the server runs mods, you may see an additional confirmation prompt — simply follow it to proceed.
Searching for Your Server: Tips & Filters
Can’t spot your server right away? Don’t worry — the unofficial server list can take a few minutes to fully refresh. Make sure “Show Player Servers” is enabled in your filter options. If your server is password-protected, also toggle on “Show Password Protected Servers” so it appears in the results. Double-check that all other filters are set correctly, then hit Refresh to reload the list.
How to Connect Directly via IP (Console Command)
If your server doesn’t appear in the browser, you can connect directly using the in-game console. First, go to Settings → Advanced and enable Console Access. Then open the console by pressing the tilde (~) key on PC, or the menu/options button on Xbox or PS5. Type the command: open IP:PORT (for example: open 123.456.789.0:7777) and press Enter. Wait about 30 seconds for the game to establish the connection. You can find server IP addresses using tools like BattleMetrics.
Supported Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5 & Xbox
ARK: Survival Ascended supports cross-platform multiplayer across PC (Steam/Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox. The server-joining process is consistent across all platforms — navigate to “Join Game,” browse the Unofficial server list, and connect. Console players open the in-game console using the menu or options button instead of the keyboard tilde key.
Understanding Server Types: Official, Unofficial & Non-Dedicated
ARK: Survival Ascended offers three main ways to play multiplayer. Official servers are run by Studio Wildcard with default settings. Unofficial servers are community-hosted with custom rules, mods, and rates — perfect for a tailored experience. Non-Dedicated sessions let you host a game directly from your own PC, though they come with a tether distance limiting how far other players can roam from the host. For the best multiplayer experience without restrictions, a dedicated server — either rented or self-hosted — is the recommended choice.
Troubleshooting: Server Not Showing Up or Can’t Connect?