On an ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE) dedicated server, enable an event by adding -ActiveEvent=<eventname> to the server startup command, then restarting the server. For example:
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ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?SessionName=MyServer -ActiveEvent=WinterWonderlandThe switch belongs in the launch command (or the equivalent startup field in a managed hosting panel), not in Game.ini. ASE accepts one active event at a time. Event assets are patch-dependent: the configuration reference identifies WinterWonderland as the only event still fully working, while several older identifiers may change colors or activate only legacy content.
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What the ActiveEvent switch does
ActiveEvent tells the ASE server which event rules, colors, and event assets to load during startup. It is a command-line argument, so the server must receive it every time it starts. Changing an unrelated configuration file will not add the switch to the running process.
The dedicated-server executable is ShooterGameServer.exe. The usual command starts with that executable, names a map, adds map/session options, and then adds the event argument. A minimal example is:
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ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?SessionName=MyServer -ActiveEvent=WinterWonderlandOnly one event can be specified at once. Do not append several -ActiveEvent arguments and expect them to combine; choose one value. If you need to remove an event reference, use -ActiveEvent=None and restart.
Check these requirements before changing the server
- Confirm the game edition. This procedure is for ARK: Survival Evolved. ARK: Survival Ascended uses different event handling, and an ASE command should not be assumed to work there.
- Obtain startup access. You need permission to edit the Windows batch file, Linux shell/service definition, container entry point, or hosting-panel startup field that launches the server.
- Record the current command. Copy the existing launch line before editing it so you can restore map, port, cluster, and other options if a syntax error prevents startup.
- Pick an identifier supported by your build. Event names and assets can change with patches. A name that existed in an earlier event cycle may now provide only colors or no visible content.
- Plan a full restart. The event switch is read during process startup. Saving a file while the server is running does not reload it.
Enable an event on a self-managed dedicated server
1. Find the real startup command
Locate the command that actually launches the ASE server. Common locations include a .bat file on Windows, a shell script on Linux, a systemd service, a Docker or other container entry point, or a control panel’s startup template. The command may contain additional map and server options, so edit the existing line rather than replacing it with a short example.
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2. Add the argument after the map and existing options
Append a space followed by the switch. Replace the value with one identifier from the supported list:
-ActiveEvent=WinterWonderlandA complete Windows-style line might look like this:
ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?SessionName=MyServer -ActiveEvent=WinterWonderlandThe map and session name in this example are only examples. Keep your server’s existing map, query parameters, ports, cluster settings, and passwords unchanged.
3. Save the file or startup setting
Save the batch file, shell script, service unit, or panel field. If a service manager generates the command from an environment variable or template, change the source value rather than editing a generated log line.
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4. Stop and start the server completely
Use a normal stop, allow the process to exit, and start it again. A panel’s “restart” action is sufficient only if it really stops and relaunches the server with the edited command. A map reload or player reconnect is not enough.
5. Confirm the argument was retained
Inspect the startup log, process command line, or panel-generated launch details. You should see the server starting with the selected -ActiveEvent=... value. If a hosting panel rewrites the command, verify that the value remains after the restart rather than assuming the form submission was applied.
Event identifiers and what they mean today
The ASE configuration reference lists the following values. The “current expectation” column is deliberately cautious because event support is tied to the game build and the assets shipped with it.
| Identifier | Use | Current expectation |
|---|---|---|
ark7th |
Seventh-anniversary event identifier | Legacy or patch-dependent; do not promise former rewards or creatures. |
ARKaeology |
ARKaeology event identifier | Legacy; may not reproduce the original event content. |
birthday |
Birthday event identifier in the configuration table | Patch-dependent. Follow the capitalization used by the announcement and server build. |
Easter |
Easter event identifier | Legacy or limited support may remain. |
FearEvolved |
Fear Evolved event identifier | Legacy; verify the current patch before expecting Halloween creatures, items, or rates. |
ExtinctionChronicles |
Extinction Chronicles identifier | Patch-dependent legacy content. |
PAX |
PAX event identifier | Legacy; support is not guaranteed. |
Summer |
Summer event identifier | Legacy or partial behavior may occur. |
TurkeyTrial |
Turkey Trial event identifier | Legacy; verify assets and mechanics in the current build. |
vday |
Valentine’s Day event identifier | Legacy or partial behavior may occur. |
WinterWonderland |
Winter event identifier | The configuration reference identifies this as the only event still fully working. |
None |
Removes the active-event reference | Use when disabling an event and clearing the reference on restart. |
Studio Wildcard’s Community Crunch 460, dated May 30, 2025, explicitly documented manual activation for a birthday event: “This event can be manually activated with the dedicated server arg parameter: -ActiveEvent=Birthday.” That announcement uses a capital B, whereas the configuration table lists birthday. Treat the announcement and the identifier table as build-specific guidance: copy the spelling shown for your release, and check the startup log after restarting.
Community Crunch 461 also described an anniversary event that unofficial server owners could apply with -ActiveEvent=Anniversary and noted an Active Events drop-down for Host/Single-Player. Because Anniversary is not in the core identifier list above, do not assume it will work indefinitely; use it only when the current event announcement and your installed build support it.
Using Host/Single-Player instead of a dedicated server
The Host/Single-Player interface does not use the same editing workflow as a standalone dedicated server. When an event announcement provides one, use the in-game Active Events drop-down in the Host/Single-Player setup screen. Select the event before launching the session and apply the setting through that interface.
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A Host/Single-Player selection should not be treated as proof that the identical value is available in every dedicated-server build. Conversely, adding a dedicated-server argument to a local shortcut does not automatically configure a Host/Single-Player session. Choose the workflow that matches how your world is being launched.
Entering the setting in a managed hosting panel
Managed providers expose the same launch argument through different interfaces. Look for a field named ActiveEvent, Active Event, or a startup-parameter editor under general settings, configuration, or launch options. If the panel has a dedicated ActiveEvent field, enter only the value, such as WinterWonderland, unless the panel specifically asks for the complete -ActiveEvent=... argument.
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- Open the server’s general settings or startup-parameter page.
- Set the ActiveEvent value using the panel’s documented format.
- Save the setting.
- Start or restart the server.
- Inspect the generated startup command or panel log to confirm that the argument was retained.
Do not invent a new parameter name when a panel already supplies an ActiveEvent control. Labels, capitalization, and supported values can change, so use the provider’s current documentation for the exact field location. If the panel silently removes an unsupported value, the generated command or startup log will reveal that problem.
Disable an event cleanly
To stop using an event, change the launch argument to:
-ActiveEvent=NoneSave the startup setting and perform a full restart. The configuration reference recommends this value when you want to remove unwanted event references from server memory. Simply deleting a line from an unrelated .ini file does not undo an event argument that is still present in the launch command.
Disabling an event does not guarantee that every creature, item, or cosmetic already spawned in the world will disappear. The switch controls what the server loads on startup; persistent world data and player inventories can have their own lifecycle. Make a backup before changing event state if the world contains valuable event-generated items.
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Use event colors without enabling the full event
If your goal is only event-colored wild creatures, do not activate a complete event and assume that color changes are harmless. ASE provides an ActiveEventColors setting through DynamicConfig for color-only behavior.
DynamicConfig requirements
- Add
-UseDynamicConfigto the server startup command. - Provide
CustomDynamicConfigUrlpointing to the configuration file. - Host the file on a web server over HTTP.
- Serve the file with a
text/plainMIME type.
The server checks the DynamicConfig file when the world is saved. An administrator can request an immediate refresh with the ForceUpdateDynamicConfig command instead of waiting for the next save cycle. Follow the DynamicConfig syntax for ActiveEventColors exactly; a malformed file can leave the setting unchanged.
Color changes alone do not prove that the complete event is active. A server can show an event palette while lacking the event’s former creatures, loot tables, rates, or cosmetics. This separation is useful when you want a seasonal appearance without loading legacy event behavior.
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The server is actually ARK: Survival Ascended
ASE uses ShooterGameServer.exe and the documented ActiveEvent switch. ASA handles events differently. Confirm the executable, server branch, and game version before changing syntax.
The value is misspelled or uses the wrong capitalization
Compare the value character by character with the identifier table and the current event announcement. Avoid spaces, punctuation, and multiple values. For example, use WinterWonderland, not a translated name or a phrase such as “Winter Wonderland.” For announcement-specific events, use the capitalization shown for that build.
The argument was pasted into Game.ini
-ActiveEvent=... is a launch argument, not a normal Game.ini entry. Remove it from the unrelated file and place it in the actual startup command or the panel’s startup field.
The server was not fully restarted
Stop the process and launch it again. Players reconnecting to an already-running world will not cause the executable to parse a new command-line argument.
The host panel discarded the setting
Some panels validate values or regenerate startup commands. After saving, inspect the generated command, environment variables, or startup log. If the argument is absent, use the panel’s documented ActiveEvent control or contact the provider with the exact generated command.
The event is legacy in the current patch
The configuration reference says WinterWonderland is the only event still fully working and warns that older entries may affect only colors or legacy content. A correctly parsed argument can therefore produce fewer visible changes than players remember from an earlier year. Check the current Studio Wildcard event announcement and patch notes before troubleshooting syntax.
You wanted colors, not the complete event
If colored wild creatures are present but event creatures, items, or rates are not, the server may be using ActiveEventColors or a legacy color path rather than a full event. Decide which outcome you want and configure DynamicConfig accordingly.
The map or server process is different from the one you edited
Multi-map clusters often have separate startup commands or service instances. Verify the process for the affected map, not just a central script that may launch another service. Check the command line and log for the map and event value together.
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Choose the right activation method
| Situation | Best control | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Self-managed ASE dedicated server | -ActiveEvent=<eventname> in the startup command |
Requires a complete restart and a supported event value. |
| Managed server panel with an ActiveEvent field | The provider’s ActiveEvent setting | Panel labels and accepted values vary; verify the generated command. |
| Host/Single-Player session | Active Events drop-down when supplied by the current build | This interface is separate from dedicated-server startup arguments. |
| Event-colored wild creatures only | ActiveEventColors through DynamicConfig |
Requires DynamicConfig flags, an HTTP text/plain file, and a save or forced update. |
| Remove an event reference | -ActiveEvent=None |
Requires saving the startup setting and restarting. |
Patch-aware operating checklist
- Read the current event announcement for the exact event name and whether manual activation is supported.
- Confirm that the announcement applies to ASE rather than ASA.
- Use one event value only.
- Keep the switch in the startup command or provider startup field.
- Restart the complete server process.
- Check the generated command or startup log.
- Allow for legacy behavior: a parsed value may alter colors without restoring historical event mechanics.
- Use DynamicConfig when the desired result is only an event color palette.
- Use
-ActiveEvent=Nonewhen you want to clear the event reference. - Back up the world before major event changes, especially on a long-running server with valuable seasonal items.
What a successful configuration looks like
A successful setup has three parts: the server is ASE, the launch command contains one correctly spelled ActiveEvent value, and the process has been restarted with that command. The log or generated startup details should show the argument. In-game results then depend on the event assets included in that patch. WinterWonderland is the safest choice when you need the event identified as fully working by the configuration reference; older events require a current-build check rather than an assumption that their original content remains available.
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