Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo host ARK: Survival Evolved’s Genesis: Part 2, install the dedicated server with SteamCMD on a 64-bit Windows or Linux machine, launch the Gen2 map, configure the INI files, and make the server reachable through both the host firewall and router. Genesis 2 is estimated at 10–12.5 GiB for the map alone, so reserve additional space for the base server, saves, logs, updates, and mods.
Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted ARK: Survival Evolved servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
What you need before installing
A 64-bit Windows or Linux host
The ARK dedicated server runs on a 64-bit operating system. You can use a computer at home, a virtual private server, or a managed game-server service. Whichever model you choose, you need administrative access to install SteamCMD, write configuration files, open firewall rules, and restart the process.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Enough storage for more than the map
The ARK Official Community Wiki’s current setup information estimates the Genesis: Part 2 map at 10–12.5 GiB. That is not the complete storage requirement. The server installation, downloaded updates, save files, logs, crash files, and optional mods all consume additional space. Leave substantial free capacity so an update cannot fill the disk while the server is running.
A writable server directory
Place the server in a directory the service account can write to. The server must be able to create its save directory, update files, write logs, and download or update optional content. Read-only permissions are a common reason for missing saves and failed updates.
#1 Best Overall
- ARK: Survival Ascended has completely recreated and redesigned the artwork and worlds of ARK to take advantage of the latest in videogame technology, Unreal Engine 5, using high-end graphics features such as fully dynamic Global Illumination (“Lumen”), so that light bounces realistically of off surfaces and provides realistic reflections, and advanced mesh streaming (“Nanite”) of hundreds of millions of triangles for extreme detail.
- Advanced new physics systems such as dynamic water so that every creature creates waves, ripples, splashes, and bubbles as they move through fluids, and fully interactive physical foliage where every blade of grass, bush, and tree reacts to characters, explosions, projectiles, and physics objects.
- ARK: Survival Ascended includes access to all of ARK’s worlds, including Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, ARK Genesis Part 1, ARK Genesis Part 2, and more. The Island is released now, with the subsequent expansion worlds to be added at no additional cost on a regular basis.
- Thorough Quality of Life revamps in every area: redesigned User Interfaces, dynamic navigation for intelligent creature pathfinding, Wild Babies, Photo Mode, new Camera systems, new Map system, Tracking System, new Structures and Items, new Creatures, and much more.
- Cross-Platform Modding: Download & play new custom content created by players, including new maps, creatures, items, and game modes, through a dedicated new Mod-bowser directly within the game! Enjoy an endless stream of new ARK content as the creativity and talent of the community is fully unleashed for the first time ever across gaming platforms!
A reachable network connection
Self-hosting at home requires sufficient upstream bandwidth and an internet connection that accepts inbound traffic. Residential connections can use changing public IP addresses or carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT), either of which can prevent players from reaching the server. A VPS or managed host normally supplies a public address, but you still need to check its firewall and game-server support.
Choose home, VPS, or managed hosting
There is no universal best deployment. The right choice depends on how much administration you want to perform, whether you can expose ports safely, and how predictable your connection is.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →| Factor | Home computer | VPS | Managed game hosting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recurring cost | Prices are not established here; you provide the hardware, electricity, and internet service. | Provider pricing is not established here; you pay a recurring virtual-server fee. | Provider pricing and plan limits vary and must be verified before purchase. |
| Control of files and mods | Highest control over files, launch parameters, and mods. | High control, subject to the VPS operating system and provider policy. | Usually less low-level control, but a panel can simplify configuration and mod management. |
| Bandwidth and latency | Depends on your residential upstream connection, ISP routing, and household traffic. | Depends on the data-center location and the VPS network allocation. | Depends on the provider’s location, network, and selected plan. |
| Backups | You must create and test backups yourself. | You normally configure backups yourself unless the VPS plan includes them. | The provider may offer backups, but retention and restoration terms must be confirmed. |
| Updates | You install and schedule updates. | You administer the operating system and ARK files. | The provider may automate parts of the process, while you remain responsible for checking saves and mods. |
| Player capacity | No guaranteed capacity is established; it depends on the machine, settings, and network. | No guaranteed capacity is established; allocated CPU, memory, storage, and bandwidth are limiting factors. | Slot counts are plan-specific and must be checked before ordering. |
| Support | Your own troubleshooting and ISP support. | VPS infrastructure support; ARK administration remains yours. | Provider support may cover the panel or service, but not every mod or configuration problem. |
| Home-network exposure | Requires forwarding game ports to a computer on your private network and exposes that service to the internet. | No home router forwarding is needed, but the VPS still requires firewall rules. | Usually no home-router forwarding; the provider exposes the service for you. |
When a home server is appropriate
Choose a home machine when you want complete access to files and launch options, have reliable upstream bandwidth, and can maintain the host while players are online. Use a stable local address for the server computer so router forwarding does not break after a DHCP change. Confirm that your ISP does not place you behind CGNAT; if it does, ordinary port forwarding may have no effect.
When a VPS is appropriate
A VPS places administration in a data center rather than your house. It can provide a public address and a location closer to your players, but you still install SteamCMD, configure the operating system firewall, manage updates, protect credentials, and arrange backups. Verify that the VPS plan permits game servers and supplies enough disk headroom for Genesis 2 and future updates.
Rank #2
- Brand new UK Import PAL version. Game in English. UK PSN store account required to use any online features
When managed ARK Genesis 2 server hosting is appropriate
A managed service can handle much of the installation, restarts, and maintenance through a control panel. Before paying, confirm current Genesis 2 support, the available player-slot range, data-center locations, backup behavior, mod support, cancellation terms, and the total recurring price. A managed service trades some file-level control for operational simplicity and creates dependence on the provider’s panel and policies.
Install the ARK dedicated server with SteamCMD
Use the current ARK dedicated-server installation instructions for your operating system. The exact Steam application identifier and package contents can change, so do not copy an old identifier from an unrelated guide.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Prepare a dedicated account and directory. Create a folder for the server, give the account that will run it read/write access, and verify that the volume has room for the installation, the 10–12.5 GiB Genesis 2 map estimate, saves, logs, updates, and mods.
- Install SteamCMD. Install the 64-bit-compatible SteamCMD package supplied for Windows or Linux, then open its command prompt or shell from the SteamCMD directory.
- Install or update the server files. Use an anonymous SteamCMD session, set the installation directory, and run the current ARK dedicated-server app update command. The command pattern is:
steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir <server-directory> +app_update <current-ARK-dedicated-server-app-ID> validate +quitReplace the two values inside the code block with your writable directory and the app identifier listed in the current official setup documentation. The validate operation checks files and can take time; do not interrupt it if the process is still writing to disk.
- Check the installation. Confirm that the server executable, configuration folders, and supporting files exist. Keep the directory writable after installation; later updates, save creation, and optional automated mod downloads depend on it.
- Create a repeatable start method. Use a Windows shortcut, service, shell script, or hosting-panel start command so the same map and options are used after a reboot. Record the working directory and the account that runs the process.
- Keep a rollback copy. Before a major server update, copy the save and configuration directories to storage that is not overwritten by the update. Label the copy with the date and server build information.
Select Genesis: Part 2 correctly
The Genesis: Part 2 map identifier is Gen2. Enter that identifier in the map field of a hosting panel or as the map argument in the launch command. Do not substitute the identifier used by Genesis: Part 1.
Rank #3
- Ark graphics and worlds are completely recreated and designed to use the latest video game technology, Unreal Engine 5
- Advanced new physical systems such as dynamic water and fully interactive physical leaves
- Design your survivor, shape the trunk and tame, train, multiply and ride dinosaurs in a vivid ecosystem
- Public online mode for up to 70 players, private multiplayer mode for up to 8 players + local split screen for 2 players
A launch command follows this pattern on Windows:
<path-to-server-executable> Gen2?SessionName=<your-session-name> -server -logOn Linux, use the same map and query-string pattern with the Linux server executable:
./<path-to-server-executable> Gen2?SessionName=<your-session-name> -server -logThe examples show the placement of Gen2; adapt the executable path and session name to your installation or panel. If the log reports a missing map or the process exits immediately, check spelling, capitalization, the installed map files, and whether the command is being run from the correct server directory.
Recommended Free Tools
Configure rules, mods, and administration
Use the server’s INI configuration
Put persistent gameplay and server rules in the documented ARK INI files rather than relying on temporary launch-line changes. A hosting panel may present the same keys as form fields; if so, the panel writes the INI values for you. Keep a copy of the files before making broad changes.
Load mods with ActiveMods
ActiveMods is a comma-separated list of mod IDs. A configuration line therefore has this form:
ActiveMods=<mod-id-1>,<mod-id-2>Use only IDs for mods you have deliberately installed or enabled. Every mod introduces another update and compatibility dependency. When clients can no longer join after a mod change, compare the enabled list with the server files, update or remove one mod at a time, and test a clean restart.
Enable optional RCON administration
RCON is optional remote console access. Configure both an RCON port and an administrator password:
RCONPort=27020
ServerAdminPassword=<long-unique-password>Because RCON can control the server, use a unique password, restrict TCP access to the people or network that need it, and do not publish the password in screenshots or shared configuration files. If you do not need remote console administration, leave RCON disabled rather than opening an unnecessary port.
Handle Genesis 2 world effects deliberately
The bEnableWorldBuffScaling setting controls Genesis 2 world-effect scaling. Its behavior can depend on the current server build, so test the setting in a non-production save or confirm the current documentation before making it part of a public preset. Record the chosen value with the rest of your configuration so an update does not silently change your intended rules.
Open the required ports
The server listens on local ports, and both layers of network protection must allow the traffic: the operating-system firewall on the host and the router or cloud firewall that receives internet traffic.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match| Port | Protocol | Purpose | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7777 | UDP | Game traffic | Yes for normal player connections |
| 7778 | UDP | Peer port | Yes for the documented default setup |
| 27015 | UDP | Steam query port used for server discovery | Yes if you want the server to appear in the browser |
| 27020 | TCP | RCON remote administration | Optional; open only when RCON is configured |
- Give the server computer a stable private IP address, either with a DHCP reservation or a static local configuration.
- Create inbound firewall rules on the host for UDP 7777, UDP 7778, and UDP 27015. Add TCP 27020 only when you have enabled RCON.
- On the router, forward each required port to the server computer’s private IP address. Match the protocol exactly; a UDP rule does not forward TCP RCON traffic.
- If the host is a VPS, apply equivalent rules in the operating-system firewall and the provider’s network firewall or security group.
- Check that the public address you give players belongs to the host network, not to a different router or a private CGNAT address.
The ARK Official Community Wiki states: “The server listens for incoming connections on the local ports listed below. Ensure that your network configuration (operating system firewall and router port forwarding) allows incoming connections to these ports and directs them to the host that will be running your dedicated server.”
Start the server and verify it from inside and outside
- Start with the Gen2 map. Launch through the repeatable command or panel entry and watch the console instead of closing it immediately.
- Confirm save creation. A successful first start should create the server’s save directory. If no save appears, stop and fix the working directory or write permissions before inviting players.
- Read the log. Look for the selected map, successful initialization, and the expected ports. Map-not-found, bind, or permission errors must be resolved before network testing.
- Test locally. From a client on the same LAN, search for the server or connect using the method supported by your ARK client. A local success proves that the process and map work, but it does not prove that internet forwarding works.
- Test externally. Use a client on a different network, such as a mobile hotspot, and search using the intended platform. Testing from inside the same router can be misleading because some routers do not support NAT loopback.
- Record the working details. Save the public address, map identifier, ports, launch options, configuration backup location, and the date of the last successful external test.
Troubleshoot the failures players see most often
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The process exits or reports that the map is missing. | The map argument is wrong, the files are incomplete, or the command runs from the wrong directory. | Use exactly Gen2, rerun the server-file validation, check the installation directory, and inspect the startup log. |
| The server runs locally but is invisible in the browser. | The Steam query port is blocked or forwarded incorrectly. | Allow and forward UDP 27015, verify the public address, and confirm that the host firewall permits the traffic. |
| No player can connect from outside the house. | Router forwarding, firewall rules, CGNAT, or a changing public IP is preventing inbound access. | Verify the forwarding target, all three default UDP ports, the public address, and whether the ISP supplies a reachable address. |
| The server appears but connection attempts time out. | Game or peer traffic is blocked, or the server is listening on a different interface or port. | Check UDP 7777 and 7778 in the launch log and firewall, then compare the client and server build. |
| RCON cannot connect. | RCON is not configured, TCP 27020 is blocked, or the password is wrong. | Confirm RCONPort=27020, the administrator password, the TCP firewall rule, and any VPS security-group rule. Do not open RCON if it is not needed. |
| Players are kicked after a mod change. | The client and server have different mod versions or the load order is inconsistent. | Compare the comma-separated ActiveMods list, update or remove one mod at a time, restart, and retest with a clean client. |
| Saves or logs disappear after a restart. | The process lacks write permission or is starting with a different working directory. | Run under the intended account, check directory permissions, and keep the same start method after reboots. |
| A server update leaves the world unusable. | No rollback copy was made, or a mod is incompatible with the new build. | Stop the server, preserve the current files, restore the last known-good save and configuration if necessary, and reintroduce updates or mods methodically. |
Operate the server after launch
Back up saves and configuration
Schedule backups of the save directory and every configuration file that controls the world, mods, ports, and administration. Keep at least one copy outside the live server directory and periodically test that it can be restored. A backup that has never been restored is only an assumption.
Update with a rollback point
Before updating the dedicated server, map files, or a group of mods, stop the server cleanly and create a dated rollback copy. Apply one major change at a time, start the server, inspect the log, and check that the save loads before allowing players back in.
Monitor resources and connectivity
Watch CPU, memory, disk usage, disk free space, and upstream bandwidth. Genesis 2’s map estimate does not include growth from saves, logs, patches, or mods. A full disk or saturated upstream connection can look like a game problem even when the process itself is healthy.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Protect administrative access
Document who has the administrator password, store it securely, and rotate it if it is exposed. Limit RCON to the smallest network scope that works. Keep a private record of the host address, forwarding rules, map identifier, configuration backup, and recovery procedure.
A practical decision rule
Run at home when you need maximum file and mod control and can guarantee a reachable connection. Use a VPS when you want a public data-center host but are comfortable administering the operating system. Choose managed ARK Genesis 2 server hosting when reducing installation and maintenance work matters more than low-level control; verify its Genesis 2 support, locations, slots, backups, mod handling, cancellation terms, and current price before committing.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
