To let Epic Games Launcher players join a self-hosted ARK: Survival Evolved server, install the dedicated-server files with SteamCMD (app ID 376030), launch the selected map with -crossplay and -PublicIPForEpic=<your-public-IP>, and forward UDP ports 7777, 7778, and 27015 to the server computer. Add TCP 27020 only if you use RCON. The same ports must be allowed through the host firewall. Without the crossplay flags, Epic players may not see or join the server even when Steam players can.
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What Epic-to-Steam ARK crossplay requires
Epic Games Store and Steam players can share an ARK dedicated server when the server is started with the crossplay configuration. The essential launch options are:
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For an Epic-only server, use -epiconly instead of a mixed Epic/Steam arrangement. Do not combine the intended access policy casually: -crossplay is for a mixed PC player base, while -epiconly restricts connections to Epic Games Store players.
This is PC cross-store compatibility, not automatic console crossplay. Epic and Steam PC support should not be used as a promise that Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch players can connect. Platform scope depends on the server configuration and the versions supported by the clients.
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Choose the host before installing
You can run the server on a Windows or Linux machine you control, or use a managed game-server provider. Self-hosting gives you direct access to files, launch arguments, mods, backups, and network settings, but you are responsible for the machine, bandwidth, router, firewall, updates, and recovery. A managed service shifts much of that work to the provider in exchange for a recurring fee and whatever limits its plan imposes.
| Decision area | Self-hosted machine | Managed ARK hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Full access to SteamCMD, scripts, configuration, logs, saves, mods, and operating-system settings. | Control depends on the provider’s panel, permitted mods, file access, and plan. |
| Recurring cost | No provider subscription, but you supply hardware, electricity, storage, and internet capacity. | Recurring provider charge; current price, player slots, storage, backups, and traffic limits must be checked on the chosen plan. |
| Networking | You must configure router forwarding, host-firewall rules, public-IP settings, and any NAT restrictions. | The provider normally supplies the public endpoint, while you still need to confirm Epic crossplay support and the available port configuration. |
| Maintenance | You install updates with SteamCMD, monitor resources, maintain backups, and troubleshoot the operating system. | The provider may handle the host and some updates, but you remain responsible for game settings, saves, mod choices, and verifying that updates preserve your configuration. |
| Best fit | Owners who need maximum customization or already operate a reachable server machine. | Groups that prefer not to maintain SteamCMD, router rules, or server hardware. |
Whichever route you choose, confirm the provider or machine can run the dedicated-server build you need and explicitly supports Epic crossplay. Do not assume that every mod, setting, or platform combination is compatible.
Host requirements and preparation
Operating system
The dedicated server can be installed on Windows or Linux. Linux hosts require glibc 2.17 according to the setup documentation. Windows Server editions can need additional TLS 1.2 and certificate-revocation-list handling for Epic connectivity; a server that runs but cannot complete the required secure connections may remain invisible to Epic clients.
Use a machine with enough CPU, memory, storage, and network capacity for the number of players, map, mods, and simulation load you intend to run. The exact capacity depends on the configuration, so begin with a small private test rather than promising a player count that the hardware has not sustained.
Information to collect
- The server computer’s private LAN address, such as
192.168.1.50. Give the machine a DHCP reservation or another stable address so forwarding rules do not point to a different device later. - The internet connection’s current public IPv4 address. This is the value used with
-PublicIPForEpic; it is not the server’s private LAN address. - The map name and a session name that players can recognize.
- Router administrator access and permission to create UDP/TCP forwarding rules.
- Host-firewall administrator access.
Install ARK dedicated-server files with SteamCMD
SteamCMD is the documented installation route for ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated-server files. The application ID is 376030.
Windows installation
- Download and extract SteamCMD into a tools directory, then create a separate destination directory for the ARK server files.
- Open SteamCMD and set the destination directory with
force_install_dir. Keep the path simple and record it because the launch batch file must run from the directory containing the server executable. - Log in anonymously with
login anonymous. - Install or update the server with
app_update 376030 validate. - When SteamCMD finishes without an error, close it or leave it available for future updates. The server executable and configuration folders should now exist under the destination directory.
A typical SteamCMD command sequence is:
force_install_dir C:ARKServer
login anonymous
app_update 376030 validate
quitChange the destination to the directory you actually created. Do not copy a path containing a placeholder literally.
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Linux installation
- Install SteamCMD using the method appropriate for your Linux distribution, then create a dedicated directory owned by the account that will run the server.
- Start SteamCMD, select the server directory with
force_install_dir, and log in anonymously. - Run
app_update 376030 validateand wait for the download and validation to finish. - Exit SteamCMD and make the server executable and launch script executable with your normal Linux permissions.
force_install_dir /srv/ark
login anonymous
app_update 376030 validate
quitKeep the SteamCMD update command. It is the same mechanism you will use to apply later server builds.
Create a launch script with the Epic settings
The launch command names the map, enables server mode, assigns a session name, and adds crossplay. The map token in the examples is illustrative; replace it with the map installed on your server.
Windows batch example
@echo off
cd /d C:ARKServer
ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?listen?SessionName=MyEpicCrossplayServer -server -log -crossplay -PublicIPForEpic=203.0.113.10
pauseReplace 203.0.113.10 with the host’s current public IP address and change the session name. The documentation requires the public-IP parameter for Epic visibility, so do not substitute the private address assigned by your router.
Linux shell example
#!/bin/sh
cd /srv/ark
./ShooterGameServer TheIsland?listen?SessionName=MyEpicCrossplayServer -server -log -crossplay -PublicIPForEpic=203.0.113.10Save the script in the server directory, make it executable, and run it from that directory. Keeping the working directory correct helps the server find its configuration and save folders.
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Epic-only launch
If Steam players must be refused, replace the mixed-access flag with -epiconly:
ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?listen?SessionName=EpicOnlyServer -server -log -epiconly -PublicIPForEpic=203.0.113.10Use one access policy at a time and tell players which store version the server accepts.
Session and gameplay options
ARK places many settings in the map/session query portion of the command and in its configuration files. Add passwords, difficulty, rates, administrator settings, or mod parameters only after the basic Epic connection works. A complicated first launch makes it harder to tell whether a failure comes from networking, a malformed option, a mod, or the game build.
Forward the required ports
Forward the default ports from the internet-facing router to the server computer’s private address. Use the same protocol and port on both sides unless your router explicitly supports a different external-to-internal mapping and you reflect that mapping in the server configuration.
| Function | Protocol and default port | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Game | UDP 7777 | Client game traffic. |
| Peer | UDP 7778 | Server networking and advertisement support. |
| Query | UDP 27015 | Server-browser discovery and queries. |
| RCON (optional) | TCP 27020 | Remote administration when RCON is enabled. |
The router rules and host-firewall rules must agree. Forwarding only the game port can allow some traffic while leaving the server absent from browser results because the query port is unreachable. RCON is not required for players to connect; expose it only when you need remote administration and protect it with a strong credential and appropriate network restrictions.
One server
- Reserve the server computer’s private IP in the router.
- Create UDP forwarding entries for 7777, 7778, and 27015 to that address.
- If RCON is enabled, create a TCP forwarding entry for 27020 only when necessary.
- Allow the same inbound traffic in Windows Firewall,
ufw, or the firewall system used by your Linux distribution. - Save the router configuration and restart the server after confirming the launch command.
Multiple instances
Each instance needs distinct game, peer, query, and RCON ports. The setup documentation describes incrementing or otherwise separating ports for additional instances. Assign a written port map before creating the second server, update each instance’s launch options, forward every assigned port to the correct private address, and permit those ports through the firewall. Never point two instances at the same game or query port.
Start the server and verify Epic visibility
- Run the batch file or shell script and wait for the world to finish initializing. A console that is still loading is not proof that the server is ready.
- Confirm the startup output shows the intended map, session name, and the crossplay/public-IP options you supplied.
- From an Epic Games Launcher client outside the host’s local network, open the ARK server browser and use the appropriate session list and filters. Search for the exact session name.
- Test an actual join, not just a browser listing. Check that the player can load into the world and remain connected for several minutes.
- Have a Steam player test the same server when mixed access is intended. If the server is Epic-only, test with an Epic account and expect Steam accounts to be rejected.
Testing from outside the host network matters because some routers do not support reliable hairpin NAT. A local test can succeed while internet players still cannot reach the forwarded ports.
Why Epic players cannot see or join the server
The server is running without crossplay
Check the launch script for the exact -crossplay flag. If you intended an Epic-only server, check for -epiconly instead. Restart the server after editing the script; changing a file while an existing process is running does not change that process’s arguments.
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The public-IP parameter is missing or wrong
Epic visibility requires -PublicIPForEpic=<IPAddress>. Verify that the value is the internet-facing public address at the time the server starts, not a local address such as 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x. If your provider changes the public address, update the script and restart the server.
Query traffic is blocked
Recheck UDP 27015 in both the router and the host firewall. The query port is used for browser discovery, so a server can appear to be running locally while Epic’s list cannot find it. Also verify that another application or second ARK instance is not already using that port.
Game or peer traffic is blocked
Confirm UDP 7777 and UDP 7778 point to the same server computer and are allowed by the host firewall. A visible listing followed by a timeout usually warrants checking the game and peer rules, not only the query rule.
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Some Windows Server editions require TLS 1.2 and current certificate-revocation-list handling for Epic connectivity. Apply the operating-system configuration described by the ARK server setup documentation for your edition, then restart the relevant services and the ARK process. If you cannot apply those requirements, test on a supported Windows client/server configuration or Linux host rather than repeatedly changing port rules.
A mod or build is incompatible
Mods and other server options can affect which clients can join. Temporarily test the exact server build with the minimum configuration, then add mods and custom settings one at a time. Keep the server and clients on compatible builds, and record which change introduced a failure.
The platform expectation is wrong
Epic/Steam PC crossplay does not establish console compatibility. Confirm that every player is using a supported PC version and that the server’s access scope matches the intended store. A console player who cannot connect is not evidence that the Epic flags or port forwarding failed.
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Backups, updates, and ongoing administration
Update through SteamCMD
Stop the ARK process before updating. Run the same SteamCMD sequence, including app_update 376030 validate, review any output for errors, and start the server with the saved launch script. Schedule updates when players are offline and test the resulting build before opening the server publicly.
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Back up saves and configuration
Back up the saved world, player data, configuration files, launch scripts, and any mod or custom-content records. Keep at least one copy outside the live server directory. Label backups with the date and server build so you can identify a known-good restore point after a failed update or corrupted save.
Monitor the host
- Watch CPU, memory, storage space, and network use while the intended number of players is online.
- Review server logs after startup, crashes, failed saves, and configuration changes.
- Record the public IP, private IP, port assignments, session name, launch flags, and administrator procedures in a secure document.
- Recheck firewall and router rules after replacing hardware, changing internet service, or moving the server to a different machine.
Keep a recovery procedure
Document how to stop the process safely, restore the latest save, reinstall or validate the files, and return to the last known-good launch command. If you operate multiple instances, keep separate directories, save locations, logs, and port maps for each one.
Self-hosting or managed hosting: a practical choice
Self-hosting is appropriate when you can provide a reachable machine and are comfortable maintaining SteamCMD, operating-system security, router forwarding, firewall rules, backups, and updates. It is also the route that gives you the clearest control over scripts, configuration, and mods.
Managed hosting is useful when router access, public addressing, hardware maintenance, or 24-hour availability is the main obstacle. Before paying, ask the provider to confirm all of the following in writing:
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- Ability to set or expose the Epic public-IP behavior and required game, peer, and query ports.
- File or panel access for launch arguments, configuration, saves, and logs.
- Backup frequency, retention, restore process, and whether backups cost extra.
- Mod installation policy, update timing, storage limits, player-slot limits, and migration options.
- Current recurring price and what happens to your files if the subscription ends.
A provider that cannot explain how Epic clients discover the server is not a safe choice for this specific use case, regardless of its general ARK support.
Quick Recap
Quick pre-launch checklist
- SteamCMD installed the ARK dedicated-server app with ID
376030. - The selected map and session name are present in the launch script.
-crossplayand-PublicIPForEpic=<your-public-IP>are present for mixed Epic/Steam access.-epiconlyis used only when Steam access should be blocked.- UDP 7777, UDP 7778, and UDP 27015 are forwarded to the server’s stable private IP.
- Those UDP ports are allowed through the host firewall.
- TCP 27020 is forwarded and allowed only if secured RCON is enabled.
- Windows Server TLS 1.2 and certificate-revocation requirements have been addressed where applicable.
- The server has been tested from an external Epic client, and a Steam client if mixed access is intended.
- Saves, configuration, scripts, and port assignments are backed up and documented.
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