Setting up an ARK: Survival Ascended server on Windows

ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) is the new ARK, built on Unreal Engine 5. Its server only exists for Windows and it is demanding: each map needs 8 to 12 GB of RAM just to be running, depending on the map, and more with players and mods. For one map, a 16 GB VPS is the sensible choice.

1. Install it with SteamCMD

With SteamCMD installed:

C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\asa +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit

2. The certificate (essential on Windows Server)

The ASA server talks to Epic's services over HTTPS, and Windows Server is missing a revocation list it needs. Skip this step and the server starts but does not appear in the list.

On the VPS, download http://crl.r2m02.amazontrust.com/r2m02.crl.
Right-click the file → Install CRL.
Choose Place all certificates in the following store → Browse → Trusted Root Certification Authorities and finish the wizard.
Restart the VPS.

3. The start line

Create C:\asa\start.bat:

@echo off
cd /d C:\asa\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64
ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName=MyASAServer?ServerAdminPassword=CHANGE_THIS -port=7777 -WinLiveMaxPlayers=50 -log

Mind what changed from the old ARK, because many guides copy the Survival Evolved line and it does not work:

Map names end in _WP: TheIsland_WP, ScorchedEarth_WP, TheCenter_WP, Aberration_WP, Extinction_WP...
The port uses a dash: -port=7777, at the end.
Max players with -WinLiveMaxPlayers=50: the old ?MaxPlayers= has no effect.
Mods: -mods=ID1,ID2, with the CurseForge project numbers.
If the name has spaces, take it out of the line and put it in the config file (below).

4. Configuration

After the first start they appear in C:\asa\ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\: GameUserSettings.ini (general) and Game.ini (advanced rules). Edit them with the server stopped: when it shuts down, ASA writes them again and you would lose your changes.

[ServerSettings]
ServerPassword=
ServerAdminPassword=CHANGE_THIS
RCONEnabled=True
RCONPort=27020
XPMultiplier=2
TamingSpeedMultiplier=3
HarvestAmountMultiplier=2

[SessionSettings]
SessionName=My ARK server

Leave ServerPassword empty for an open server, or set one to make it private.

5. Ports

ASA only needs 7777 on UDP, plus 27020 on TCP if you use RCON from outside. There is no Steam query port: the server list goes through Epic.

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "ASA UDP 7777" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 7777 -Action Allow -Profile Any

On Spain servers, also check the Security tab filters (how to create one for 7777 UDP).

6. Finding it in the game

In Join Game, search the unofficial servers by name. After start-up it can take a few minutes to appear.

If something fails

It closes straight after opening: install Microsoft's Visual C++ Redistributable (x64) packages and the DirectX End-User Runtime, and check you are not short of RAM.
It starts but is not in the list: it is almost always the certificate from step 2. Then check 7777 is open on UDP.
It takes ages to start: several minutes is normal, especially the first time and with mods.