How to Set Max Players on Your ARK: Survival Ascended Server
Learn how to change the maximum number of players on your ARK: Survival Ascended server, with performance recommendations by map.
The max players setting controls how many players can be connected to your ARK: Survival Ascended server at the same time. The default is typically 40, but you can adjust this based on your server's resources and the map you're running.
Setting Max Players
Open the XGamingServer panel
Log in to the XGamingServer panel and select your ARK: Survival Ascended server. Stop the server.
Set max players via Startup
Click Startup in the sidebar. Find the Max Players field (this maps to the ?MaxPlayers= startup parameter) and enter your desired value.
Save and restart
Click Save and start your server. The new player limit takes effect immediately.
Alternative: Edit via Config File
You can also set max players in GameUserSettings.ini:
Navigate to the config file
Click Files in the sidebar and navigate to:
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.iniSave and restart
Save the file and start your server.
Recommended Player Counts by Map
ARK:SA maps vary significantly in size and complexity. The right player count depends on which map you're running:
| Map | Recommended Players | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Island | 20–40 | Medium-sized map, classic ARK experience. 40 players is comfortable for PvP. |
| Scorched Earth | 15–30 | Smaller and more resource-scarce. High player counts can lead to resource competition. |
| Aberration | 15–30 | Vertical, cave-based map. Performance-intensive due to complex geometry. |
| The Center | 30–50 | Very large map with lots of space. Can comfortably support higher player counts. |
| Extinction | 20–40 | Feature-heavy map with Titans and OSD events. Moderate player counts recommended. |
PvP vs. PvE Considerations
The ideal max player count also depends on your game mode:
- PvP servers — Higher player counts (30–50+) create more PvP encounters and raid opportunities, but too many players on a small map leads to constant griefing. Balance against your map size.
- PvE servers — Can handle higher player counts since there's less combat-related server load. However, building spam becomes an issue with too many players as structures never get raided.
- Small tribe servers — Typically run 20–40 players for a more competitive experience with fewer mega-tribes.
Performance Considerations
Every connected player adds server load in ARK:SA:
- Tamed dinos — Each player accumulates tamed dinosaurs over time, and every tamed dino adds to the server's entity count
- Structures — Player bases with many structures increase server tick time
- Rendering — ARK:SA on Unreal Engine 5 is more resource-intensive than its predecessor
- Tribe size — Large tribes with many members, tames, and bases compound the performance impact
If you're experiencing lag or long save times:
- Lower MaxPlayers to match your actual player base
- Monitor server resources in the Activity tab on the XGamingServer panel
- Consider a dino wipe periodically using the admin command
admincheat destroywilddinosto refresh wild dino spawns - Set structure limits to prevent excessive building
💡 Tip: Set max players to about 1.5x your expected peak population. If you typically have 20 players online during peak hours, set it to 30. This leaves room for growth without wasting resources on empty slots.
📝 Note: The max player count shown in the server browser affects how your server is perceived. A server showing
2/70looks empty and may be passed over by players, while8/20looks active and healthy. Match the setting to your community size.
If you get stuck at any time, you can join our Discord.
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