# How to Set Max Players on Your ARK: Survival Ascended Server (/docs/ark-survival-ascended/max-players)



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 [#setting-max-players]

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  <div className="fd-step">
    Open the XGamingServer panel [#1-open-the-xgamingserver-panel]

    Log in to the [XGamingServer panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com) and select your ARK: Survival Ascended server. Stop the server.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Set max players via Startup [#2-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.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Save and restart [#3-save-and-restart]

    Click **Save** and start your server. The new player limit takes effect immediately.
  </div>
</div>

Alternative: Edit via Config File [#alternative-edit-via-config-file]

You can also set max players in `GameUserSettings.ini`:

<div className="fd-steps">
  <div className="fd-step">
    Navigate to the config file [#1-navigate-to-the-config-file]

    Click **Files** in the sidebar and navigate to:

    ```
    ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini
    ```
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Edit the MaxPlayers value [#2-edit-the-maxplayers-value]

    Under `[SessionSettings]`, find or add:

    ```ini
    [SessionSettings]
    MaxPlayers=40
    ```
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Save and restart [#3-save-and-restart-1]

    Save the file and start your server.
  </div>
</div>

Recommended Player Counts by Map [#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 [#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 [#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 destroywilddinos` to 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 `2/70` looks empty and may be passed over by players, while `8/20` looks active and healthy. Match the setting to your community size.

If you get stuck at any time, you can join our [Discord](https://discord.xgamingserver.com/).