ARK server settings: GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini basics
Change XP, taming and harvest rates, difficulty, PvE and more on your ARK: Survival Evolved server on Schokr by editing GameUserSettings.ini.
Updated · 2 min read
ARK keeps most server settings in two files: GameUserSettings.ini for common options like rates, difficulty and PvE, and Game.ini for advanced rules. Stop the server before editing them, because ARK can overwrite the files when it shuts down.
Where the files are
In the file manager:
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/Game.ini
Both are created after the server's first start. If Game.ini doesn't exist, create it.
The golden rule: stop first
- Stop the server and wait until it's fully offline.
- Edit and save the file.
- Start the server.
If you edit while the server is running, your changes are often lost when it saves its own copy on shutdown.
GameUserSettings.ini
Most settings go under the [ServerSettings] section. Find the section and add or change lines:
[ServerSettings]
DifficultyOffset=1.0
OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0
XPMultiplier=2.0
TamingSpeedMultiplier=3.0
HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0
ServerPVE=False
AllowThirdPersonPlayer=True
ShowMapPlayerLocation=True
ServerCrosshair=True
MaxTamedDinos=5000
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
DifficultyOffset and OverrideOfficialDifficulty | Together set the maximum wild dino level. 5.0 gives the common level 150 cap |
XPMultiplier | Experience gained |
TamingSpeedMultiplier | How fast taming completes |
HarvestAmountMultiplier | Resources per hit |
ServerPVE | True turns off player-vs-player damage |
AllowThirdPersonPlayer | Allows third-person view |
ShowMapPlayerLocation | Shows your position on the map |
ServerCrosshair | Shows a crosshair |
The server name sits in the [SessionSettings] section as SessionName. On Schokr, the session name, server password and admin password are usually set in your Startup settings, which are passed on the command line and take priority over the file. Change them there.
Game.ini
Game.ini holds advanced settings in a different section:
[/script/shootergame.shootergamemode]
MatingIntervalMultiplier=0.5
EggHatchSpeedMultiplier=5.0
BabyMatureSpeedMultiplier=5.0
BabyCuddleIntervalMultiplier=0.5
bDisableStructurePlacementCollision=True
Breeding multipliers are the most common reason to use it. Lower MatingIntervalMultiplier means shorter cooldown between matings; higher hatch and mature multipliers mean faster babies.
Tips
- Keep a copy of your edited file on your computer. If a typo causes ARK to reset a file, you can re-upload it.
- Settings are case sensitive and must be spelled exactly. Unknown lines are ignored silently.
- Make one change at a time if something stops working.
- Faster rates mean more tames and structures, which means more memory use over time. On a tight resource pool, moderate rates help stability.
Checking changes applied
Join the server and check the effect, for example tame a dino and watch the taming speed, or compare wild dino levels after wiping wild dinos with cheat DestroyWildDinos so new ones spawn with the new difficulty. See ARK admin commands.
Still stuck?
If your settings keep resetting, make sure the server was fully stopped before you saved. Ask in the Schokr Discord if it continues.