ark cross platform: Survival Evolved and its newer iteration, Ark: Survival Ascended, have captivated players with their immersive dinosaur-filled worlds. But with friends potentially playing on different platforms, the question of crossplay naturally arises. 

This article delves into the complexities of Ark’s cross-platform functionality, exploring its availability across different versions and platforms.

Ark: Survival Evolved Crossplay:

While Ark: Survival Evolved is not inherently cross-platform, it offers crossplay capabilities through dedicated, rented servers. This means players on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 4 can join the same server and embark on adventures together. 

However, official servers hosted by the developers currently lack crossplay functionality.

Here’s how crossplay works in Ark: Survival Evolved:

Renting a Dedicated Server: Players need to rent a server from a third-party provider like Nitrado or Gportal. These servers allow players from different platforms to connect and play together.

Server Configuration: Server settings need to be adjusted to enable crossplay. This typically involves changing the “AllowCrossplay” setting to “True.”

Joining the Server: Once the server is configured, players can share the server IP address with their friends, allowing them to join the game regardless of their platform.

Important Notes for Ark: Survival Evolved Crossplay:

Mods: Mods can potentially disrupt crossplay functionality. It’s crucial to ensure all players on the server are using the same mods, if any, to avoid compatibility issues.

Official Servers: Official servers run by the developers do not currently support crossplay. This limitation applies to both PvP and PvE servers.

Ark: Survival Ascended Crossplay:

Ark: Survival Ascended, the newer version of Ark, offers more extensive crossplay options:

PS5 and Xbox Series X/S: Players on these platforms can seamlessly play together on official servers, enjoying a truly cross-platform experience.

PC Crossplay: PC players can join cross-platform servers with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players, but only through dedicated, rented servers. This limitation is similar to Ark: Survival Evolved.

Current Limitations in Ark: Survival Ascended Crossplay:

PC and Consoles on Official Servers: As mentioned earlier, PC players cannot directly join official servers with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players. Rented servers are the only option for full crossplay with PC in Ark: Survival Ascended.

Anti-Cheat Measures: Crossplay between PC and consoles on official PvP servers in Ark: Survival Ascended has been temporarily disabled. This is due to ongoing efforts by Studio Wildcard to implement robust anti-cheat measures for the PC version, ensuring a fair and balanced experience for all players.

Finding Cross-Platform Servers:

Several resources can help players find cross-platform servers for Ark:

Third-Party Server Providers: Websites like Nitrado and Gportal often list servers with crossplay enabled in their server browser.

Ark Community Forums and Discord Servers: The Ark community is active on various online platforms, where players often share server details and organize cross-platform sessions.

Key Points for Ark: Survival Ascended Crossplay:

Official Server Restrictions: PC players cannot join official servers with console players in 

Ark: Survival Ascended. This limitation is temporary as developers work on implementing robust anti-cheat measures for the PC version.

Community Server Options: Unofficial community servers may offer full crossplay, allowing PC players to join console players. However, server availability and settings can vary.

The Future of ARK Crossplay:

Studio Wildcard, the developer behind ARK, is actively working on expanding cross-platform functionality. Their goal is to create a seamless experience where players across all platforms can join forces and explore the vast ARK world together. 

While limitations exist currently, the future seems promising for broader crossplay integration.

Additional Considerations:

DLC and Version Compatibility: Ensure all players involved in crossplay have the same DLCs and game versions installed to avoid compatibility issues.

Server Stability and Performance: Dedicated servers, particularly for crossplay between PC and consoles, require adequate resources to ensure smooth gameplay for all players.

FAQs 

Is ARK: Survival Evolved truly cross-platform?

No, Ark: Survival Evolved has limited crossplay functionality. While Xbox players can connect with PC players on dedicated servers, PlayStation players are currently isolated within their own platform.

Can users on the PS4 and PC play together in ARK?

Unfortunately, no. PS4 players cannot play with PC or Xbox players in ARK: Survival Evolved.

Can Xbox and PC players play together in ARK?

Yes, Xbox and PC players can crossplay in ARK: Survival Evolved on dedicated servers. However, official servers do not support this functionality.

How can Xbox and PC players play together in ARK?

To crossplay between Xbox and PC in ARK: Survival Evolved, you’ll need:

A dedicated server: Rent a server that supports crossplay.

Same game version and DLC: Ensure everyone has the same game version and any relevant DLCs installed.

Microsoft accounts: Sign in to both platforms with the same Microsoft account.

Can PS5 players play with other platforms in ARK?

Currently, PS5 players can only play with other PS5 players in ARK: Survival Evolved. Crossplay with Xbox or PC is not supported.

Is ARK: Survival Ascended fully cross-platform?

No, Ark: Survival Ascended offers limited crossplay as well:

Xbox Series X/S and PS5 players can play together on official servers.

PC players cannot currently join console players on official servers.

Can PC players play with Xbox or PS5 in ARK: Ascended?

Unofficial community servers in Ark: Survival Ascended may offer crossplay between PC and consoles. However, official servers currently lack this functionality.

Why can’t PS4/PS5 players crossplay with other platforms in ARK?

Sony’s current policies restrict crossplay between PlayStation and other platforms for ARK.

Will ARK ever have full crossplay across all platforms?

Studio Wildcard, the developer, is actively working on expanding crossplay. While limitations exist now, the future may hold a more unified experience for all players.

What are some things to consider for crossplay in ARK?

Server stability: Dedicated servers require adequate resources for smooth crossplay.

Anti-cheat measures: Anti-cheat systems, especially on PC, can sometimes disrupt crossplay.

Mods and server settings: Ensure compatibility by using the same mods and settings on crossplay servers.

While Ark doesn’t offer universal crossplay across all platforms and versions, dedicated servers provide a solid solution for players to team up regardless of their platform. With Ark: Survival Ascended, crossplay between PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players on official servers is a significant step forward, and the potential for broader PC integration is promising. 

As the game continues to evolve, we can expect further improvements in crossplay functionality, allowing players from all corners of the Ark universe to unite in their survival endeavors.

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