Most ARK server settings live in two files you edit on the Files tab: GameUserSettings.ini for common options like XP, taming and harvest rates, and Game.ini for deeper tuning like breeding and per-level stats.
Where the files live
Open the Files tab and browse to ShooterGame/Saved/Config/. Inside a platform folder you will find GameUserSettings.ini. The second file, Game.ini, may not exist yet; if it does not, create it in the same folder.
Always stop the server before editing these files. ARK rewrites them when it shuts down, so edits made while it is running can be wiped. Stop, edit, then start.
GameUserSettings.ini: the common settings
These go under the [ServerSettings] header. Higher multipliers mean faster or more, and 1.0 is vanilla.
- XPMultiplier=2.0 for how fast players and creatures level.
- TamingSpeedMultiplier=5.0 for quicker tames.
- HarvestAmountMultiplier=3.0 for more resources per hit.
- ResourcesRespawnPeriodMultiplier=0.5 for faster resource regrowth (lower is faster).
- DifficultyOffset=1.0 with OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0 to push wild creatures up to level 150.
- ServerPassword= and ServerAdminPassword= to lock the server and enable cheats.
Game.ini: advanced tuning
These go under [/script/shootergame.shootergamemode]. This is where breeding and detailed balance live.
- MatingIntervalMultiplier=0.5 so creatures can breed again sooner (lower is sooner).
- BabyMatureSpeedMultiplier=10.0 so babies grow up faster.
- EggHatchSpeedMultiplier=10.0 for quicker hatching.
- BabyCuddleIntervalMultiplier=0.1 to reduce how often babies need imprinting care.
- PerLevelStatsMultiplierPlayer... lines to tune how much each stat gains per level.
A safe way to edit
- Take a snapshot on the Backups tab.
- Stop the server.
- Edit the file on the Files tab or over SFTP.
- Keep one setting per line and make sure it sits under the correct section header.
- Start the server and watch the Console tab for any config errors.
Startup tab shortcuts
Some of these options are also exposed as variables on the Startup tab, such as the map, session name, max players and core rates. Values passed as launch options on the Startup tab take priority over the same setting in the INI files, so pick one place for each setting to avoid confusion.
ASA and ASE use the same files
Both games read GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini with the same section names, so the settings above apply to each. A few options are specific to one version, so change one thing at a time and confirm it took effect.
Still stuck? Jump into our Discord at discord.gg/GuavaHost and the team will help you out.