To crossplay on ARK, everyone must own the same edition and join a server their platforms can access. ARK: Survival Ascended supports crossplay among Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5; ARK: Survival Evolved does not crossplay with Survival Ascended. Server availability and restrictions can also affect whether a particular group can play together.
First, check which ARK edition everyone has
ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) and ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE) are separate games for multiplayer. Players in one edition cannot join friends playing the other. Studio Wildcard said the games would coexist without crossplay between them in its Community Crunch 381 announcement.
Before choosing a server, have everyone confirm the game title they launch. Matching platforms alone is not enough if one person is playing ASA and another is playing ASE.
How to crossplay on ARK: Survival Ascended
Studio Wildcard’s launch-era roadmap stated: “Crossplay will be enabled for Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.” It also said Steam players could play on the same servers as console friends. Microsoft’s Xbox listing independently describes ASA as supporting cross-platform multiplayer.
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- ARK: Survival Ascended has completely recreated and redesigned the artwork and worlds of ARK to take advantage of the latest in videogame technology, Unreal Engine 5, using high-end graphics features such as fully dynamic Global Illumination (“Lumen”), so that light bounces realistically of off surfaces and provides realistic reflections, and advanced mesh streaming (“Nanite”) of hundreds of millions of triangles for extreme detail.
- Advanced new physics systems such as dynamic water so that every creature creates waves, ripples, splashes, and bubbles as they move through fluids, and fully interactive physical foliage where every blade of grass, bush, and tree reacts to characters, explosions, projectiles, and physics objects.
- ARK: Survival Ascended includes access to all of ARK’s worlds, including Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, ARK Genesis Part 1, ARK Genesis Part 2, and more. The Island is released now, with the subsequent expansion worlds to be added at no additional cost on a regular basis.
- Thorough Quality of Life revamps in every area: redesigned User Interfaces, dynamic navigation for intelligent creature pathfinding, Wild Babies, Photo Mode, new Camera systems, new Map system, Tracking System, new Structures and Items, new Creatures, and much more.
- Cross-Platform Modding: Download & play new custom content created by players, including new maps, creatures, items, and game modes, through a dedicated new Mod-bowser directly within the game! Enjoy an endless stream of new ARK content as the creativity and talent of the community is fully unleashed for the first time ever across gaming platforms!
- Make sure everyone is playing ASA. The ASA crossplay support does not connect to ASE.
- Confirm everyone’s platform is supported. The official roadmap names Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC, and PS5. For Steam players, Studio Wildcard said they could share servers with console friends.
- Choose a server accessible to the whole group. ASA has official, unofficial, dedicated, and non-dedicated play options, but availability can vary by server type, mode, platform, and restrictions.
- Check the current in-game server browser and official notices. Server rules and platform access can change, so verify the specific server before organizing a session.
The available official information establishes broad platform compatibility, but not a current, universal invitation sequence or exact menu labels. Use the game’s current browser and notices rather than relying on a claimed universal filter or invite path.
Can ARK: Survival Evolved crossplay?
ASE crossplay is limited by platform and client ecosystem. The official sources cited here do not establish a complete, current compatibility matrix for every ASE storefront and platform pairing. Check the exact client and server combination before assuming two ASE players can connect. ASE cannot crossplay with ASA.
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- Brand new UK Import PAL version. Game in English. UK PSN store account required to use any online features
Why a crossplay server might not work
- The editions do not match. ASA and ASE cannot join each other’s multiplayer sessions.
- The server does not allow every platform or client. Server type, mode, or restrictions may limit access even when the game broadly supports crossplay.
- A temporary restriction may apply. Studio Wildcard documented a Windows-client restriction on certain crossplay official PvP servers during anti-cheat work. That historic measure is not proof of a current restriction; check current notices for the server you want.
- The game or server version may have changed. Confirm current notices and server availability before troubleshooting invitations or changing settings.
Setting up a private group
A dedicated or unofficial server may be an option for a group that wants a shared private world. Before paying a host, confirm that it supports the platforms in your group and the current ASA version. A server being described as private or unofficial does not by itself guarantee that every platform can connect.
Microsoft’s Xbox listing advertises public online multiplayer for up to 70 players and private-session multiplayer for up to 8. Those are listed capabilities, not a guarantee that every server or session reaches those capacities.
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Quick Recap
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- Ark graphics and worlds are completely recreated and designed to use the latest video game technology, Unreal Engine 5
- Advanced new physical systems such as dynamic water and fully interactive physical leaves
- Design your survivor, shape the trunk and tame, train, multiply and ride dinosaurs in a vivid ecosystem
- Public online mode for up to 70 players, private multiplayer mode for up to 8 players + local split screen for 2 players
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