To increase the overall number of creatures that spawn in ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) or ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE), raise DinoCountMultiplier above its default value of 1.0 in GameUserSettings.ini. This scales creature population across the map; it does not target a particular dinosaur.
Increase the overall creature count
The ARK Official Community Wiki’s configuration reference lists DinoCountMultiplier as the global creature-count setting for both ASA and ASE. A community-maintained configuration reference lists 1.0 as the default. A value higher than 1.0 raises the overall number of creatures spawned throughout the ARK.
- Locate the
GameUserSettings.iniconfiguration file for the game or server you control. - Find the relevant server settings section and set
DinoCountMultiplierto a value greater than1.0. - Save the file and apply the change using the restart or configuration process for your edition, platform, or server host.
The exact file access and settings interface depend on whether you play single-player, host a non-dedicated session, or use a dedicated server. The references identify the file and setting but do not establish one universal section placement or restart procedure for every host, so check the current instructions for your setup.
More creatures overall or more of one species?
| Goal | Approach | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Increase the general population | Raise DinoCountMultiplier |
Scales creature counts broadly throughout the ARK. |
| Increase the chance or amount of one particular dinosaur | Adjust that creature’s spawn configuration at relevant spawn points | Targets species-specific spawns; it requires editing spawn entries rather than changing the global count. |
The wiki’s custom-spawn guidance treats per-creature spawn configuration as separate from the global multiplier. Exact spawn-entry syntax is not established here across editions, so use documentation that matches your game version and configuration system rather than assuming the global setting will favor a chosen species.
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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!
Changing the setting in single-player
A Steam Community discussion describes an in-game settings route for increasing single-player spawns, but that is community guidance rather than a universal walkthrough. Menu names and available controls can differ by edition and platform. If you cannot find a population setting in your current interface, consult the current instructions for your version or use the configuration file route if it is available for your setup.
What to expect after changing it
The setting controls the overall spawn count, but the available references do not establish that changing it immediately fills empty areas or provide a universal refresh or creature-wipe procedure. Treat the multiplier as a population setting, not a promise of instant new spawns; follow edition- and server-specific guidance for any refresh steps.
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Do not confuse spawn count with difficulty
DinoCountMultiplier answers “how many creatures spawn?” It is not a difficulty or creature-level setting. Changing difficulty will not serve as a substitute when your goal is a more populated map.
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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