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To enable the gamma command on an ARK: Survival Evolved server, stop the server, open GameUserSettings.ini, and add two lines under [ServerSettings]: EnablePvPGamma=True and DisablePvEGamma=False. Save the file, restart the server, then each player can open the in-game console with Tab and enter a value such as gamma 3.
The settings grant permission; they do not set everyone’s brightness. This procedure is documented for Survival Evolved. Behavior on ARK: Survival Ascended has not been verified, so do not assume the same file or switches work there.
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What the gamma settings do
ARK uses two separate server settings because PvP and PvE servers have different defaults and balance concerns. Both settings belong in the [ServerSettings] section of GameUserSettings.ini.
| Server environment | Setting that matters | Value to allow gamma | Value that blocks gamma |
|---|---|---|---|
| PvP | EnablePvPGamma |
True |
False |
| PvE | DisablePvEGamma |
False |
True |
EnablePvPGamma=True permits players to use gamma on a PvP server, where the command is commonly restricted. DisablePvEGamma=False leaves the command available on a PvE server; changing it to True disables the command there. Putting both lines in the file explicitly removes ambiguity when a hosting panel, game build, or existing configuration uses a different default.
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These are permission switches, not a shared brightness control. After the server allows the command, every player chooses a value on their own client.
Requirements and safe preparation
- An ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server that you can stop and configure.
- Access to the host’s configuration-file editor or to the server files if you manage the machine yourself.
- Permission to restart the server. Configuration changes normally take effect only after a restart.
- A current backup of
GameUserSettings.inior a copy of its existing text, so you can restore the prior configuration if another setting is accidentally changed.
Record whether the server is PvP or PvE before editing. The game mode determines which switch affects your players, although keeping both explicit lines is the least confusing arrangement. Do not paste the settings into Game.ini; gamma controls are in GameUserSettings.ini.
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1. Stop the server completely
Use the hosting control panel’s Stop or equivalent command and wait until the status shows that the process has exited. Editing while the server is still running can result in the process overwriting your changes when it shuts down. If your host offers a maintenance or lock function, use it so players cannot reconnect while you edit.
2. Open the correct configuration file
In the panel, open the server’s configuration-files area and select GameUserSettings.ini. A self-managed installation normally stores this file in the server’s configuration directory, but the exact directory layout varies by installation method. Use the file that belongs to the server instance you actually start; editing a template or a different cluster member will not change the running world.
3. Locate the [ServerSettings] section
Search the file for the exact section header:
[ServerSettings]Place the gamma entries beneath that header, before the next section header. INI section names and setting names should be copied exactly, including capitalization. Do not put the entries above the header or under a different section.
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4. Add or edit the two lines
If either setting already exists, change its value rather than creating a second copy. A clean configuration contains one active line for each setting:
[ServerSettings]
EnablePvPGamma=True
DisablePvEGamma=FalseYour section will contain many other server options; leave those untouched. If the file already has one of the lines, retain its position under [ServerSettings] and replace only True or False as needed. Duplicate keys can be handled inconsistently by configuration parsers, with some using the first value and others using the last, so removing duplicates prevents a misleading result.
5. Save the file
Use the panel’s Save button or save the edited file through your text editor. Check that the filename remains GameUserSettings.ini and that the editor did not append an extra extension such as .txt. Keep the equals sign and spelling intact; do not add quotation marks around the Boolean values.
6. Restart and wait for the server to be ready
Start the server from the control panel and wait for it to finish loading. A restart is required for the server to read the changed settings. If your host provides a live configuration view, reopen the file after startup and confirm that the two lines are still present and have not been rewritten with different values.
Use the gamma command in the game
Once the server has restarted, the setting only authorizes the command. Each player must set gamma on their own client.
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- Join the configured ARK: Survival Evolved server.
- Press Tab to open the in-game console.
- Type
gamma, a space, and the desired number. For example,gamma 3. - Press Enter and close the console. The change should be visible immediately in the game view.
The accepted range is 0 through 10, and decimal values are allowed. Lower numbers produce a darker image; higher numbers produce a brighter image. The standard reset value is 2.2.
| Example command | Effect | When it is useful |
|---|---|---|
gamma 0 |
Lowest end of the documented range | Testing the darkest available setting |
gamma 2.2 |
Reset value | Returning to the standard brightness |
gamma 3 |
Moderately brighter than the reset value | Improving visibility without jumping to the maximum |
gamma 5.5 |
Bright, decimal value accepted | Fine-tuning between whole-number steps |
gamma 10 |
Highest end of the documented range | Testing the brightest available setting |
The number is not stored as a server-wide brightness preference. Two players can be connected at the same time while using different gamma values, provided the server-side permission allows the command.
Troubleshoot “gamma” not working
The console rejects the command on a PvP server
Check EnablePvPGamma first. It must read exactly EnablePvPGamma=True under [ServerSettings]. A value of False, a misspelled key, or an entry under another section will not grant PvP permission. Stop the server, correct the line, save, and restart before testing again.
The command is blocked on a PvE server
For PvE, inspect DisablePvEGamma. The allowing value is False; True deliberately blocks the command. Make sure you did not edit a different server instance or cluster member, then perform a complete restart.
You changed the file but nothing changed in game
- Confirm the server was stopped before editing and restarted afterward.
- Reopen the file after startup to verify the host saved the values you entered.
- Check that you edited
GameUserSettings.ini, notGame.inior a provider’s example file. - Look for duplicate gamma keys. Remove all but one active line for each setting.
- Verify that the lines are inside
[ServerSettings]and that no hidden characters or quotation marks were introduced. - Reconnect to the server after the restart. A client that was connected during maintenance may need to establish a new session before retesting.
The command runs but the screen still looks unchanged
Test with a visibly different value, such as gamma 2.2 followed by gamma 8, while looking at the same scene. If one value changes the image and the other does not, the command is functioning and the perceived difference may be affected by the scene’s lighting or your display settings. Values outside 0–10 are not part of the documented range, so stay within that range while diagnosing the issue.
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The console shows a syntax or value error
Use the command format gamma number with one space and a numeric value, for example gamma 4 or gamma 4.5. Do not include an equals sign, quotation marks, or a degree symbol. If you want the normal setting, enter gamma 2.2, not the word “default.”
A host keeps reverting the entries
Some control panels regenerate configuration files when you apply a game-settings form or change a server profile. After making the edit, restart once and inspect the file again. If the lines disappear, use the panel’s raw configuration editor rather than a limited form, and avoid applying a profile that rewrites GameUserSettings.ini. Keep a backup of the intended section so you can identify exactly what the panel changed.
Only one of the two modes works
The switches are independent. A PvP server reads EnablePvPGamma; a PvE server reads DisablePvEGamma. Setting only the line for the server’s current mode is sufficient, but retaining both explicit values makes later mode changes predictable. If you converted the server from PvP to PvE or vice versa, verify the relevant line after the conversion and restart again.
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You are running a Hardcore server
An older Steam discussion, summarized as dating from 2015, reported gamma restrictions on PvP and Hardcore servers. That historical report does not establish how every current build or hosting configuration behaves. Use the explicit Boolean settings above, restart, and test on the actual server build; do not rely on an old default.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Defaults, versions, and what is actually confirmed
Published setup guidance is inconsistent about the defaults: one set of instructions describes gamma as disabled on ARK servers by default, while another says it is allowed on PvE by default. The practical solution is to specify both switches rather than depend on an assumed default.
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The procedure and setting names in this guide are for ARK: Survival Evolved. A separate discussion about ARK: Survival Ascended covers administrative commands such as enablecheats and saveworld, but it does not verify the gamma settings described here. Because Ascended compatibility is unconfirmed, treat a failed edit there as a version-compatibility question rather than evidence that the Boolean values were typed incorrectly.
Server-owner decisions and fair use
PvP balance
Allowing gamma on PvP servers changes night-time visibility for every player who chooses to use it. The server setting grants access but does not force a common value, so groups may have different visibility advantages. Publish the rule in your server description or community guidelines if consistent night visibility matters to your players.
PvE accessibility
On PvE, setting DisablePvEGamma=False keeps a player-controlled brightness adjustment available. Players can still select a lower value for a darker presentation or return to 2.2 when they want the standard setting.
Configuration maintenance
Keep one authoritative copy of the relevant section, especially when several administrators have file access. Before changing other settings, make a dated backup of the current file. After an update, migration, or mode change, verify the two gamma lines and run a short player test instead of assuming the values survived.
How to disable gamma later
Stop the server before reversing the permission. For a PvP server, change the line to:
EnablePvPGamma=FalseFor a PvE server, change the line to:
DisablePvEGamma=TrueSave GameUserSettings.ini, restart the server, and reconnect to test. Removing the lines may expose you to provider- or build-specific defaults, so explicit blocking values are clearer when the goal is to prohibit the command.
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Quick Recap
Quick verification checklist
- The server is ARK: Survival Evolved, not an unverified Ascended setup.
- The server was stopped before the file was edited.
- The file is
GameUserSettings.ini. - The entries are under
[ServerSettings]. - There is one copy of each key.
- PvP uses
EnablePvPGamma=True. - PvE uses
DisablePvEGamma=False. - The file was saved and the server restarted.
- The player tested with
gamma 2.2or another value from 0 to 10.
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