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Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted ARK: Survival Evolved servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
To run Crystal Isles on an ARK: Survival Evolved server, install the dedicated-server files with SteamCMD app ID 376030, launch ShooterGameServer with the case-sensitive map token CrystalIsles, forward the required UDP ports, and keep persistent rules in the server INI files. A hosted control panel such as Nitrado uses a map dropdown instead of command-line editing. Before changing maps, stop the server and back up ShooterGame/Saved; correctly configured official-map saves remain in separate folders.
What do you need before setting up Crystal Isles?
You need an ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE) server installation, access to the machine or hosting control panel that runs it, and an ARK client for testing. Self-hosting requires SteamCMD, a directory with permission to write server files, router access for port forwarding, and firewall access. A managed host supplies the operating-system and network layer through its control panel.
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- Self-hosted server: SteamCMD, the ASE dedicated-server files, a Windows or Linux host, firewall and router access, and a plan for process supervision and backups.
- Managed server: an active ARK: Survival Evolved server plan and access to its map and restart controls.
- Players: the ARK: Survival Evolved game client that matches the server edition. Crystal Isles is distributed as free DLC, according to Nitrado’s map documentation.
The server executable is named ShooterGameServer. The map token is not written with spaces: use exactly CrystalIsles, including capitalization. Decide in advance whether the server will be public or password-protected, how many players it should support, and where dated save backups will be stored.
Should you self-host Crystal Isles or use a managed panel?
Both approaches can run the same map. Self-hosting gives you direct access to SteamCMD, launch scripts, firewall rules, and INI files; a managed host reduces operating-system and networking work in exchange for less low-level control.
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| Consideration | Self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Direct control of SteamCMD, scripts, executable options, firewall, and INI files. | Map, restart, and configuration controls are exposed through a provider panel. |
| Operations | You handle OS updates, port forwarding, firewall rules, backups, and keeping the server process running. | The panel simplifies map changes and restarts; provider-specific operations still apply. |
| Cost | No separate hosting charge is established here, but you provide the machine and connectivity. | Hosting is a paid service category; current prices vary by provider, location, and plan. |
| Recovery | You must maintain and test your own ShooterGame/Saved backups. |
Nitrado documents map-specific save folders and provider backup features, but you should still keep an export or independent backup. |
Choose self-hosting when you need script-level control or already operate a suitable machine. Choose a panel when reliable restarts and a guided map selector matter more than direct server administration. In either case, the map token, port relationships, save separation, and backup discipline remain important.
How do you install the ASE dedicated server with SteamCMD?
SteamCMD installs ARK: Survival Evolved’s dedicated-server files through app ID 376030. Install SteamCMD on the server, select a directory for the files, and run the following command from a shell or script:
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After installation, the launch script or executable is in a platform-specific directory:
- Windows:
ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/, normally containingShooterGameServer.exe. - Linux:
ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/, containing theShooterGameServerexecutable.
Run the launch command from the active server installation, not from an old copy. Using the wrong directory is a common reason a server appears to ignore a map or configuration change. Before proceeding, confirm that the account launching the process can write to the installation directory; otherwise the world and configuration may not persist correctly.
How do you launch Crystal Isles from a self-hosted server?
Put the map token immediately after the executable name, then append options separated by question marks. The following examples include a session name, optional join password, game port, query port, player limit, and administrator password.
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ShooterGameServer.exe CrystalIsles?SessionName=MyCrystalServer?ServerPassword=<join-password>?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=20?ServerAdminPassword=<admin-password>Linux launch command
./ShooterGameServer CrystalIsles?SessionName=MyCrystalServer?ServerPassword=<join-password>?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=20?ServerAdminPassword=<admin-password>Replace the session name, player count, join password, and administrator password with your values. Remove the entire ServerPassword=... option if the server should be open to anyone who can find it. Keep the order clear: executable, map, then question-mark options.
Port=7777 is the game port and QueryPort=27015 is the Steam browser query port in these examples. If you choose different values, the router and firewall rules must use the same values. The peer port normally follows the game port by one, so the standard pair is 7777 and 7778.
Keep the command readable and limited to identity and connectivity values: map, session name, passwords, ports, and player count. Put rates and gameplay rules in the INI files instead of continually extending the launch line. That separation makes it easier to compare configurations and prevents replacing a launch script from silently removing gameplay settings.
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- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
Protect the administrator password as carefully as the join password. Do not post a complete command containing either password in a public support channel. If the administrator password is exposed, change it and restart the server with the replacement value.
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Which ports should you forward for an ARK dedicated server?
Forward the ports from your router to the server’s internal IP address and allow them through the host firewall. ShooterGameServer does not provide UPnP forwarding, so manual rules are normally required. Create the router rules for the same internal machine that runs ShooterGameServer, not for a player’s computer.
| Port | Protocol | Purpose | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7777 | UDP | Game traffic | Yes for normal gameplay |
| 7778 | UDP | Peer traffic; normally the game port plus one | Yes for the standard setup |
| 27015 | UDP | Steam query and server-browser visibility | Yes for normal browser discovery |
| 27020 | TCP | RCON administration | Optional; forward only if you use RCON |
Use a fixed internal address or a DHCP reservation for the server so forwarding does not silently point to another device. Add inbound firewall rules for the same protocol and port numbers. A TCP rule for a UDP service, or a rule that points at the wrong internal address, will not substitute for the required forwarding.
Test from outside the local network, such as through a different internet connection. A server that works for the host but not for remote players often has a router rule aimed at the wrong internal address. A server can also be running while absent from the browser if the game port is open but UDP 27015 is blocked.
Where should persistent ARK settings go?
Use the INI files for rules that must survive restarts. Put each option on its own Option=Value line under the appropriate section, normally [ServerSettings] in GameUserSettings.ini.
GameUserSettings.ini
GameUserSettings.ini holds most basic and intermediate server settings. Rates and routine gameplay rules belong here rather than being repeatedly appended to a launch script. Keep one setting per line and preserve the section header expected by the setting.
Game.ini
Game.ini is used for advanced gameplay changes. Follow the syntax required by the setting and keep related entries under the correct section. If a control panel exposes an editor, verify which file it changes before saving.
Stop the server before editing either file. Save a copy of the original file, make one change at a time, restart, and inspect the startup log if the server fails to load. An option in the wrong file or section can be ignored even when its spelling appears correct.
Keep the launch command focused on server identity and connectivity: the map, session name, passwords, ports, and player limit. Storing gameplay options in the INI files makes them easier to audit and prevents a later script replacement from dropping them. After a successful restart, retain the working files with the dated ShooterGame/Saved backup.
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- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game. Run too far and not only will you be exhausted, but you will also quickly get hungry and thirsty. Weather effects are based on real-world climates, and so you'll need to hide out from rain and snow, while making the most of sunny days
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Gather Resources, Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes and style of everything from the walls of your home, to your character's armor, weapons and more
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout. Make your way to the final boss and figure out why you've been dropped into this Jurassic-era experience
How do you select Crystal Isles in Nitrado?
Nitrado’s documented ASE workflow uses the control panel rather than a hand-written launch command:
- Stop the server.
- Open Settings, then choose General.
- Under Base settings, open the Mapname dropdown.
- Select Crystal Isles.
- Save the change and restart the server.
Allow the restart to finish before joining. If the panel offers separate configuration or file-management controls, use those for INI changes and retain a backup before a map switch. The panel’s labels may differ on another provider, but the equivalent controls should identify the map and provide a save/restart action.
If the server returns to The Island after the change, stop it again and check that the map selection was saved, the restart completed, and no older configuration is being loaded. On a self-hosted server, inspect the actual launch script; on a panel, inspect the saved base settings rather than assuming a browser tab’s unsaved selection took effect.
Will switching to Crystal Isles delete another ARK map’s save?
It should not when the server is configured correctly. Nitrado states that official maps, DLC maps, and custom maps use separate save folders, so switching maps does not remove the save associated with a different map. A map switch can still appear to lose progress if the server points to the wrong installation, a save folder is overwritten, or a backup is unavailable.
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Before switching, stop the server and copy the complete ShooterGame/Saved directory. After the change, verify that Crystal Isles loads and that the previous map’s folder remains present. Do not delete or overwrite a map-specific folder while troubleshooting. If you need to return to the earlier map, select its map value and restart rather than renaming live files casually.
A single server process loads one map at a time. If players need Crystal Isles and another map online simultaneously, use separate server instances with separate installations or save locations; otherwise schedule deliberate switches and communicate downtime to players.
How should you back up and update the server?
The critical backup target is the complete ShooterGame/Saved directory. Documentation identifies it as containing world, player, tribe, configuration, log, and cluster data. Backing up only a world file can leave the restored world out of sync with player, tribe, or cluster information.
- Stop the server cleanly and wait for the process to exit.
- Copy
ShooterGame/Savedto storage outside the live installation. - Label the copy with the date, map, and server version or configuration change.
- Make the update or major INI change.
- Restart and confirm that Crystal Isles loads, players can connect, and the expected world and player data are present.
Keep more than one dated copy when the server is valuable, and do not treat a backup inside the same installation directory as protection against deletion or disk failure. For a hosted server, download an export when the provider allows it even if provider backups are enabled.
To update a self-hosted installation, rerun:
steamcmd +force_install_dir <install_dir> +login anonymous +app_update 376030 +quitThen restart the server and check that the launch script still contains the exact CrystalIsles token. Keep the pre-update backup until the new build has been tested. If the update fails or progress appears to roll back, stop the process, preserve the current directory for diagnosis, and restore the dated ShooterGame/Saved copy only after confirming it is the intended save state.
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- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
What should you check when Crystal Isles does not load?
The server starts on The Island
Open the launch script actually being executed and check the map token’s spelling and capitalization: CrystalIsles. Confirm that the script points to the current server directory and that you are not starting an older installation. On a control-panel host, verify that the Mapname value was saved before the restart.
The server is not visible in the browser
Verify UDP 7777, UDP 7778, and UDP 27015 in both the router and host firewall. Check that the server’s query port is 27015 if that is what the forwarding rule uses. If the game port is reachable but the query port is not, the process may be running without appearing in browser results.
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Players outside the LAN cannot join
Confirm that every forwarding rule targets the server’s current internal IP address. Compare the launch command’s Port and QueryPort values with the router rules; a mismatch can leave the process running but unreachable. Check the host firewall as well as the router, because both layers must permit the traffic.
The world appears to roll back
Stop the server cleanly, restore the latest known-good ShooterGame/Saved backup, and check that the account running the process can write to the installation directory. Do not continue making changes to the live save before preserving the current state. Confirm that the restored copy belongs to Crystal Isles and the correct date.
A mod or custom map conflicts with the setup
Crystal Isles is an official map, but additional mods or custom-map content can interfere with startup. Disable mods, test Crystal Isles by itself, and re-enable additions one at a time so the conflicting item can be identified. Keep a backup before each significant change.
A map switch appears to lose progress
Inspect the map-specific save folders and compare them with the backup made before the switch. Restore the backup before deleting, renaming, or overwriting any save data. Check that the server is using the intended installation and that the process account has write permission.
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Check whether the value was placed in GameUserSettings.ini or Game.ini as appropriate, whether it is under the expected section, and whether the file was edited while the server was stopped. A replacement launch script can also remove settings that were placed only on the command line, so keep persistent rules in the INI files.
Do you need to buy Crystal Isles separately?
Nitrado describes Crystal Isles as free DLC, with large crystals, unique creatures, and large cluster-island areas. That means the map itself is not presented as a separate paid purchase in the cited server documentation. Players still need the ARK: Survival Evolved client, and the server and client must be compatible with the same game edition. The client is also useful for joining the server and testing browser visibility after each restart.
What is the safest first-start checklist?
- Install or update the dedicated-server files with SteamCMD app ID
376030. - Confirm the executable path:
ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/on Windows orShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/on Linux. - Use the exact map token
CrystalIsles. - Set a unique session name and administrator password; omit
ServerPasswordonly when an open server is intended. - Forward UDP 7777, UDP 7778, and UDP 27015; add TCP 27020 only for RCON.
- Allow the same traffic through the host firewall.
- Place persistent gameplay settings in
GameUserSettings.iniorGame.ini, with oneOption=Valueper line. - Back up
ShooterGame/Savedbefore updates, map switches, or major configuration edits. - Test discovery and joining from outside the server’s LAN.
- Confirm that the expected map-specific save folder remains after switching maps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run Crystal Isles and The Island on the same ARK server?
A single server process loads one map at a time. Keep each map’s save data in its own map-specific folder and switch deliberately, or operate separate server instances if players need both worlds online simultaneously.
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Why does my server show online but not appear in the Steam browser?
The game port can be reachable while the query service is blocked. Check UDP 27015 specifically, confirm the launch command’s QueryPort matches the router and firewall rules, and test from a network outside the host’s LAN.
How do I give an administrator access after the server starts?
Use the administrator password supplied through the launch options and the game’s admin authentication command. Store that password outside public scripts and change it if it is exposed.
What files should I restore after a failed map change?
Restore the complete dated copy of ShooterGame/Saved rather than only a single world file. That preserves player, tribe, configuration, log, and cluster data together and avoids mixing files from different save states.
What map name do I use for Crystal Isles?
Use the exact case-sensitive token CrystalIsles immediately after ShooterGameServer in a self-hosted launch command. In Nitrado, choose Crystal Isles from Settings, General, Base settings, and Mapname.
Which ports must be forwarded for a normal server?
Forward UDP 7777 for game traffic, UDP 7778 for peer traffic, and UDP 27015 for Steam queries. TCP 27020 is optional and is used only when RCON administration is enabled.
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Will switching maps delete my ARK save?
Official, DLC, and custom maps use separate save folders when configured correctly, so changing maps should not remove another map’s save. Stop the server and copy ShooterGame/Saved before switching so you can restore the complete prior state if needed.
Do I need the Crystal Isles DLC?
Nitrado describes Crystal Isles as free DLC. You still need the ARK: Survival Evolved client and a compatible server edition to join and test the map.
The Bottom Line
Install ASE with SteamCMD app ID 376030, launch CrystalIsles, forward UDP 7777, 7778 and 27015, store persistent rules in the INI files, and back up ShooterGame/Saved before updates or map switches. Nitrado users can select Crystal Isles under Settings > General > Mapname, save, and restart.
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