ARK: Survival Ascended : 420 Official Servers Will Close on November 29

Announced in Community Crunch 527, published on October 10, the decision is part of Studio Wildcard's ongoing management of its official multiplayer network.

The developer explains that major content releases often require additional server capacity to accommodate large numbers of returning players. As activity declines over time, some of these worlds become sparsely populated.

The upcoming shutdown aims to consolidate those inactive populations while preserving capacity for future content launches.

420 Official ARK Servers Scheduled for Closure

The shutdown is currently scheduled for Sunday, November 29, 2026. It concerns a selection of official servers identified by Studio Wildcard as insufficiently active.

Several familiar ARK maps are represented in the published list, including Lost Colony, Scorched Earth, Aberration and The Island. Both PvE and PvP environments are represented, across different regions and server configurations.

Importantly, this is not the end of official multiplayer support for ARK: Survival Ascended. The developer intends to continue maintaining the official network and expanding capacity when major updates create additional demand.

How to Check Whether Your Server Is Affected

Studio Wildcard is introducing a straightforward way to identify servers scheduled for retirement: their names will receive the SUNSET prefix.

However, this change comes with an important consequence. Once renamed, the affected servers will be removed from players' in-game Favorites lists.

This does not mean the servers have already shut down. Until the scheduled closure, players should still be able to find them through the server browser by searching for their names manually.

The official announcement contains the affected server identifiers. Players should verify their exact server rather than assuming every world on a particular map will be removed.

What Happens to Characters, Bases and World Saves?

For players who have invested hundreds or thousands of hours building bases, breeding creatures and developing their tribes, the biggest concern is naturally what happens to their progress.

Studio Wildcard has confirmed that it is working on a solution to make the affected world save files available after the scheduled shutdown.

That is encouraging news for communities hoping to preserve their worlds. However, as of October 12, the developer has not provided complete public instructions covering save retrieval, access conditions or compatibility with independently hosted servers.

Should you transfer your progress before the shutdown?

If your server is on the closure list, it is sensible to examine your available transfer options well before November 29.

Depending on the official server's transfer rules, players may be able to move eligible characters, creatures and items to other compatible official worlds.

These transfers are separate from the planned release of server save files. They also do not necessarily preserve entire bases or the original world layout.

The safest approach is to check the rules applicable to your server, coordinate with your tribe and avoid leaving critical decisions until the final hours.

Are Private ARK: Survival Ascended Servers Affected?

No. The November 29 shutdown concerns specifically identified servers on Studio Wildcard's official network.

Communities hosting their own dedicated ARK: Survival Ascended servers, including those running on VeryGames, are not part of this retirement operation.

A private server has its own world files, configuration and administration tools. Its operation is separate from the official server population management announced by Studio Wildcard.

Administrators can therefore continue managing their existing private worlds without having to relocate them because of this announcement.

For communities considering a more independent multiplayer experience, a private ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server provides control over gameplay rates, access permissions, mods and persistent world administration.

VeryGames also supports ARK server clusters and CurseForge mod installation through its management panel. These capabilities are useful for communities building and maintaining their own worlds, but they should not be confused with a confirmed official-to-private save migration procedure.

What Players Should Do Before November 29

There is still time to prepare. Players on affected official servers should focus on identifying their world, communicating with their tribe and understanding what progress can realistically be preserved.

The most important date remains November 29, 2026. Affected official worlds are scheduled to disappear from the live network on that day, even though their save files may subsequently become accessible through a separate process.

For existing VeryGames customers, there is no mandatory action associated with this particular shutdown. Regular backups and normal server maintenance remain good practices, but the official network changes do not impose a migration on privately hosted worlds.

A Major Change for ARK's Official Communities

Retiring 420 official servers is a significant decision for ARK: Survival Ascended, particularly for tribes that have remained active in worlds with declining populations.

While Studio Wildcard presents the operation as a way to improve the long-term health of its official network, affected communities now face an important deadline.

The possibility of recovering world saves offers some reassurance, but players should wait for the confirmed technical details before planning around a private server restoration.

For now, the priority is simple: check your server, identify your available transfer options and prepare before November 29.