Configure ARK: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server and Clients for the Pre-Aquatica Beta Branch

Overview

The preaquatica beta branch for ARK: Survival Evolved is crucial for reverting your game and dedicated server to the version prior to the 360.1 update. This is often necessary to maintain compatibility with certain mods that may not function correctly on newer game versions.

This article provides detailed instructions on how to correctly configure both your ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server and your game client(s) to use the preaquatica branch, ensuring seamless connection and proper mod functionality.

Configuring Your ARK: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server

To run your dedicated server on the preaquatica beta branch, the beta flag must be passed to SteamCMD when the server's game files are downloaded — not to the ARK server binary at runtime. This is done via a dedicated startup variable and applied by reinstalling the server, which re-runs SteamCMD with the new flag.

Steps:

1. In your CloudNord panel, open your ARK server and go to the Startup tab.
2. Locate the "SteamCMD Extra Flags" field. In this field, enter the following:

   -beta preaquatica

   Note: this is a different field from "Additional Arguments". "Additional Arguments" is appended to the ARK server binary at launch and will not switch branches — only "SteamCMD Extra Flags" affects what SteamCMD downloads.

3. Save the variable.
4. Go to Settings → Reinstall Server and confirm the reinstall. This re-runs SteamCMD with the beta flag, which downloads the preaquatica build of the dedicated server. Your saves, configs and mods under ShooterGame/Saved/ are preserved — only the game binaries are replaced.
5. Once the reinstall finishes, start the server. It will now boot on the preaquatica branch.

To switch back to the live branch later, clear the "SteamCMD Extra Flags" field (or set it to -beta public) and reinstall the server.

Configuring Your ARK: Survival Evolved Game Client(s)

For players to connect to a preaquatica dedicated server, their ARK: Survival Evolved game client must also be running on the same beta branch. This is managed directly through the Steam client.

Steps:

1. Open your Steam library.
2. Right-click on "ARK: Survival Evolved" in your game list.
3. Select "Properties".
4. In the Properties window, navigate to the "Betas" tab.
5. From the "Beta Participation" dropdown menu, select "preaquatica - ASE: Pre-Aquatica".
6. Close the Properties window. Steam will automatically download the necessary files for the preaquatica branch.

Important Note

Both your ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server and all connecting game clients must be on the exact same beta branch (preaquatica in this case) to ensure successful connection and gameplay without compatibility issues.