Is Ark Cross Platform? Everything You Need to Know

Ark: Survival Evolved has remained one of the most popular survival games since it has released. With its massive open-world environments, intense dinosaur-taming mechanics, and engaging multiplayer experience in both pvp and pve, it has attracted millions of players across different platforms. But one of the most common questions players ask is: Is Ark cross platform?

Cross-platform gaming allows players on different devices / platforms such as PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, to join the same servers and play together. In this article, we’ll break down Ark’s cross play capabilities, which platforms can play together, and what the future holds for cross-platform support in Ark.

What Is Cross Platform Play?

Before we dive into Ark’s cross play capabilities, let’s break down what cross-platform gaming means.

Cross-platform play (or cross play) allows players on different systems / consoles to connect and play together. For example, a PlayStation user could team up with an Xbox player, or a PC player could join a console player’s game. This feature is highly sought after in multiplayer games because it enables friends to play together regardless of their preferred platform and is the industry norm now.

However, cross play is not always straightforward. Many games have restrictions based on platform ecosystems, licensing agreements, or technical limitations.

Is Ark: Survival Evolved Cross Platform?

The answer is complicated but yes, but with limitations. Ark: Survival Evolved supports cross platform in specific scenarios, but it does not offer universal cross-platform compatibility across all systems (bummer).

Here’s how Ark’s cross play works across different platforms:

PC and Xbox (Windows 10 Store Version) – Cross play Supported

• If you purchased Ark from the Microsoft Store (Windows 10 version), you can play with Xbox users.
• This is because the Microsoft Store version runs on the same servers as Xbox, making cross play possible between these versions of the game.

Steam (PC) and Xbox – No Cross play

• If you bought Ark through Steam or Epic Games Store, you can’t play with Xbox players.
• The Steam version has separate servers from Xbox and the Microsoft Store PC version, making them incompatible for cross-platform play.

Xbox and PlayStation – No Cross play

• Ark does not support cross play between Xbox and PlayStation.
• PlayStation has historically had stricter cross play policies, which may be one reason Ark does not support this.

PlayStation and PC – No Cross play

• PlayStation players cannot join servers with PC players.
• Unlike some other games that bridge this gap, Ark has kept PlayStation servers separate.

Mobile (iOS & Android) – Cross play Supported

• Ark: Survival Evolved is available on mobile devices, and iOS and Android players can play together.
• However, mobile users cannot play with other platforms like PC or Xbox.

Nintendo Switch – No Cross play

• The Nintendo Switch version of Ark does not support cross play with any other platform.

Why Doesn’t Ark Have Full Cross play Compatabiliy?

Several challenges prevent Ark from offering full cross-platform support:

1. Platform-Specific Game Versions

Each version of Ark is slightly different depending on the platform. For example, PC players often receive mods, updates, and expansions earlier than console players. These differences make syncing content across platforms very challenging.

2. Performance Disparities

Ark is a resource-intensive game. PC players often have better hardware, higher frame rates, and access to mods, which could give them an unfair advantage over console players for game modes like pvp.

3. Licensing and Business Restrictions

Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have their own infrastructures and policies regarding cross play. Some companies are more open to cross-platform gaming, while others prefer to keep their player bases separate from everyone else.

4. Mods and Community Content

PC players have access to a vast range of community-created mods, which are not available on consoles. This difference creates compatibility issues.

How to Play Ark Cross Platform (Where Available)

If you’re looking to play Ark: Survival Evolved cross-platform, follow these steps depending on your platform:

For PC (Microsoft Store) and Xbox Players

1. Make sure you’re using the Windows 10/Microsoft Store version of Ark.
2. Join an Xbox-compatible server. These servers are marked as cross play-friendly.
3. Invite your friends who are on Xbox / Microsoft Store to join your game.

For Mobile Players (iOS & Android)

1. Download Ark: Survival Evolved on iOS or Android.
2. Connect to an official mobile server that supports the cross play feature.
3. Join friends who are also playing on mobile devices.

Unfortunately, for players on Steam, PlayStation, and Switch, there are no workarounds for cross play at this time.

Will Ark Ever Get Full Cross Platform?

While Ark: Survival Evolved has limited cross-play features now, there might be future updates coming from Studio Wildcard in that regard. Given the growing demand for cross-platform play, more compatibility between consoles and PC is perhaps something the developers should consider in future iterations of the title. But looking at Ark and the way it is built currently, full cross-platform support will more than likely remain out of reach.

Conclusion

So, is Ark cross platform? The answer is yes, but with restrictions. While some versions of the game allow cross play (such as Xbox and Windows 10 PC, and iOS with Android) other platforms remain isolated from one another making cross play not an option.