How to Change the Map on Your ARK Server
Switch your ARK server to any official map by updating the startup parameter. Includes every official map ID and a note on what happens to existing player data.
Official Map IDs
ARK uses a map name in the startup command to decide which world loads. Here are all official maps and their exact IDs:
| Map Name | Startup ID |
|---|---|
| The Island | TheIsland |
| The Center | TheCenter |
| Scorched Earth | ScorchedEarth_P |
| Ragnarok | Ragnarok |
| Aberration | Aberration_P |
| Extinction | Extinction |
| Valguero | Valguero_P |
| Genesis Part 1 | Genesis |
| Crystal Isles | CrystalIsles |
| Genesis Part 2 | Gen2 |
| Lost Island | LostIsland |
| Fjordur | Fjordur |
How to Change the Map
Your server startup command looks something like this:
ShooterGameServer TheIsland?SessionName=MyServer?...
The map name is the first argument right after ShooterGameServer. Replace it with the ID from the table above.
Example — switching from The Island to Ragnarok:
ShooterGameServer Ragnarok?SessionName=MyServer?listen
On DustBowl.Games, you change this in your server's Startup Parameters panel in the control panel. Find the Map field, enter the new map ID, and save. Then restart your server.
Custom and Mod Maps
Workshop maps have their own IDs and are not included in the table above. You download them the same way as mods — add the workshop item ID to your mod list — and use the map's specific startup ID (usually listed on the workshop page). The process is the same: replace the map name in your startup command with the custom map's ID.
What Happens to Your Player Data
Changing the map does not wipe player data, but it does mean everyone loads into a new world.
- Player characters and tribe memberships are stored per-map. When you switch to Ragnarok, players who join will either load their existing Ragnarok character or create a new one.
- Progress on the old map is not lost. If you switch back to The Island later, everything — characters, bases, tames — will be exactly where you left it.
- You cannot transfer a character between maps this way. Use the ARK upload/download system (obelisks or supply drops) for character transfers. See the cluster setup guide if you want to run multiple maps simultaneously.
Bottom line: swapping the map ID is safe. Old saves sit untouched. Players just start fresh on the new map.