Revision history

v1.0: October 2026 — first edition.

About this guide

This guide covers putting the save file of a world you have been playing onto our server and carrying on from where you left off. What we have verified is moving the world save file.

We cannot guarantee that character or tribe data will carry over. The steps differ depending on how the original world was played (single player, non-dedicated session, another server, and so on), so we have not been able to verify it.

Before you start, keep a copy of the original save file somewhere else. That way you can go back if the swap does not work.

What you need

The save file for the world you want to bring (extension .ark, for example TheIsland.ark)
Access to the game panel (Logging into the game panel and feature overview)
Your SFTP details, shown in the game panel, if the file is larger than 100MB

Where the save file lives depends on how you were playing. Coming from another (dedicated) server it is under ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/; from single player on your own PC it is under ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArksLocal/ (DLC maps use their own separate folders). On our server the destination is ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/ in either case.

Steps

1. Stop the server

Stop the server in the game panel. If you swap files while it is running, the running server will save over them and put the old world back.

2. Check the map name

Look at [WORLD] Map on the Startup tab. The file you bring must be named after the map name shown there.

For example, if [WORLD] Map is TheIsland, the file must be TheIsland.ark. If the name does not match, the server will create a brand-new world and start with that.

3. Upload the file

Open ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/ in the panel's file manager and upload the save file. If a file with the same name is already there, it will be replaced.

For files larger than 100MB, use SFTP rather than the file manager. The file manager has a per-file size limit.

4. Start the server and check

Start the server, join from the game, and confirm that you are continuing in the world you brought. For how to find the address, see Initial setup.

Use SFTP for files over 100MB

The SFTP host and user name are shown in the game panel. Once connected, go to ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/ and place the save file there.

SFTP is covered in Logging into the game panel and feature overview.

If it does not work

The server starts a brand-new world

The file name probably does not match [WORLD] Map on the Startup tab. Stop the server, correct the name, and start it again.

The file you uploaded has disappeared

If you upload while the server is running, the running server may save and overwrite it. Always stop the server first.

Settings revert on their own

If this is about a config file rather than the world, see GameUserSettings.ini resets when the server restarts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring character and tribe data too?

The steps depend on how the original world was played, so we cannot guarantee that it will work. We have only verified moving the world save file.

Can I change plans after bringing a world across?

Yes. When moving to a smaller plan, check that your disk usage and the memory your map and mods need both fit the new plan.

Is the world I brought backed up?

Once it is on our server it is backed up in the same way as any other world.