ARK Dev Kit: How to Create Custom Maps and Creatures for ARK: Survival Evolved
Introduction
ARK: Survival Evolved is a popular survival game that lets you explore, craft, fight, and tame dinosaurs on a mysterious island. But what if you want to change some aspects of the game, or add new features, creatures, or maps? That's where the ARK Dev Kit comes in.
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The ARK Dev Kit is a streamlined version of the Unreal Engine 4 Editor that simplifies the mod creation and sharing process for ARK: Survival Evolved. It gives you access to all the content and data of the game, and allows you to modify and create your own assets, blueprints, scripts, and more. You can also use the ARK Dev Kit to upload your mods to Steam Workshop or Epic Games Store, where other players can download and enjoy them.
Modding is a fun and creative way to express yourself and enhance your gaming experience. You can make your own custom maps, items, weapons, structures, creatures, game modes, and more. You can also learn valuable skills in game design, programming, art, and animation. And you can join a massive community of passionate mod authors and players who share your love for ARK.
Getting the ARK Dev Kit
To start developing mods for ARK, you need the ARK Dev Kit. To get the Dev Kit, you need to download the Epic Games launcher here, where you'll end up with a screen like this:
Click the upper-right button to download the Epic Games launcher installer. When you launch this installer, everything should be pretty self-explanatory. The ARK Dev Kit is a modified version of the Unreal Engine 4 editor. It's been adapted to make developers able to create mods for ARK. That means a lot of knowledge about Unreal Engine 4 is applicable when working in the ARK Dev Kit. I'll go into this a little later.
Once you've installed the launcher and open it, it should look a little like this:
You should then select the "Modding" tab. This opens up a window where you can select the game you want to mod. Select Ark and click "Install".
Now your computer will download and install the ARK Dev Kit. This is going to take a while... As of now the size of the ARK Dev Kit is 90 GB, so some of your patience is required.
How to download and install ARK Modkit
ARK Dev Kit tutorial for beginners
Best ARK: Survival Evolved mods and maps
ARK Dev Kit vs Unreal Engine 4 Editor
How to upload ARK mods to Steam Workshop
ARK Dev Kit system requirements and performance tips
How to create custom creatures and items in ARK Dev Kit
ARK Dev Kit troubleshooting and common errors
How to update ARK Dev Kit and mods
How to use blueprints and data tables in ARK Dev Kit
How to make a total conversion mod for ARK: Survival Evolved
How to add new engrams and tekgrams in ARK Dev Kit
How to create a custom map for ARK: Survival Evolved
How to use the landscape tool and foliage in ARK Dev Kit
How to add weather effects and lighting in ARK Dev Kit
How to create a custom UI and HUD in ARK Dev Kit
How to use animations and sounds in ARK Dev Kit
How to add new biomes and terrain features in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the primal game data and game mode in ARK Dev Kit
How to test and debug your mod in ARK Dev Kit
How to optimize your mod for performance and compatibility in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the graph editor and scripting in ARK Dev Kit
How to create a custom boss fight and arena in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the primal character status component in ARK Dev Kit
How to add new resources and crafting recipes in ARK Dev Kit
How to create a custom dinosaur AI and behavior in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the primal inventory component in ARK Dev Kit
How to add new skins and costumes in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the damage type and resistance system in ARK Dev Kit
How to create a custom mission and reward system in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the primal structure component in ARK Dev Kit
How to add new structures and building pieces in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the primal item component in ARK Dev Kit
How to add new weapons and tools in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the primal buff component in ARK Dev Kit
How to add new buffs and debuffs in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the primal dino settings class in ARK Dev Kit
How to customize the taming values and food effectiveness of dinosaurs in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the primal spawner component in ARK Dev Kit
How to spawn dinosaurs and other entities in your map or mod in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the primal game state class in ARK Dev Kit
How to track and save the game progress and player data in your mod or map in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the primal player controller class in ARK Dev Kit
How to customize the player movement and input settings in your mod or map in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the primal player state class in ARK Dev Kit
How to customize the player stats and attributes in your mod or map in ARK Dev Kit
How to use the primal tribe manager class in ARK Dev Kit
How to customize the tribe system and settings in your mod or map in ARK Dev Kit
When the Dev Kit is installed, start it up with the Launch option. There's a cogwheel next to the Launch option. If you click this cogwheel, you can uninstall, verify or go to options. While installing and going to options are probably well-known possibilities, verification might not be. Verification is an option you might want to use when you're experiencing strange errors, as it will verify your files, see if something's wrong and fix it when it finds something. It won't always help, but it's often a good start.
Exploring the ARK Dev Kit
When you start up the ARK Dev Kit, it will probably look something like this:
If this is the first time you've started up an editor, this might be pretty confusing and overwhelming. I've decided to cut it up in several pieces to make it a bit easier, like so:
In the top left, is the "Modes Panel" (Modes Panel Documentation)
In the bottom left, you find the "Content Browser" (<a href="(^6 Creating your first mod
Now that you have the ARK Dev Kit installed and ready, you might be wondering how to create your first mod. Don't worry, it's not as hard as it may seem. In this section, I will guide you through the basic steps of making a simple mod and testing it in-game.
A mod is essentially a collection of assets and data that modify or add to the existing game content. The ARK Dev Kit provides you with a template for creating a mod, which you can customize and expand as you wish. To create a mod, you need to do the following:
Create a new mod folder and name it whatever you want.
Copy the generic mod files from the Dev Kit to your mod folder.
Edit the PrimalGameData file to set up your mod information and settings.
Add or modify assets, blueprints, scripts, etc. to your mod folder.
Cook and upload your mod to Steam Workshop or Epic Games Store.
Subscribe to your mod and enable it in-game.
Let's go over each step in more detail.
Create a new mod folder
The first thing you need to do is to create a new folder for your mod inside the Dev Kit directory. You can do this by using the Content Browser in the Dev Kit. The Content Browser is where you can browse, create, import, export, and manage all the assets and data of your mod. To open the Content Browser, click on the button in the toolbar that looks like this:
The Content Browser will open in a new window. You can dock it anywhere in the Dev Kit interface by dragging it to the desired location. You can also resize it by dragging its edges or corners. The Content Browser has several tabs and panels that help you organize and access your content. You can learn more about them in the Content Browser Documentation.
To create a new folder for your mod, right-click on the Mods folder in the Content Browser and select New Folder. Name your folder whatever you want, but make sure it doesn't have any spaces or special characters. For example, I will name my folder MyFirstMod.
You should now see your new folder inside the Mods folder. This is where you will store all the files and assets of your mod.
Copy the generic mod files
The next thing you need to do is to copy some generic mod files from the Dev Kit to your mod folder. These files are essential for making your mod work properly and include some basic settings and data that you can customize later. To copy these files, follow these steps:
In the Content Browser, navigate to /Game/Mods/GenericMod.
Select all the files inside this folder by pressing Ctrl+A or by dragging a selection box around them.
Right-click on any of the selected files and choose Copy.
Navigate to your mod folder (e.g. /Game/Mods/MyFirstMod).
Right-click on an empty space in your mod folder and choose Paste.
You should now see several files copied to your mod folder. These files are:
GenericMod.umap: This is the map file of your mod. A map is where you can place and arrange all the actors (such as creatures, items, structures, etc.) that make up your mod's environment. You can edit this file by double-clicking on it in the Content Browser.
PrimalGameData_BP_GenericMod.uasset: This is the primal game data file of your mod. A primal game data file contains all the information and settings of your mod, such as its name, description, icon, dependencies, engrams, spawn points, etc. You can edit this file by double-clicking on it in the Content Browser.
TestGameMode_GenericMod.uasset: This is the game mode file of your mod. A game mode file defines how the game behaves and what rules apply when playing your mod, such as what player character to use, what UI elements to show, what game events to trigger, etc. You can edit this file by double-clicking on it in the Content Browser.
Edit the PrimalGameData file
The next thing you need to do is to edit the PrimalGameData file of your mod. This file contains all the information and settings of your mod, such as its name, description, icon, dependencies, engrams, spawn points, etc. You can edit this file by double-clicking on it in the Content Browser. This will open the Blueprint Editor, where you can modify the properties and functions of your mod.
The Blueprint Editor is where you can create and edit blueprints, which are visual scripts that define the logic and behavior of your mod. Blueprints are composed of nodes, which are graphical representations of actions, events, variables, functions, etc. You can connect nodes with wires to create a flow of data and logic. You can learn more about blueprints in the Blueprints Documentation.
For now, we will focus on editing the properties of the PrimalGameData file. These properties are displayed in the Details panel on the right side of the Blueprint Editor. You can scroll down to see all the properties and categories that you can modify. Some of the most important ones are:
Mod Name: This is the name of your mod that will be displayed in-game and on Steam Workshop or Epic Games Store. You can change this to whatever you want, but make sure it is clear and descriptive.
Mod Description: This is the description of your mod that will be displayed in-game and on Steam Workshop or Epic Games Store. You can change this to whatever you want, but make sure it is informative and concise.
Mod Icon Texture: This is the icon of your mod that will be displayed in-game and on Steam Workshop or Epic Games Store. You can change this to whatever you want, but make sure it is a 256x256 pixel image file that represents your mod well.
Mod Map Name: This is the name of the map file of your mod that will be loaded when playing your mod. You can change this to whatever you want, but make sure it matches the name of your map file (e.g. GenericMod.umap).
Mod Dependencies: This is a list of other mods that your mod depends on or is compatible with. You can add or remove mods from this list by clicking on the plus or minus buttons. You can also specify whether a mod is required or optional for your mod to work.
Engram Entries: This is a list of engrams that your mod adds or modifies. Engrams are blueprints that allow players to craft items, weapons, structures, etc. You can add or remove engrams from this list by clicking on the plus or minus buttons. You can also edit the properties of each engram, such as its name, description, icon, cost, level requirement, prerequisites, etc.
Additional Structure Engrams: This is a list of structure engrams that your mod adds or modifies. Structure engrams are blueprints that allow players to place structures, such as walls, floors, doors, etc. You can add or remove structure engrams from this list by clicking on the plus or minus buttons. You can also edit the properties of each structure engram, such as its name, description, icon, cost, level requirement, prerequisites, etc.
Supply Crate Loot Quality Modifiers: This is a list of supply crate loot quality modifiers that your mod adds or modifies. Supply crate loot quality modifiers are values that affect the quality and quantity of items that spawn in supply crates. You can add or remove supply crate loot quality modifiers from this list by clicking on the plus or minus buttons. You can also edit the properties of each supply crate loot quality modifier, such as its name, description, icon, value range, weight distribution curve, etc.
NPC Spawn Entries: This is a list of NPC spawn entries that your mod adds or modifies. NPC spawn entries are data structures that define where and how NPCs (such as creatures) spawn in the world. You can add or remove NPC spawn entries from this list by clicking on the plus or minus buttons. You can also edit the properties of each NPC spawn entry, such as its name, description, icon, spawn limit number and range multiplier, spawn weight multiplier, entry weight, NPCs to spawn, etc.
You don't have to edit all these properties right away, but you should at least change the mod name, description, icon, and map name to match your mod. You can also save your changes by clicking on the Save button in the toolbar.
Add or modify assets
The next thing you need to do is to add or modify assets for your mod. Assets are the building blocks of your mod, such as textures, meshes, sounds, animations, materials, etc. You can create your own assets from scratch, import them from external sources, or modify existing assets from the game. You can also use blueprints to create and edit assets with logic and behavior.
To add or modify assets for your mod, you need to use the Content Browser and the various editors and tools that the Dev Kit provides. You can learn more about them in the Content Creation Documentation. For example, you can use the following editors and tools:
Material Editor: This is where you can create and edit materials, which are graphical shaders that define the appearance and properties of surfaces in the game. You can use nodes and wires to create complex material expressions and effects. You can learn more about materials in the Material Editor Documentation.
Particle Editor: This is where you can create and edit particle systems, which are collections of particles that simulate natural phenomena such as fire, smoke, water, etc. You can use modules and curves to control the behavior and appearance of particles. You can learn more about particle systems in the Particle Editor Documentation.
Animation Editor: This is where you can create and edit animations, which are sequences of poses that define the movement of characters and objects in the game. You can use keyframes, curves, bones, blend spaces, state machines, etc. to create realistic and dynamic animations. You can learn more about animations in the Animation Editor Documentation.
Blueprint Editor: This is where you can create and edit blueprints, which are visual scripts that define the logic and behavior of your mod. You can use nodes and wires to create a flow of data and logic. You can also create custom classes, functions, variables, events, etc. for your mod. You can learn more about blueprints in the Blueprints Documentation.
Level Editor: This is where you can create and edit maps, which are where you place and arrange all the actors (such as creatures, items, structures, etc.) that make up your mod's environment. You can use tools such as brushes, volumes, landscape, foliage, lighting, etc. to create realistic and immersive maps. You can learn more about maps in the Level Editor Documentation.
You can add or modify assets for your mod by using any of these editors and tools. To open an editor or tool, you can double-click on an asset in the Content Browser or right-click on it and choose Edit. To create a new asset from scratch or import one from an external source, you can right-click on an empty space in your mod folder in the Content Browser and choose New Asset or Import.
You should store all your assets in your mod folder (e.g. /Game/Mods/MyFirstMod) or subfolders inside it. This will make it easier to manage and organize your mod content. You can also rename or move your assets by using the Content Browser.
Cook and upload your mod
The next thing you need to do is to cook and upload your mod to Steam Workshop or Epic Games Store. Cooking is the process of packaging your mod files into a format that can be used by the game engine. Uploading is the process of transferring your cooked mod files to a platform where other players can download and play them.
To cook and upload your mod, you need to use the ARK Dev Kit Launcher. The ARK Dev Kit Launcher is a tool that allows you to easily cook and upload your mods with a few clicks. To open the ARK Dev Kit Launcher, click on the button in the toolbar that looks like this:
The ARK Dev Kit Launcher will open in a new window. It has several tabs and options that help you cook and upload your mods. You can learn more about them in the ARK Dev Kit Launcher Documentation. For now, we will focus on the basic steps of cooking and uploading your mod.
In the ARK Dev Kit Launcher window, click on the Cook/Upload tab.
In the Mod Name field, enter the name of your mod (e.g. MyFirstMod). This should match the name of your mod folder and your PrimalGameData file.
In the Mod Description field, enter the description of your mod (e.g. This is my first mod for ARK: Survival Evolved). This should match the description of your PrimalGameData file.
In the Mod Image field, browse and select the image file of your mod icon (e.g. MyFirstMod.png). This should be a 256x256 pixel image file that represents your mod well.
In the Map Name field, enter the name of your mod map file (e.g. GenericMod.umap). This should match the name of your map file and your PrimalGameData file.
In the Output Direc