Ark: Survival Ascended: Best DefaultEngine.ini for DLSS 3.5 Tweak

The objective of this tweak is to force the DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction ($RR$) to prioritize moving objects (like dinosaurs and swaying trees) while stabilizing the Frame Generation pipeline to prevent UI flickering.

File Path & Access

File Path: [SteamLibrary]\steamapps\common\ARK Survival Ascended\ShooterGame\Config\

(Note: You can also use the override path in %LOCALAPPDATA%\ShooterGame\Saved\Config\Windows\Engine.ini)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Navigate to the ShooterGame\Config folder in your installation directory.
2. Locate DefaultEngine.ini. (Crucial: Backup as DefaultEngine_Backup.ini before editing).
3. Right-click and open with Notepad++ or Notepad.
4. Find the [/Script/Engine.RendererSettings] section.
5. Paste the configuration block below at the end of that section.
6. Save the file and set it to Read-only.

Optimized “DLSS-Ultra” Configuration Block

[/Script/Engine.RendererSettings]
r.NGX.DLSS.Preset=2
r.NGX.DLSS.Sharpness=0.5
r.NGX.DLSS.Reflections.Enable=1
r.NGX.DLSS.RayTracing.Enable=1
r.Streamline.Reflex.AutoSwitch=1
r.Streamline.FrameGeneration.Enabled=1
r.Streamline.FrameGeneration.QueueLimit=1
r.Streaming.PoolSize=4096
r.Shaders.Optimize=1

[ConsoleVariables]
r.DefaultFeature.AntiAliasing=2
r.TemporalAACurrentFrameWeight=0.1
r.Nanite.MaxPixelsPerEdge=4

Parameter Details & Technical Purpose

Parameter	Recommended Value	Technical Purpose
r.NGX.DLSS.Preset	2	Forces “Preset C,” which is optimized for fast-paced motion and significantly reduces ghosting on foliage.
r.Streamline.FG.QueueLimit	1	The Stutter Fix. Limits the frame buffer to prevent “input lag buildup” when using Frame Generation.
r.NGX.DLSS.RayTracing	1	Enables DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction for Lumen reflections, making water and metal look crisper.
r.Nanite.MaxPixelsPerEdge	4	Optimizes UE5 Nanite geometry to reduce draw calls, freeing up overhead for the DLSS upscaler.
r.Streaming.PoolSize	4096	Pre-allocates VRAM for textures to prevent the “hitch” when flying quickly across the map.

Best Practices for 2026 Ark Ascended Performance

To maintain a competitive edge and visual clarity in ASA, follow these additional GameEngineer.net technical steps:

• DLSS Swapper Protocol: If you still notice visual artifacts, use the DLSS Swapper tool to update your nvngx_dlss.dll and nvngx_dlssg.dll to version 3.7.0 or newer. Wildcard often ships the game with older DLLs that don’t support the latest 2026 reconstruction improvements.
• The “Invisible Water” Console Command: If you need maximum FPS for competitive PvP raids, open the console (~) and type r.Water.SingleLayer.Reflection 0. This removes the heavy Lumen reflections from water surfaces, a major GPU sink.
• Volumetric Fix: Volumetric clouds are the #1 performance killer. In the console, type r.VolumetricCloud 0 to gain a massive ~25% FPS boost instantly, though the sky will appear less dynamic.
• Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling: For DLSS Frame Generation to function correctly in 2026, ensure HAGS is enabled in Windows 11 Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings.