Ark: Survival Ascended: Disabling Volumetric Clouds via DefaultEngine.ini

The volumetric system in ASA creates a dynamic, light-reactive atmosphere, but it often looks “grainy” or “ghostly” on anything below Ultra settings. For players aiming for the 60 FPS sweet spot, removing these clouds is the single most effective hardware tweak available. While the r.VolumetricCloud 0 command is well-known, injecting it directly into the engine files ensures the cloud engine never initializes, saving VRAM and reducing system latency across all maps, including The Island and Scorched Earth.

Hardware Compatibility & Expectations

• RTX 2000 / 3000 Series: Significant reduction in GPU temperature and a boost of 15-20 FPS.
• Console Players: This specific file tweak is for PC users; console players must still use the command console (~) or specialized mods.
• Visibility Advantage: Beyond performance, disabling clouds removes the “blinding” glare during sunrise/sunset, making it much easier to spot flying Alphas or Griffins.

Backup and Preparation

Since Ark updates are frequent and large, it is common for .ini files to be verified or reset.

1. Close Ark: Survival Ascended and the Steam/Epic Launcher.
2. Navigate to the installation directory.
3. Right-click DefaultEngine.ini, select Copy, and save a backup to your desktop.
4. Open the original file using Notepad++.

File Location

Depending on your installation, the file is typically located here: ...\ARK Survival Ascended\ShooterGame\Config\DefaultEngine.ini

Note: For some Steam users, the more persistent location is: ...\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\ARK Survival Ascended\ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsClient\Engine.ini

Best Config Settings

Scroll to the very bottom of the file. If the [SystemSettings] header does not exist, create it. Add the following lines to ensure clouds and fog are disabled on startup:

[SystemSettings]
r.VolumetricCloud=0
r.VolumetricFog=0
r.Fog=0
r.Water.SingleLayer.Reflection=0
r.Lumen.Reflections.Allow=0

Key Parameters Explained

Parameter	Recommended Value	Impact
r.VolumetricCloud	0	Disables the UE5 Volumetric Cloud system entirely. Largest FPS gain.
r.VolumetricFog	0	Removes the hazy/misty atmosphere, which greatly improves underwater visibility.
r.Fog	0	Removes the morning/evening “thick fog” events that obstruct vision.
r.Lumen.Reflections	0	Reduces the metallic “shimmer” on surfaces, further stabilizing FPS.

In-Game Settings vs. Config

To prevent the game from conflicting with your .ini tweaks, adjust these in the “Advanced” menu:

• Global Illumination Quality: Set to Low. This works in tandem with the cloud removal to simplify lighting.
• Foliage and Fluid Interaction: Set to Off. This is the second-highest performance killer after clouds.
• Resolution Scale: Keep at 100% if you disable clouds; you will likely have enough headroom to avoid upscaling blur.

Troubleshooting & Common Fixes

• Settings Resetting: If the clouds return after an update, re-apply the text. To stop this permanently, right-click the file, go to Properties, and check Read-only. (Uncheck this if you need to change other graphics in-game).
• Sky Looks “Empty”: Disabling clouds will leave a static skybox. If you find this immersion-breaking, try r.VolumetricCloud 1 and instead use r.VolumetricCloud.ViewRaySampleMaxCount 64 to lower the quality instead of disabling them.
• Ocean Visibility: If the water still looks blurry, ensure r.VolumetricFog=0 is correctly typed under the [SystemSettings] header.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion and Expected Results

By manually forcing r.VolumetricCloud=0 in your engine files, you are stripping away the most demanding part of Ark’s new engine. Most users see an immediate jump from chunky 40 FPS to stable 60+ FPS, with much cleaner visuals and no “pixelated” sky artifacts. It is the definitive way to play ASA on mid-range hardware.