Optional Ark Server API and community plugins

The workspace Ark Server API tab is optional support for the community ArkServerApi stack (Version.dll / loader + plugins). It is not Wildcard, not CurseForge -mods=, and YARK does not endorse third-party DLLs.

Ark Server API — install from GitHub releases, Load on Start, and plugin zip management.

Experimental

ASA game patches often break the community API until authors publish a new build. Use a non-production profile first, and keep world backups.

What you can do

Action	Notes
Install	Downloads the latest API release into this server’s Win64 folder (cached under YARK app data)
Remove	Deletes API / loader / plugins; game files stay. Stop the server first
Load on Start	Off by default. Prefer Version.dll so Start stays on the normal game process
Add plugin zip	Installs into ArkApi\Plugins\<Name>; disable moves to Disabled_Plugins

Honesty

• Windows only.
• While Load on Start is on, Overview / workspace may show Loading Ark Server API… until the server window is ready.
• SteamCMD Update / Verify can overwrite Win64 community files (Version.dll, AsaApiLoader.exe, ArkApi\) because sync only excludes ShooterGame\Saved. Re-check the tab (or Install again) after an update if Load on Start fails. Move installation copies the whole tree, so API files move with the server when they were present on the source.
• Full engineering notes: repo docs/asa-api.md.