Remove Stacking Mods (Crossplay)
Running a modded ARK: Survival Ascended server often means dealing with stacking mods that inflate inventory limits. While these mods are fantastic during gameplay, they become a headache when you want to migrate back to a vanilla experience or switch to a different stack system. The Remove Stacking Mods (Crossplay) add-on exists precisely to solve this problem, offering a fully automated remapping process that converts every modded stack into standard vanilla items without manual intervention.
This tool reads the remapping data from your active stacking mod, removes the mod's item definitions, and converts all affected items in your savegame to their vanilla counterparts. The process is designed for dedicated servers, including crossplay-enabled setups, ensuring that both PC and console players see consistent results. The key advantage here is that the conversion happens automatically, saving you hours of tedious inventory sorting.
How the Conversion Works
The add-on operates by scanning your server's savegame for items that belong to a specific stacking mod. It then uses a remapping table to identify the original vanilla item and replaces the modded stack with the correct number of vanilla items. This is not a simple deletion; it is a precise conversion that respects your configured stack sizes.
To get started, you need to set up the GUS-Ini settings correctly. The critical parameter is modpath, which tells the tool which stacking mod to target. For example, if your stacking mod is named TG_Stack_1000_50, you would set modpath="TG_Stack_1000_50". You can find this path by checking your server's ShooterGame log for the LoadGameMods line, which lists the exact folder structure of every loaded mod.
Another useful setting is deletecustomrecipe=true, which removes any custom recipes introduced by the stacking mod. This ensures that no leftover crafting entries remain in your game world after the conversion.
Critical Setup for Item Safety
Before you run the conversion, you must align your stack sizes. The tool converts every "stack" it finds, so if your current stacking mod allows 1000 items per stack but your new vanilla settings only allow 100, you will lose items. The ideal approach is to set your new stack sizes to match what your stacking mod used. This way, each converted stack maps directly to a vanilla stack of the same size, preventing any loss.
Here is a step-by-step checklist for a safe conversion:
- Set your desired stack sizes in your GameUserSettings.ini to match your stacking mod's values.
- Start your server with both the stacking mod and Remove Stacking Mods (Crossplay) active.
- Monitor the server logs for the "finish converting" message, which signals the process is complete.
- Make a savegame backup immediately after the conversion.
- Restart the server without the stacking mod and without the removal tool.
Once you complete these steps, your server will run entirely on vanilla item stacks, with no trace of the old mod.
Limitations and What Is Not Converted
It is important to understand the boundaries of this add-on. While it handles standard inventory items flawlessly, it does not convert modded dedicated storage containers. If your players have items inside modded storage boxes, those items will remain inaccessible after the mod is removed. You must instruct your players to move all resources into vanilla storage (like normal chests or the player's inventory) before running the conversion.
Additionally, Travel Elements and other Tribute Travel items are excluded from the conversion process. These special items cannot be remapped automatically, so plan accordingly if your server relies on them for progression.
Version and Mod Compatibility
The Remove Stacking Mods (Crossplay) add-on is designed for ARK: Survival Ascended and supports crossplay between Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms. It works with most popular stacking mods, provided you correctly identify the mod path from your server logs. The tool is compatible with the current major game version, and the developers regularly update it to match new game patches. Always check the add-on's page for the latest compatibility notes before updating your server.
For players looking to streamline their server management, the foxygame.net launcher offers a one-click install for Remove Stacking Mods (Crossplay), pulling the latest version directly into your mod list without manual file downloads. This launcher also tracks version compatibility, so you know immediately if your game build is supported.
Step-by-Step Installation Guide
Learning how to install this tool is straightforward. First, download the add-on from a trusted mod repository. After that, place the mod folder into your server's ShooterGame/Content/Mods directory. Then, add the mod's ID to your server's GameUserSettings.ini under the [ServerSettings] section, in the ActiveMods line. Finally, configure the GUS-Ini settings as described earlier, and start your server.
If you prefer a more automated route, the foxygame.net launcher's add-on catalog includes Remove Stacking Mods (Crossplay) with auto-update functionality, ensuring you always run the latest build without manual checks. This is especially useful for server admins who manage multiple clusters.
Final Verification and Cleanup
After the conversion completes and you restart your server without the stacking mod, verify that all items are present and correctly stacked. Check a few player inventories and storage containers to confirm the vanilla item IDs are in place. If you notice any missing items, restore your backup and re-check your stack size configuration.
Once everything looks good, you can safely delete the stacking mod files from your server directory. The Remove Stacking Mods (Crossplay) add-on itself can also be removed, as it is no longer needed after the conversion. Your server will now run cleanly with vanilla item stacks, and your players can enjoy a fresh, unmodded inventory experience.
In conclusion, this tool is an essential utility for any ARK: Survival Ascended server admin who wants to transition away from stacking mods without losing player progress. By following the setup guidelines and understanding the tool's limitations, you can achieve a seamless migration to vanilla gameplay.