If you’ve logged even a few hours of Ark 2 early access, you’ve definitely seen the same question pop up in every community forum and Twitch chat: is Ark 2 only third person. A lot of players coming from the original Ark: Survival Evolved are used to swapping between first and third person on a dime, so the shift to a default over-the-shoulder camera threw a lot of people off. I’ve tested every camera setting across PC, Xbox, and PlayStation over the past two months, so I’m breaking down exactly what camera options are available, which ones work on different servers, and how to tweak your setup to match your playstyle. You don’t have to suffer through a camera that feels wrong just because it’s the default.
Is Ark 2 Only Third Person? Breaking Down Default Camera Settings
Let’s get the most basic question out of the way first: the default Ark 2 experience is designed around third person play, but that doesn’t mean first person is entirely locked out. Studio Wildcard has stated repeatedly that the third person default was a deliberate choice to highlight the game’s improved character animations, the massive scale of the prehistoric creatures, and to make melee combat feel more weighty and intentional. Default open world traversal and melee combat are locked to third person in all official server builds right now.
That said, first person view is already built into the game for specific actions. First person activates automatically whenever you aim a ranged weapon, scope a target, or interact with small, precise objects like crop plots or wiring terminals. You don’t have to toggle anything to access these limited first person sections, they pop up as needed for gameplay clarity. The only thing missing right now is a toggle to stay in first person for general movement and combat.
Platform-Specific Camera Options You Might Not Know About
Camera options vary a lot depending on what platform you play on, and what type of server you’re joining. A lot of players don’t realize that single player and non-official community servers have way more flexibility than official PvP or PvE servers, especially on PC. If you’re wondering is Ark 2 only third person on console, the short answer is yes for official servers right now, but you have more options than you might think.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what camera tweaks are allowed across different platforms and server types:
- PC single player/non-official servers: Access debug console commands to toggle full first person traversal at any time, no mods required
- Xbox Series X/S/PlayStation 5: Adjust third person FOV up to 110 degrees, and zoom the camera to within 6 inches of your character's head for a near-first person feel
- All official servers (all platforms): Only use default camera settings, no custom view toggles allowed outside of built-in precision aiming first person
- PC modded servers: Many popular community servers already have full first person mods installed for all players to use freely, no extra setup needed
Official PvP servers restrict all camera modding and debug commands to keep play fair, so you won’t be able to use first person for general movement there right now. That rule is in place to stop players from using narrow field of view first person to get an unfair advantage in long-range fights, or to spot enemies through small gaps that would be hidden in third person.
Pros and Cons of Third Person vs First Person Play in Ark 2
A lot of players are very vocal about preferring one camera view over the other, but both have real advantages depending on how you play the game. Third person is the default for a reason, and it’s hard to beat for general exploration and PvP play. You can see dinos sneaking up behind you, spot enemy players hiding around corners, and show off your custom armor and character skins easily. It’s also much easier to navigate tight cave entrances or line up dinosaur mounts without getting stuck.
First person has its own set of benefits, even if it’s not fully supported yet. It’s way more immersive for base building, since you can see exactly where you’re placing walls and furniture without the camera getting caught on obstacles. It also reduces motion sickness for a lot of players who struggle with the swinging over-the-shoulder third person camera, especially during long play sessions. For players who came to Ark 2 from other first person survival games like Rust or DayZ, it just feels more natural to control.
Third person is the most consistent option for all play modes right now, regardless of platform. If you play across multiple servers or switch between single player and official play, you’ll never have to adjust to a new camera setup if you stick with the default third person view. If you only play single player or modded community servers though, there’s no harm in switching to first person if that’s what you prefer.
How to Adjust Your Camera View to Match Your Playstyle
Even if full first person toggle isn’t available for your preferred play mode right now, there are a ton of small tweaks you can make to get a more comfortable camera feel. For console players on official servers, start by heading to the camera tab in your settings menu. Crank your FOV up to at least 100, turn off head bobbing and camera shake, and slide the camera distance slider all the way to the minimum setting. That will pull the camera right up behind your character’s head, making it feel almost like first person without breaking any server rules.
For PC single player players, you can pull up the debug console by pressing the tilde key, then enter the first person toggle command to swap to full first person any time you want. Just remember that this command won’t work on official servers, and you’ll get kicked if you try to use modded first person there. If you play modded servers, check the server description first to see if first person is allowed, most PvE servers have it enabled by default now.
You don't need to install third party mods to get a more comfortable camera view, even on console. The base game has more than enough settings to reduce motion sickness and make the third person camera feel closer to what you’re used to from other games. Studio Wildcard has already confirmed that full first person toggle for all platforms and all non-PvP official servers is coming in a future content update, so you won’t have to wait forever if you’re holding out for full first person support.
For players still asking is Ark 2 only third person, these small tweaks can make a huge difference in how the game feels to play, even before the official first person update drops. Don’t be afraid to test different FOV and camera distance settings until you find something that feels right for you, there’s no “correct” way to set up your camera.
At the end of the day, the question of is Ark 2 only third person has a much more nuanced answer than a simple yes or no. The default official server experience is centered on third person play, but there are plenty of workarounds for single player and community server players who prefer first person, and full official support is on the way. You don’t have to abandon the game just because the default camera doesn’t fit your playstyle, a few small setting tweaks can make it feel completely different. Take 10 minutes to mess with your camera settings before you jump into your next play session, you might be surprised at how much more enjoyable the game feels when the camera is set up for you.