ARK: How to Host a Dedicated Server and Play

Greetings, Dev! Are you tired of playing on crowded ARK servers with lag and long wait times? Hosting your own dedicated server is a great way to enjoy the game with your friends and customize your gaming experience. This article will guide you through the process of setting up and hosting an ARK dedicated server and playing the game on it.

System Requirements

Before we dive into the process of hosting an ARK server, let’s first go over the system requirements. Running a dedicated server requires a powerful computer with adequate hardware and software specifications. Here are the minimum requirements:

Hardware	Software
Quad-core CPU	Windows 7 or later
8 GB RAM	SteamCMD
100 GB of storage	ARK server software
Fast internet connection

Note that these are only the minimum requirements. Depending on the number of players and mods on your server, you may need a more powerful computer.

Setting Up the Server

Now that you have the hardware and software requirements, it’s time to set up the server. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Download and Install SteamCMD

SteamCMD is a command-line tool used to download and update game servers. You can download it from the official website. Once you have downloaded it, install it by following the instructions on the screen.

Step 2: Create a Steam Account and App ID

In order to run an ARK server, you need to create a Steam account and an App ID. Here are the steps:

1. Go to the Steamworks website.
2. Log in with your Steam account.
3. Click on “Create new App”.
4. Fill in the required information, such as the name of your app, the pricing, and the language.
5. Submit the form and wait for approval from Valve.

Step 3: Download the ARK Server Software

Once you have created a Steam account and an App ID, you can download the ARK server software from SteamCMD. Here are the steps:

1. Open SteamCMD.
2. Type “login anonymous” and hit Enter.
3. Type “app_update 376030” and hit Enter. This will download the ARK server software.
4. Wait for the download to finish.

Step 4: Configure the Server Settings

Before you start the server, you need to configure the server settings. Here are some important settings:

1. Server name
2. Password
3. Map
4. Difficulty level
5. XP multiplier
6. Taming speed multiplier
7. Harvest amount multiplier

You can access the server settings by editing the GameUserSettings.ini file in the ARK server software folder.

Step 5: Start the Server

Now that you have configured the server settings, it’s time to start the server. Here are the steps:

1. Open the ARK server software folder.
2. Double-click on the “ShooterGameServer.exe” file.
3. Wait for the server to start.

Congratulations! You have successfully set up an ARK dedicated server.

Playing on the Server

Now that you have set up the server, you can play the game on it. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Add the Server to Your Favorites

Before you can play on the server, you need to add it to your favorites list. Here are the steps:

1. Open the game.
2. Click on “Join ARK”.
3. Click on “Favorites”.
4. Click on “Add a server”.
5. Enter the IP address and port number of your server.
6. Click on “Add this address to favorites”.

Step 2: Connect to the Server

Now that you have added the server to your favorites list, you can connect to it. Here are the steps:

1. Click on “Join ARK”.
2. Click on “Favorites”.
3. Click on the name of your server.
4. Enter the password (if you set one).
5. Click on “Join”.

Congratulations! You are now playing on your own ARK dedicated server.

FAQ

1. How many players can join my ARK server?

The number of players that can join your server depends on the hardware specifications of your computer. In general, you can host up to 100 players on a single server.

2. Can I customize my ARK server?

Yes, you can customize your server by modifying the server settings and adding mods. However, be aware that some mods may cause compatibility issues with other mods or the game itself.

3. Can I run an ARK dedicated server on Linux?

Yes, you can run an ARK dedicated server on Linux using Wine or a virtual machine.

4. Can I transfer my character and items to another server?

Yes, you can transfer your character and items to another server using the in-game transfer system. However, be aware that some servers may have restrictions on transfers.

5. Can I run multiple ARK servers on the same computer?

Yes, you can run multiple ARK servers on the same computer by specifying different ports for each server.

We hope this article has been helpful in guiding you through the process of setting up and hosting an ARK dedicated server. Enjoy playing the game on your own server and customizing your gaming experience!