How to Host a Server on ARK PC

Greetings, Devs! Are you looking to host a server for ARK on your PC? Look no further! In this article, we will guide you through the steps to set up a server, customize it to your liking, and launch it so you can start playing with friends or even strangers. Sit back and relax as we take you through the necessary steps for a successful server launch.

Step 1: Requirements

Before anything else, make sure your PC meets the minimum requirements to host a server for ARK. Here’s a list of what you need:

Minimum Requirements	Recommended Requirements
Windows 7/8.1/10 64-bit	Windows 10 64-bit
Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better	Intel Core i7-4770/AMD FX-8350 or better
8 GB RAM	16 GB RAM
NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better	NVIDIA GTX 1070 8GB/AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB or better

Make sure your PC meets these requirements to ensure a smooth server launch.

Step 2: Download SteamCMD

The first thing you need to do is download SteamCMD. SteamCMD is a command-line utility that allows you to install and update dedicated servers for Steam games. You can download SteamCMD for free from the official SteamCMD website.

Step 3: Create a New Steam Account

Once you’ve downloaded SteamCMD, create a new Steam account to use specifically for the server. This account will be the one that launches and manages the server. Be sure to keep the login credentials safe, as they will be needed every time you want to update or restart the server.

Step 4: Create a Folder for the Server Files

Decide where you want to store the server files and create a new folder for them. Name the folder something easy to remember, like “ARKServer.”

Step 5: Launch SteamCMD

Now that you have SteamCMD downloaded and your folder created, it’s time to launch SteamCMD. Open the SteamCMD executable file and wait for it to load. It may take a few minutes for the first launch.

Step 5.1: Login to Your Steam Account on SteamCMD

Once SteamCMD is open, log in to your newly created Steam account by typing the following command:

login YOUR-USERNAME YOUR-PASSWORD

Be sure to replace “YOUR-USERNAME” and “YOUR-PASSWORD” with your actual login credentials.

Step 5.2: Set the Installation Directory

Now that you’re logged in to your Steam account, it’s time to set the installation directory to the folder you created earlier. Type the following command:

force_install_dir "C:\PATH-TO-FOLDER"

Replace “C:\PATH-TO-FOLDER” with the actual file path to your folder. For example, if you created the folder in your “Downloads” folder, the command would look like this:

force_install_dir "C:\Users\USERNAME\Downloads\ARKServer"

Step 6: Download the Server Files

Now that SteamCMD knows where to install the server files, it’s time to download them. Type the following command:

app_update 376030 validate

This will download the ARK server files, which may take some time depending on your internet speed. The “validate” command ensures that the files are up to date.

Step 7: Customize the Server

Now that the server files are downloaded and installed, it’s time to customize the server to your liking. This includes choosing a map, setting up the server rules, and adjusting the settings to your preference.

Step 7.1: Choose a Map

ARK has several maps to choose from, including The Island, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, and Aberration. To choose a map, navigate to the “ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer” folder and open the “GameUserSettings.ini” file with a text editor.

Under the “[ServerSettings]” section, find the line that says “MapName=” and replace the value with the name of the map you want to use. For example, if you want to use Ragnarok, the line should look like this:

MapName=Ragnarok

Step 7.2: Set Up Server Rules

Under the same “[ServerSettings]” section in the “GameUserSettings.ini” file, you can set up server rules such as difficulty, player damage, taming speed, and more. Here’s an example of what the section could look like:

[ServerSettings]DifficultyOffset=1.0TamingSpeedMultiplier=2.0HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0

You can adjust these values to your liking, but be sure to save the file when you’re done.

Step 8: Launch the Server

Now that the server is customized to your liking, it’s time to launch it. To do this, navigate to the “ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64” folder and double click the “ShooterGameServer.exe” file.

This will launch the server, and you should see a command prompt window appear with messages indicating that the server is starting up. Once the server is fully launched, you can connect to it using the game client or by sharing the server ID with friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I host a server and play on the same PC?

A: Yes, you can host a server and play on the same PC, but be aware that this may cause performance issues depending on your PC’s specifications.

Q: How do I update the server files?

A: To update the server files, simply launch SteamCMD and type the following command:

app_update 376030 validate

This will download any updates and ensure that the server files are up to date.

Q: How do I restart the server?

A: To restart the server, simply type the following command in the command prompt window:

exit

This will close the server, and you can then relaunch it by following Step 8.

Q: How do I connect to the server?

A: To connect to the server, simply launch the game client and select “Join ARK” from the main menu. In the server browser, enter the IP address and port of your server to connect. You can also share your server ID with friends so they can join directly.

Conclusion

And that’s it, Devs! We hope this guide has been helpful in setting up and launching your own ARK server. Remember to customize the server to your preference and have fun playing with friends or strangers. Good luck and happy gaming!