How to Play ARK while Hosting a Dedicated Server

Hi Dev, are you ready to dive into the world of ARK? Have you ever wanted to host your own dedicated server? It can be a daunting task, but with the right instructions and a bit of patience, you can set up your own server and play with your friends. In this article, we will guide you through the process of hosting an ARK dedicated server.

Requirements

Before we get started, let’s make sure you have everything you need.

Minimum Requirements	Recommended Requirements
CPU: Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better	CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K/AMD Ryzen 5 1600X or better
RAM: 8 GB	RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 60 GB	Storage: 120 GB
Network: Broadband Internet Connection	Network: Broadband Internet Connection

Now that you have the necessary equipment, let’s get started with the setup process.

Setup Process

Step 1: Installing SteamCMD

The first step is to download and install SteamCMD on your computer. This is a command-line utility that is used to install and update Steam games and dedicated servers.

To download SteamCMD, click on the following link: https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd.zip

Unzip the downloaded file to a directory of your choice. We recommend C:\SteamCMD\ since it makes it easier to manage later on.

Step 2: Creating a Steam Account and Installing ARK

If you don’t already have a Steam account, go to https://store.steampowered.com/join and create one. Once you have an account, log in to Steam and purchase ARK: Survival Evolved.

Once you have purchased ARK, go to the Library section of your Steam client and locate the game. Right-click on the game and select “Properties”.

Click on the “Local Files” tab and then click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files”. This will ensure that your copy of ARK is up-to-date and ready to play.

Step 3: Creating a ServerLaunch.bat File

The next step is to create a batch file that will launch your server. Open Notepad and enter the following code:

@echo off
start ShooterGameServer.exe “TheIsland?SessionName=MyServer?AltSaveDirectoryName=MyServer?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=20?listen”
echo ARK server has started
pause

Save this file as “ServerLaunch.bat” in your ARK folder. This will be the folder where you installed SteamCMD and ARK.

Step 4: Launching the Server

Now that you have created the batch file, open it to launch your server. This will start the ARK dedicated server with the settings outlined in the batch file.

FAQ

Q: Can I change the server settings?

A: Yes, you can change the settings in the ServerLaunch.bat file. This includes the map, the server name, the port number, and the maximum number of players.

Q: How do I invite my friends to play on my server?

A: To invite your friends to play on your server, you will need to give them your public IP address and the port number that your server is running on. They can then connect to your server through the ARK server list.

Q: Can I run multiple server instances on one machine?

A: Yes, you can run multiple server instances on one machine. Simply create a new batch file with different settings and launch it to start a new server.

Q: How do I update my server?

A: To update your server, simply run the ServerLaunch.bat file again. This will download and install any updates that are available.

Conclusion

Congratulations, Dev! You have successfully set up your own ARK dedicated server. Now you can enjoy playing the game with your friends on your own private server. If you have any questions or issues, refer back to this article or consult the ARK wiki for more information.