How to Host Xbox Ark Server on PC

Hello Dev! If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a fan of the game Ark and you’re looking for a way to host your own server on your PC. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of hosting an Ark server on your PC, step by step. We’ve worked hard to make this guide as comprehensive as possible, so no matter how new you are to hosting a server, you’ll be able to get started with ease.

Before you begin

Before we dive into the actual process of setting up your own server, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Firstly, hosting a server is a resource-intensive task and requires a high-end PC with a decent amount of RAM and a good graphics card. Secondly, the process of setting up a server might vary depending on the version of Ark you’re using. This guide is written with the most recent version of the game in mind, but some steps might differ slightly depending on the version you’re using.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get started.

Step 1: Setting up your PC

The first step in hosting an Ark server on your PC is making sure your PC is capable of running it. Here are the minimum system requirements for running an Ark server:

Component	Minimum Requirement
CPU	Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320
RAM	8 GB
Storage	60 GB (SSD recommended)
Graphics Card	Nvidia GTX 660/AMD Radeon HD 7870

If your PC doesn’t meet these requirements, you might experience lag or crashes while running the server. Once you’ve verified that your PC is capable of running the server, it’s time to move on to the next step.

Step 2: Downloading and installing the server software

The next step is downloading and installing the Ark server software. You can download it directly from Steam. Here’s how:

1. Open Steam.
2. Click on the “Library” tab.
3. Switch to the “Tools” section.
4. Look for “Ark: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server” and install it.

Once the software is installed, you’ll need to configure it.

Step 3: Configuring the server software

The server software comes with a default configuration file that you can modify to suit your needs. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the server configuration file, which is located at “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\GameUserSettings.ini”.
2. Edit the following settings to your liking:
• ServerName: The name of your server. This will be displayed in the server browser.
• ServerPassword: The password for your server, if you want to make it private.
• MaxPlayers: The maximum number of players that can be on the server at once.
• DifficultyOffset: The difficulty level of the game. Higher values mean tougher dinosaurs.
• TamingSpeedMultiplier: The speed at which dinosaurs can be tamed.
• HarvestAmountMultiplier: The amount of resources you get from each source.
• XPMultiplier: The speed at which players gain XP.
3. Save the file and close it.

Once you’ve configured the server to your liking, it’s time to launch it.

Step 4: Launching the server

Now that you’ve configured the server, it’s time to launch it. Here’s how:

1. Open Steam.
2. Click on the “Library” tab.
3. Switch to the “Tools” section.
4. Launch “ARK: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server”.
5. Select “Ark Survival Evolved” from the drop-down menu.
6. Choose the map you want to play on.
7. Click “Start Server”.

That’s it! Your server is now up and running. Players will be able to find it in the server browser and join using the name and password you set up.

FAQ

Q: How do I join my own server?

A: Launch the game, click on “Join Ark”, and select “Favorites”. Your server should be listed there, and you can join by clicking on it.

Q: Can I run other programs while the server is running?

A: Yes, but it’s recommended that you don’t run any CPU or GPU-intensive programs while the server is running, as it might cause lag or crashes.

Q: How do I make my server public?

A: By default, your server will be listed as private. To make it public, you’ll need to log in to the Steam account that owns the game and add the server to your favorites. Once you’ve done that, players will be able to find it in the server browser.

Q: How do I ban players from my server?

A: Open the server configuration file, which is located at “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\GameUserSettings.ini”, and add the following line under the [ServerSettings] section: “BanList=“. Replace “” with the Steam ID of the player you want to ban.

Q: How do I update my server?

A: To update the server, you’ll need to repeat steps 2 and 4 with the updated server software.

Q: Can I host a server without owning the game?

A: No, you’ll need to own the game on Steam to host a server.

Conclusion

Congratulations, Dev! You’ve successfully hosted your own Ark server on your PC. We hope this guide was helpful and easy to follow. If you have any further questions or encounter any issues while hosting your server, feel free to consult the Ark community forums or the official Ark wiki. Happy gaming!