How to Play Ark with LAN: A Comprehensive Guide
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Playing Ark: Survival Evolved with friends can be an exhilarating experience, and setting up a LAN (Local Area Network) game offers a fantastic way to enjoy the prehistoric world together with minimal lag and maximum control. The core of playing Ark with LAN involves hosting a server on your local network, allowing other players connected to that network to join your game. Let’s break down exactly how this works.
To play Ark with LAN, you must:
- Host a LAN game: Start the game and select “Host/Local” from the main menu. You’ll find this option located just below the “Join Ark” button.
- Choose “Play Local”: Select the option to “Play Local”. This is the key to setting up a LAN game.
- Adjust settings: Before starting the game, you’ll be presented with a variety of settings you can adjust. These settings include difficulty, taming speed, experience boosts, harvest amounts, respawn timers, and more. Take the time to customize these options to your group’s preferences.
- Start the game: Once you are satisfied with your settings, launch the game. Your computer will now be the server for this LAN session.
- Have your friends connect: Your friends should launch their copies of Ark and, from the main menu, select the “Join Ark” option. Then, filter the server list by ‘LAN’ and look for your game. Alternatively, they can find the game through the ‘non-dedicated sessions’ filter, or use the server name filter. They should see your server listed and be able to click ‘Join’.
That’s the essential process! Now, let’s delve into further details, troubleshooting, and other ways to play with friends.
Hosting Your LAN Game
Understanding Host/Local Options
When you select “Host/Local,” you’re not only starting a game but also turning your computer into the server for that game session. This is a “non-dedicated” setup, meaning your machine will be running both the game and the server. This can be resource-intensive, so ensure your computer meets the recommended specifications for Ark, especially if you plan on having a larger group of players.
Configuring Your LAN Server
The beauty of the “Host/Local” setup is the customizability. You can change the experience to fit your preferences. Here are some key setting options available to adjust:
- Difficulty: Adjust how challenging the creatures and environment are.
- Taming Speed: Control how quickly you can tame wild creatures.
- Experience Boost: Modify how quickly players gain experience levels.
- Harvest Amounts: Determine how much material is gathered from resources.
- Respawn Timers: Set how quickly resources and creatures respawn.
- Day/Night Cycle Speed: Change the duration of day and night.
- Player Settings: Adjust health, stamina, and other player-related factors.
Taking the time to tweak these settings will drastically impact the gameplay and make it enjoyable for everyone involved.
Finding Your LAN Game
Once your game is up and running, your friends on the same network can find your game server by filtering the server list by “LAN” or by using the ‘non-dedicated sessions’ filter, and looking for the name of your server. Make sure they select the correct tabs from the bottom left so they will actually see any servers, and ensure they haven’t got password protected ticked so they don’t filter your server out.
Additional Methods for Playing with Friends
While LAN is great for local play, there are other ways to enjoy Ark with friends, let’s explore those briefly:
- Non-Dedicated Sessions: Non-dedicated servers, like the LAN method, use one player’s computer as the server, but players can join the game through the server browser, rather than local network only.
- Dedicated Servers: If you want a 24/7 server that does not require the host to be online, a dedicated server is the way to go. You can either host on a second PC, or rent a server from a hosting provider. Dedicated servers offer more stability and customization options, but require additional setup.
- Gaming VPS: A Gaming VPS (Virtual Private Server) provides the ability to host a server with more control and customization. This gives you the freedom to install mods and configure the server rules to your liking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I join a LAN server in Ark Epic Games?
To join a LAN server on Ark through Epic Games, select “Join Ark”, choose the “LAN” filter in the server browser, and select the server with your game’s name. Alternatively, you can try the filter for ‘non-dedicated sessions’.
2. How do I join a non-dedicated server on Ark?
To join a non-dedicated server, go to “Join Ark” in the main menu. Select the filter for ‘non-dedicated sessions’ at the bottom left, and then browse for your friend’s server name. You can also use the name filter at the top.
3. Can I host an Ark server and play?
Yes, you can host an Ark server and play on the same machine, which is exactly what happens when using the “Host/Local” option. This will use your PC as both a server and client.
4. Can I host a local Ark server?
Yes, you can host a local Ark server using the “Host/Local” option. This will make the server visible only on your local network (LAN).
5. Can I host a private Ark server?
Yes, you can host a private Ark server using a dedicated server or a Gaming VPS. This provides more control over who can join the server.
6. How do I host an Ark server?
To host an Ark server, you can use the game’s “Host/Local” option for a LAN setup, or set up a dedicated server using tools like SteamCMD. Alternatively, renting a server from a hosting provider, or using a Gaming VPS are also viable options.
7. Is there a free way to get an Ark server?
Some platforms may offer a limited free trial of their Ark server hosting services, while others may have promotional periods. Keep an eye out for these offers.
8. Why can’t I join my friend in Ark?
Make sure you have the correct server address and port number or that you are filtered correctly for your LAN/Non-Dedicated game. Also, verify both your games are up to date and that the server is online.
9. What is a non-dedicated server?
A non-dedicated server uses a player’s PC as both the server and client. It’s often a more manageable way to start playing with friends, but it requires the host to be online at all times for others to play.
10. What is a non-dedicated session?
A non-dedicated session is the game hosted on a player’s machine, which allows other players to join, but means the server isn’t dedicated to Ark alone.
11. How do I find my Ark server?
You can find your Ark server by using the server filter to search by LAN or Non-Dedicated or by name in the server browser, or you can connect to your server through Steam by adding the IP and Port to your Favorites.
12. Why is my Ark server not showing up?
Your server might not show up if you’re on the wrong tab in the server browser, if your filter is set to ‘password protected’, or if the server is not online. Double-check these settings.
13. Does it cost money to host an Ark server?
Hosting a server through the “Host/Local” option is free, but using a dedicated server or a gaming VPS often involves recurring costs.
14. How much RAM does an Ark server need?
The minimum recommended RAM for an Ark dedicated server is 8 GB, although 16 GB or more is recommended for a larger group of players or for a smoother experience.
15. Can my friend play on my Ark server without me?
With a non-dedicated server (LAN), your friends can only play while you, the host, are also playing. If you want your friends to play even when you’re offline, you need a dedicated server.
By following this guide and understanding these FAQs, you’ll be well-equipped to enjoy the prehistoric world of Ark: Survival Evolved with your friends, whether you choose a LAN setup or another method.