How To Play ARK: Survival Evolved With Friends

How to Play ARK with Friends – Introduction

There is a lot to discover in ARK: Survival Evolved while traveling through the world. From encountering beautiful yet dangerous dinosaurs to going deep into abandoned caves, and even venturing over icy mountains. While playing the game can become difficult with a lot to do before you can take on harder areas. The increase in difficulty leads to players wanting to play multiplayer instead so they do not have to face these challenges alone.

Fortunately, ARK: Survival Evolved offers several ways to play together with your friends whether you’re on PC, console, or mobile. There are many options from local multiplayer to your own game server and you may be wondering which choice is better. In this article, we will show you how to play ARK with friends and why having your own ARK: SE server is the best option for protection and enjoyment!

How to Play ARK Together with Multiplayer

If you want to play ARK with friends, you can choose between playing on a server, a self-hosted dedicated/non-dedicated server, or on local split-screen. In the following sections, we will go into detail about the types of multiplayer sessions you can create and the benefits of each.

Rent Your Own ARK Game Server

Renting your own server is one of the simplest ways to play together with friends in ARK. The server is set up instantly with a custom server webinterface and includes the ability to edit settings and manage server players quickly. At Nitrado, we make it as easy as possible for you to play ARK with friends. Here are just some of the many benefits that make renting an ARK game server an excellent option for you:

Benefits

• Quick server customization with a custom webinterface
• Mighty DDoS protection to ensure server stability
• Automated server and save file backups
• 24/7 support and detailed server guides

Start a Dedicated Server to Play ARK with Friends

ARK offers the option to create your own dedicated server. An ARK dedicated server is a server run on your computer and hardware. To create a dedicated server, at the main menu of ARK: Survival Evolved click on the “Host / Local” option. Near the bottom center of the game, you will see the option “Run Dedicated Server”. Once pressed, you’ll have the option to set a server password, admin password, and session name before creating the server. The dedicated server will be created and you can now play ARK with friends.

Benefits

• It’s free to create your own dedicated server
• Server setup takes less than 60 seconds

Cons

• The dedicated server will use your system’s resources. In most cases, it is not possible to run a server and play ARK at the same time due to PC hardware limitations.
• Running off of your network, it’s recommended that you set up extra security such as external DDoS protection and IP forwarding to protect your server and network.

Host a Non-Dedicated Multiplayer Game Session

A non-dedicated server is similar to a self-hosted ARK dedicated server, but there are some differences that you should consider. On a non-dedicated ARK server, this opens the ability to play multiplayer in what would normally be your single-player world. Upon opening the non-dedicated server, players can join your game world session to play together. Non-dedicated ARK servers, like dedicated servers, take up a lot of computer hardware resources. Here are the benefits and cons to consider before creating a non-dedicated server:

Benefits

• It is free to create a non-dedicated server
• Based on your hardware’s performance, if you have powerful computer hardware the server will run great as you play ARk with friends

Cons

• Since non-dedicated server performance is based on computer hardware, not having powerful enough hardware can result in lag and connectivity issues.
• Similar to the hardware, the server will also use your network. A strong network connection is needed for the best non-dedicated server experience.
• Since the server uses your network, it’s recommended to have additional security set up such as IP forwarding or DDoS protection to keep your server and network safe.

Couch Coop on the Console

When playing ARK on a game console, you can play side-by-side with a friend from the comfort of your home. To do this, at the main menu for ARK, press “Host \ Local”. Afterward, select the “Play Single Player” option and create a new survivor. Then, hit the options button on your second controller and split-screen will be automatically enabled. You and your friend are now ready to enjoy some co-op ARK: SE to tame dinosaurs and explore magnificent worlds!

How to Play ARK with Friends using Crossplay

When playing together, knowing which systems support crossplay will ensure you and your friends have the right systems. Whether that’s on PC, game consoles, or your mobile devices. Here is a list of the systems that support crossplay together in ARK: Survival Evolved:

• Steam and Epic Games Launcher (when enabled in your server settings)
• Xbox One and Windows 10 Edition
• IOS and Android mobile devices
• Currently, PlayStation 4 & 5 do not support crossplay

Adventure with your Friends in ARK

You and your friends will now know all about the ways to play ARK together. Whether that’s online with a server or locally on a couch in your home. Knowing the benefits and cons, in only a few minutes you can get set up and enjoy multiplayer through vast unique ARK worlds. With multiplayer, you and your friends can then play together, share resources, battle bosses, and more. Experience the fun and advance when you play ARK with friends on your own ARK server!

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