If you’re looking for a Dedicated server setup guide for Ark Survival Ascended, here’s everything you need to know about server hosting.
Overall, you can set up a dedicated server via Nitrado, or unofficially via the wiki. However, if you want an easier and free option, I recommend checking out non-dedicated servers.
In this guide, I will list all server types in Ark Survival Ascended and explain how to set up a dedicated and a non-dedicated server. Additionally, I will mention the limitations of the latter to help you decide if it’s worth it.
Before moving on, if you’re dealing with lags and FPS drops, check out our guide on how to fix performance issues and crashes in Ark Survival Ascended.
All Server Types in Ark Survival Ascended
There are four server types in Ark Survival Ascended and they are the following:
- Official servers (run by the game devs only; players can’t host these servers, only join them)
- Single-player servers (easy to set up but only one player can play there)
- Dedicated servers (officially hosted through Nitrado, they cost money and allow people to play even when the host is offline)
- Non-dedicated servers (hosted through the game for free but have limitations that require the host to be online while there’s also location tethering)
If you want your own server without limitations, the best option is the dedicated server. Let’s see how to set up one.
How to Create and Setup a Dedicated Server in Ark Survival Ascended
Currently, the only way to create a paid dedicated server in Ark Survival Ascended is via Nitrado. There are various packages with ranging prices based on how many player slots you want per server and for how many days you want it to be up.
The prices are manageable, especially if you’re a big friend group and want to split them. However, the servers are currently unstable and go through a lot of lagging and crashing.
Alternatively, if you’re more experienced, you can set up your own dedicated server as mentioned in the official dedicated server wiki.
If you can avoid it, I recommend sticking to official servers or setting up a free, non-dedicated server.
Non-Dedicated Server Guide and Limitations
There are three main limitations to non-dedicated servers in Ark: Survival Ascended:
- The host has to be online – If the host isn’t online, the server will be closed. On the bright side, the host can leave the game running while they go afk so that others can keep playing.
- Up to eight players online – There can only be up to eight players online, so this only works for small friend groups
- The host has to be closeby – There is a feature in non-dedicated serves called tethering, which requires all active players to be within a 200m distance from the host
As long as you’re fine with these limitations, here’s how to set up your own non-dedicated server in Ark: Survival Ascended:
- From the Title Screen, select ‘Resume’ or ‘Create Game’
- Select a map and choose ‘Non-dedicated’
- Select the server name and password and share it with your friends
Wrapping up
To summarize this Ark Survival Ascended dedicated server setup guide, there are four types of servers in the game and you can get a dedicated one via Nitrado.
Alternatively, for a free option, you can create a non-dedicated server with a few limitations, such as limited players and tethering.
Did you end up making a server or joining an existing one? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Now that you’ve settled on a server, check out our guide on the best base locations in Ark: Survival Ascended.
He has a Master’s Degree in Philosophy, which allows him to always come up with a fresh approach to solving in-game puzzles and challenges, but also to create content that’s to the point, clean and easy to follow.
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