Option 2: Setting Up a Dedicated LAN Server (Better Performance) How To Play Online With Friends Ark Survival Evolved 2023
This is the most common method for casual play. A "Non-Dedicated Server" means you are hosting the game from the same machine you are playing on. You are both the server and a player.
If the server doesn't appear, guests can open the in-game console (usually the ~ or Tab key) and type open [Host IP Address]:7777 . Method 2: The Persistent Setup (Dedicated LAN Server) how to play lan ark survival evolved
| Scenario | Best Method | Tether? | Difficulty | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Non-Dedicated + Tether 999999 | Yes (minor) | Easy | | 3-4 friends, want to explore separately | Dedicated Server on a spare laptop | No | Medium | | Friends online across the country | Radmin VPN + Non-Dedicated | Yes (via VPN) | Medium | | The "Hardcore" LAN party (10+ people) | Ark Server Manager (Dedicated) | No | Hard |
Other players can find the session by going to Join ARK , filtering the session list to LAN , or by right-clicking the host’s name in their Steam Friends list and selecting Join Game . Option 2: Setting Up a Dedicated LAN Server
What if your friend lives across town, but you want the "LAN experience" (no official server rules)? You use a like Radmin VPN or ZeroTier.
This is the most common frustration. You click refresh, and nothing appears. Here is the fix order. If the server doesn't appear, guests can open
Playing ARK: Survival Evolved over a Local Area Network (LAN) is the best way to enjoy a low-latency, private experience with friends in the same building. You can set this up through two main methods: a for a quick start or a Dedicated LAN Server for a more robust, persistent experience. Method 1: The Quick Start (Non-Dedicated Session)
To reduce tether distance: In , set ListenServerTetherDistance=999999 (not perfect but helps).