Let’s be real—ARK: Survival Evolved is fun solo, but it’s a whole different beast when you’ve got your squad backing you up. Whether you're taming T-Rexes, hunting for loot in underground caves, or just laughing at your friend's tragic fall off a cliff (again), the game was built for teamwork.

So if you’re itching to share your wild ARK adventures with your friends, it’s time to set up your own ARK Survival Evolved server. Not sure how? Don’t worry. We’ll walk you through the whole process, from picking the right server type to getting your crew online.

Ways to Play ARK with Friends

First things first—how do you even play ARK with your friends? There are a few different options, and each one has its perks depending on how deep you want to go into dino-mayhem.

• Public Servers: Just hop into a world and get to business. These servers are full of strangers, but you can still stick with your friends.

• Non-Dedicated Servers: Basically, one of you becomes the host and controls the game. It’s simple but comes with limitations like tether distance.

• Dedicated Servers: This is the ultimate option for control freaks (in a good way). You or a third-party host runs a server 24/7, allowing for total customization, no tethering, and all the mods your heart desires.

Pro tip? If you're serious about your ARK sessions, ARK Survival Evolved server hosting from a third party like ScalaCube makes life a lot easier. You get better performance, less lag, and way more customization.

Should You Host an ARK Server Yourself or Rent One?

Sure, you could run an ARK Survival Evolved server on your own computer. But before you go down that road, here’s the honest truth: it's not as easy as it sounds.

Yes, your beefy gaming PC might handle the ARK Survival Evolved server requirements, but once you toss in constant resource usage, potential crashes, and the fact that the server shuts down when you turn off your computer—it gets messy fast. Renting from an ARK Survival Evolved server hosting provider solves all that. You get:

• 24/7 uptime
• Blazing-fast upload/download speeds
• No stress over your own hardware
• Better performance for all your friends
• Way easier modding and setup

ScalaCube is a gamer favorite for a reason. Their ARK Survival Evolved server hosting gives you full file access, unlimited bandwidth, super-speedy SSD storage, and 99.9% uptime. That’s a sweet deal if you want to dive deep into ARK without the hassle.

Using a Dedicated Server

So what’s a Dedicated Server, anyway? Think of it like this: a computer (yours or rented) runs ARK full-time and has its own dedicated resources like RAM and CPU. That means no one’s session relies on someone else’s internet or PC staying on.

But—and it’s a big but—setting one up manually involves:

• Port forwarding
• Server file management
• Keeping your PC running constantly
• A second device, in most cases

If that all sounds exhausting, we get it. That’s why many players turn to ARK Survival Evolved server hosting platforms like ScalaCube. They handle the heavy lifting while you and your friends focus on riding dinosaurs into the sunset.

Plus, they give you control over ARK Survival Evolved server settings like difficulty, mods, and maps. Want to crank up the danger level or add a dragon mod? Do it.

Creating & Joining a Non-Dedicated Server in ARK

If you’re not ready to mess with dedicated servers just yet, a Non-Dedicated Session is a solid option for smaller groups. It’s perfect if you’re just dipping your toes into multiplayer ARK life.

Here’s how to set it up:

Creating a Non-Dedicated Server

• On the main menu, click Host/Local.
• Under the General tab on the left, set your Non-Dedicated Host Tether Distance to 99.0 so friends don’t get yanked back every time they stray.
• Pick any mods you want on the right side.
• Choose your Story or Custom ARK map.
• Click Host Non-Dedicated.
• Set your session name and password.
• Tick the Private Match box if you don’t want randos joining.
• Hit Accept—you’re in.

Boom. Server created.

Joining a Non-Dedicated Server

For your friends to join in:

• From the main menu, click Join ARK.
• Use the filter at the bottom-left to show Non-Dedicated Sessions.
• If you know the name of the session, enter it in the top Name Filter.
• Click Join and you're good to go.

Just note: the host has to be online for the session to run, and there's still a tethering limitation. If that bugs you, it might be time to upgrade to ARK Survival Evolved server hosting.

Why Hosting with ScalaCube is Worth It

Let’s face it: free options are tempting. But free ARK Survival Evolved server hosting usually means major compromises—lag, no mod support, constant downtime, or worse. If you’re planning long-term survival or building epic bases, that’s going to get frustrating fast.

ScalaCube doesn’t just offer reliable hosting—they go all in. With their ARK Survival Evolved server hosting, you get:

• Unlimited plugins
• Unlimited bandwidth
• SSD or HDD storage options
• Full file access for advanced tweaking
• 99.9% server uptime

So yes, it’s not “free,” but what you get in return is totally worth it.

Wrapping Up

Whether you want to casually survive a dino apocalypse with your besties or go full hardcore and build a thriving tribe empire, there’s a server option for you. You can start with a Non-Dedicated Session if you're new to the game, but if you're ready to unlock ARK’s full potential, ScalaCube’s dedicated ARK Survival Evolved server hosting is the way to go.

With the right server setup, you'll spend less time troubleshooting and more time riding raptors, crafting gear, and screaming at surprise T-Rex attacks. So get your tribe together, pick your setup, and start your ARK adventure the right way.

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