There’s nothing quite like jumping into the prehistoric, dinosaur-filled world of Ark with a friend right next to you, no internet connection required. If you’ve been hunting for a way to play without relying on laggy remote servers or paying for extra online subscriptions, you’re in the right place. This guide walks you through exactly how to do 2 player local on Ark, plus all the little tweaks you need to make your co-op run smoothly. I’ve tested these steps across three different platforms over the last two years, so I’ve also included all the common snags you might run into and how to fix them fast.
Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up 2 Player Local on Ark
First, you need to make sure you have the right hardware for your platform, because setup steps vary a lot between consoles and PC. For Xbox or PlayStation users, the process is far simpler than it is for PC, but you will need a second controller paired to your console before you start. Do not launch Ark before you connect the second controller, because the game often won’t recognize new controllers added mid-game. Once both controllers are connected, launch Ark, load your existing save or start a new single player world, and wait for the world to fully render. Then, press the menu button on the second controller, and you’ll see a pop-up asking if you want to add a second player. Select yes, and the screen will split automatically, with the second player prompted to create their own survivor.
For PC users, the process is a little more involved, because split-screen isn’t enabled by default on the Steam release. You can only run 2 player local on PC if you have the Steam version of the game, as the Epic Games release does not support native split-screen functionality. You’ll need to open your Steam library, right click on Ark, select Properties, and add the launch option “-UseSplitscreen” before you launch the game. You’ll also need to make sure you have a controller connected for the second player, as keyboard and mouse only works for the first player in local mode. If you’re still having trouble getting 2 player local on Ark to work after these fixes, you can check the official Ark forums for platform-specific updates, as new patches sometimes break split-screen functionality temporarily.
Critical Settings Adjustments for Smooth Local Co-Op Play
Default Ark settings are not optimized for split-screen play, so you’ll want to adjust these before you start gathering resources or taming dinosaurs, to avoid frustration later. First, drop your overall graphics quality by one or two tiers from your usual single player settings. Split-screen play uses twice as much processing power as single player, so dropping settings like view distance, shadow quality, and anti-aliasing will cut down on lag and frame drops drastically, even on high-end hardware. Next, adjust your HUD scaling for both players. By default, the HUD will be squashed to fit each half of the screen, so increasing the scale by 20-30% will make health bars, stamina meters, and item names easy to read without squinting. You should also turn off “show other player HUD” if you don’t want your friend’s stats cluttering up your half of the screen.
If you’re playing on a smaller screen (under 40 inches), I also recommend turning off most on-screen notifications, like tribe log updates and tame completion alerts, to avoid extra clutter on your split view. That means you’ll have to check your tribe log manually every so often, but it’s worth it to not have half your screen covered in pop-ups during a fight with a raptor pack. Prioritize these three settings first for the biggest improvement to your play experience:
- View distance: Drop to medium or low, as this is the biggest drain on performance during split-screen play
- HUD scale: Increase to 120-130% so all UI elements are clearly visible on your half of the screen
- Host session settings: Turn on “disable friendly fire” if you don’t want to accidentally hurt each other during base builds or fights
Common 2 Player Local Setup Issues and Quick Fixes
Even if you follow all the setup steps exactly, you’ll probably run into at least one small issue when you first launch local co-op, and most of these are super easy to fix without restarting your whole game. The most common issue is the second controller not being recognized, even if it’s paired to your console or PC. If this happens, close Ark completely, disconnect and re-pair the second controller, and launch the game again. Never plug in or pair a controller after you’ve already loaded your save file, as this causes recognition issues 9 out of 10 times. Another common problem is the second player spawning with no inventory, or not being able to interact with structures in your base. This happens when the game doesn’t properly assign the second player to your tribe, so all you have to do is open the tribe menu with the first player, send a tribe invite to the second player, and accept it to fix all access issues.
If you’re getting consistent frame drops even after adjusting your graphics settings, try turning off dynamic weather and day/night cycle speed up. These two features use a lot of extra processing power, and most players barely notice when they’re turned off for local play. I used to run into constant crashes during rainstorms on my PS5 until I turned off dynamic weather, and now I can play for 6+ hours straight with no issues. If you keep getting errors when trying to load your save in split-screen mode, make sure your save file is not corrupted by loading it first in single player mode, then adding the second player once it’s fully loaded.
Fun Tips to Make the Most of Your 2 Player Local Ark Session
Once you have your local co-op session running smoothly, there are a ton of small tweaks you can make to turn a regular playthrough into a way more fun experience for both players. First, split up roles early on to avoid wasting time doing the same tasks. For example, one player can focus on gathering resources and building up your base, while the other focuses on taming dinosaurs and exploring the surrounding area. You’ll progress 2x as fast as you would in single player if you split tasks effectively, so you can get to the more exciting endgame content way sooner. You can also adjust your world settings to make the game fit your playstyle, even if you don’t want to use cheats. If you both hate losing all your items when you die, turn on “keep inventory” in the host settings. If you want a more relaxed playthrough focused on building and taming instead of fighting, turn down dino aggression and damage levels.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even set up small friendly competitions, like seeing who can tame the highest level dinosaur in an hour, or who can build the best base addition with 100 pieces of wood. I do this with my roommate every time we play, and it adds a silly, fun layer to the game that you don’t get in single player or online co-op. You can also install small quality of life mods if you’re playing on PC, to make resource gathering faster or add new tameable dinosaurs that fit both of your playstyles. Just make sure both of you agree on any mod or setting changes before you make them, so no one ends up frustrated with the play experience.
At the end of the day, local co-op is one of the most underrated ways to play Ark, and it’s way more accessible than most players realize once you know the right setup steps. You don’t need a fast internet connection, extra subscriptions, or even a second copy of the game to play with a friend right next to you. Now that you know how to do 2 player local on Ark, you can skip the laggy online servers and jump right into your own prehistoric adventure whenever you want. Just remember to adjust your settings first, and don’t be afraid to tweak world rules to fit what you and your play partner enjoy most.