Surviving the prehistoric wilds of ARK: Survival Evolved is chaotic enough on your own, but bringing a friend along turns every dino taming fail and base raid win into a memorable adventure. If you’re tired of scrolling through overly technical server setup guides just to team up with one person, you’re probably looking for how to play 2 player ARK PC without the extra hassle. I’ve tested every method over hundreds of hours of co-op runs with my roommate, so I’m breaking down exactly what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid the common mistakes that ruin most new co-op runs before they even start.
How to Play 2 Player ARK PC: 2 Simple Setup Methods
You don’t need a paid dedicated server or fancy technical skills to play with one friend, there are two accessible methods that work for 99% of players. The first and most popular is the non-dedicated server option, which lets you host a game directly from your PC for one other player to join via Steam. It’s completely free, takes 2 minutes to set up, and works for both local same-network play and online play if you’re both on each other’s Steam friends list. The second option is split screen play, which is ideal if you both want to play on the same physical PC, no extra game copy or internet connection required once the game is downloaded. For split screen, you’ll need at least one controller, as ARK doesn’t natively support two keyboard and mouse setups for the same device. Non-dedicated servers are the better pick for most people, since you’ll each have your own full screen to play on, and you don’t have to be in the same room to team up.
Critical Settings Tweaks for Smooth 2 Player ARK Gameplay
Most new co-op pairs run into lag, random disconnects, or annoying tether limits right off the bat, but these issues are almost always fixed with a few quick setting adjustments before you start your run. Before you hit “host”, run through this quick pre-setup checklist to avoid headaches later:
Once you’re past the pre-check, adjust these three settings first to make your run as smooth as possible. First, bump up the tether distance to the maximum allowed in the host settings, or add the launch command “-ForceTetherDistance 99999” to ARK’s Steam launch options to remove the limit entirely. The default tether limit forces the joining player to stay within a few hundred meters of the host, which makes exploring separate areas impossible. Next, adjust your graphic settings sync to match the lower-end PC of the two players. If the host is running max settings but the joining player has a mid-tier build, you’ll both experience constant stutters and lag spikes. Turn down view distance and disable unnecessary effects like motion blur and depth of field to cut down on performance drag. Finally, adjust your auto-save frequency to 15 minutes instead of the default 5. Frequent auto-saves cause jarring stutters for both players, and 15 minutes is a safe window to avoid losing too much progress if the game crashes.
Beginner Tips for Enjoyable 2 Player ARK Co-Op Runs
Once you’re in the game, a little coordination goes a long way to avoid frustration and progress faster than you ever could solo. The first rule of thumb is to split roles early so you’re not both wasting time doing the same task. For example, one player can focus on gathering wood, thatch, and stone to build your first base, while the other hunts small dinos for hide and meat to craft tools and food. You’ll knock out your first few hours of progress in half the time, and you won’t end up bickering about who forgot to collect fiber for sleeping bags. Next, pick a base location that works for both playstyles before you start building. If one of you wants to spend most of your time taming water dinos and exploring ocean caves, don’t build your first base on top of a frozen mountain. A central spot near a river, with easy access to forests, plains, and shorelines, works best for most new runs. I learned this the hard way on my first co-op run: I built our base in the redwood forest because I loved taming tall dinos, but my friend wanted to explore the ocean, and we wasted hours traveling back and forth every session. Also, make sure you create a shared tribe as soon as you spawn in, so you can both access each other’s structures, tames, and storage boxes without permission prompts. Be careful with admin permissions too: only give them to the other player if you trust them not to spawn random dinos in your base or delete your builds for a joke.
Common 2 Player ARK PC Issues and How to Fix Them Fast
Even with perfect setup, you might run into a few common issues that most co-op pairs face, but all of them have quick fixes that take less than a minute to try. If the joining player can’t see the host’s non-dedicated server in the server list, first make sure you’re both connected to the same Wi-Fi network if you’re playing locally. If you’re playing online, use Steam’s Remote Play Together feature to send a direct invite to your friend, which bypasses most server visibility issues. You should also double check that the host has allowed ARK through their firewall, as that’s the most common cause of hidden servers. If you’re still running into tether limits even after adjusting the in-game setting, double check that you added the launch command correctly to the host’s Steam account, not the joining player’s. The launch command only works for the device that’s hosting the server, so adding it to the joining player’s game won’t do anything. If the game crashes every time the joining player tries to connect, verify the game files on both PCs through Steam, and double check that your mod lists and load orders are exactly the same. Even one out of date mod can cause constant crashes for both players. For split screen players, if the second controller isn’t being detected, make sure it’s turned on and paired before you launch ARK, as the game often doesn’t detect controllers that are connected after the game is already running.
At the end of the day, you don’t need expensive servers or technical expertise to enjoy how to play 2 player ARK PC with your closest friend. A few quick setup steps, minor setting tweaks, and a little coordination when you first spawn in is all you need to start building your dream base, taming legendary dinos, and taking on endgame bosses together. Don’t let overly complicated guides stop you from jumping in: some of my favorite ARK memories are from my first messy co-op runs, where we got chased by T-Rexes and lost our first base to a raptor pack. The chaos is half the fun, and it’s way better with a friend by your side.