There’s nothing better than loading up Ark with a friend on your couch, no laggy online servers or random trolls ruining your hard-earned taming run. I’ve spent dozens of weekends running split-screen sessions with my roommate, and I know how frustrating it can be when the 2 player mode refuses to load out of the box. If you’re trying to figure out how to play local 2 player on Ark without wasting hours troubleshooting random settings, this guide breaks down every step for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, plus common fixes for the most annoying issues you’ll run into.
How to Play Local 2 Player on Ark: Step-by-Step for All Platforms
Setup varies slightly across devices, but there are a few universal checks you should run through before you start trying to connect a second player. These will eliminate 90% of common connection issues before they even happen:
- Make sure you have at least two controllers connected to your device (PC users can also use one controller and one keyboard/mouse setup, but this only works for some game versions)
- Confirm your Ark game is updated to the latest official patch, as older builds often have broken split-screen functionality
- For console users, ensure both players are signed into a profile on the system (guest profiles work for most platforms, but you won’t be able to save progress on a guest account)
- Verify your display supports the resolution you’re running, as 4K displays can sometimes glitch with split-screen mode if you haven’t adjusted your in-game resolution first
For PC players, the setup process is a bit more limited than consoles. Important note for PC players: Native local 2 player is only supported on the Windows Store/Xbox PC edition of Ark. If you own the Steam version, you’ll need to use third-party split-screen mods to run couch co-op, as Valve’s platform doesn’t support the native split-screen feature Ark built for Microsoft ecosystems. If you’re running the supported PC version, just launch the game, sign into your Xbox Live account if prompted, connect your second controller, press the menu button on the second controller when you reach the main menu, select the second player’s profile, and you’ll load into split screen automatically.
For PlayStation 4 and 5 users, the process is far simpler. Make sure both controllers are paired to your console before launching the game. Once you’re at the main menu, press the options button on the second controller, select a profile for the second player, and you’ll be able to join either the host’s existing save or start a brand new world together. Guest profiles work for casual runs, but you won’t be able to save the second player’s progress if you use one.
Xbox One and Series X/S users follow almost the exact same process as PlayStation. Pair both controllers to your console first, launch Ark, then press the menu button on the second controller at the main menu. Select a profile for the second player, and you’re ready to go. Just note that split-screen runs on Xbox Series S are limited to 1080p 30fps by default, even if you adjust your settings, due to the console’s lower processing power.
Critical Settings to Adjust Before Starting Your Split-Screen Session
Default Ark settings are built for single player or online multiplayer, so they’ll often make split-screen sessions feel choppy or unfun if you don’t tweak them first. Taking 5 minutes to adjust these settings before you load your save will save you a lot of frustration mid-run.
First, Lower your in-game graphics settings: Split screen renders two full instances of the game at once, so even high-end PCs or new consoles will lag if you’re running max settings. Drop your resolution to 1080p, turn off anti-aliasing, and lower view distance by 20-30% to keep framerates steady above 30fps, which is the minimum for smooth gameplay.
Next, Turn on shared progression if you’re playing co-op: You can find this setting in the host menu before loading your save. It lets both players earn XP, unlock engrams, and contribute to tribe progress equally, instead of only the host getting all the rewards for tames and boss fights. I forgot to toggle this on my first split-screen run, and my roommate got so frustrated he refused to play with me for a week.
You can also adjust your split screen orientation in the gameplay settings menu. By default, most platforms run split screen vertically, with one player on the top half of the screen and one on the bottom. I always switch to horizontal split for co-op building runs, since it gives both players more horizontal screen space to place structures and navigate around bases.
Finally, Disable friendly fire if you’re new to playing together: Nothing ruins a good taming run faster than accidentally shooting your partner in the back while you’re both fending off a pack of raptors. You can toggle this in the world settings menu before loading your save, and you can always turn it back on later if you want to mess around with PVP duels.
Common Local 2 Player Issues (And Simple Fixes That Actually Work)
Even if you follow all the setup steps perfectly, you might run into a few common glitches that have easy fixes. I’ve run into every single one of these at least once, so these solutions are all tested and work for most platforms.
The most common issue is the second player being unable to join at the main menu. Most of the time this happens because the second controller isn’t properly paired, or you’re running an outdated version of the game. Try restarting your console or PC, re-pairing the controller, and checking for game updates. If you’re on PC, double check you’re not running the Steam version, as we noted earlier, because that won’t support native split screen no matter what settings you adjust.
Another frequent issue is second player progress isn’t saving: This almost always happens if the second player is using a guest profile. Switch to a permanent profile on your console or PC, and make sure the “save player progression for all users” setting is toggled on in your world settings before you load the save. If you still run into issues, try creating a brand new save file, as old single player saves sometimes have corrupted progression settings for split screen.
If your split screen is laggy or choppy even after you lowered your graphics settings, try closing all other background apps before launching Ark. On consoles, other running apps like Netflix or Spotify take up processing power that the game needs to run two instances smoothly. For PC players running modded split screen on Steam, make sure you only use lightweight mods that don’t add too many new assets or textures to the game, as heavy mod packs will drop your framerate significantly in split screen.
A rare but annoying glitch is no sound for the second player, which mostly happens on Xbox. To fix it, go to your console audio settings, turn off spatial audio, and restart the game. That should reset the audio output for both players and fix the issue immediately.
Fun Local 2 Player Playstyles to Try With Your Partner
Once you’ve got your split-screen session running smoothly, you don’t have to stick to the standard survival grind. There are tons of fun playstyles you can try to mix up your runs and keep the game fresh even if you’ve already beaten all the bosses.
The classic co-op survival run is always a good bet. Split roles to make progress way faster than you would in single player. One player can focus on taming dinos and gathering resources, while the other builds bases and defends against aggressive creatures. My roommate and I once managed to take down a Rex on our first day of a new save by splitting roles, which we never would have pulled off playing alone.
If you’re tired of working together, try a split screen PVP duel. Load up a small arena map, spawn in equal gear for both players, and fight it out. You can even add wild dinos to the arena to make it more chaotic, or set rules like no guns to make it a fair melee fight.
Custom challenge runs are another great way to mix things up. Try to beat the game without using any metal tools, or only tame dino species that are under level 50, or never build a permanent base and stay nomadic for your entire run. You can make up your own rules based on what you find fun, and it’s way more entertaining than the standard grind.
If you’re feeling creative, try a building contest. Set a 30 minute timer, give both players the same set of resources, and see who can build the coolest base, dinosaur pen, or even a silly statue. It’s way more fun than it sounds, and you’ll end up with some ridiculous builds that you’d never make in a normal survival run.
At the end of the day, figuring out how to play local 2 player on Ark doesn’t have to be a headache. As long as you follow the platform-specific steps, adjust your settings first, and troubleshoot the common issues we covered, you’ll be exploring the ARK with your couch co-op partner in no time. Don’t be afraid to mess around with different playstyles too — some of my favorite Ark memories come from random split-screen runs that went completely off the rails, like when we accidentally tamed a Giga that immediately destroyed our base. If you run into a glitch we didn’t cover, try checking the official Ark patch notes first, as most split screen bugs get fixed in regular updates.