How To Play Lan Ark Survival Evolved Exclusive May 2026

Playing ARK: Survival Evolved over a Local Area Network (LAN) means hosting a game where all players are connected to the same router or switch, with no need for an internet connection to the official ARK servers. This method offers zero ping lag between local computers, complete control over game settings, and no reliance on external server uptime.

Below is a step-by-step guide to setting up and playing an exclusive LAN game.

For a "pure" LAN experience or larger groups, using the standalone dedicated server software is superior. This method disconnects the host's player character from the server process, improving server performance. how to play lan ark survival evolved exclusive

Ensure Network Discovery is turned on for all PCs.

This is the most important technical aspect of LAN play. Playing ARK: Survival Evolved over a Local Area

In a Non-Dedicated LAN game, ARK imposes a Tether Distance. This means other players cannot move more than a certain distance (usually ~180 meters by default) from the host. If they try to go further, they are teleported back.

How to increase this distance:

The ARK: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server tool can be downloaded for free via the Steam Library under the "Tools" section.