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In ARK’s in-game Host/Local options, a dedicated session is run by a host who cannot play in it. A non-dedicated session lets the host play alongside invited friends, but those friends are limited by a host-distance barrier, often called a tether. A separately installed dedicated server is a different thing again: it runs as its own server process, apart from any player’s game client. Because the word “dedicated” is used for both the in-game option and the standalone server, the first step is to work out which one you mean.
Two different meanings of “dedicated” in ARK
Most confusion comes from treating two separate features as one. The in-game Host/Local choice controls how a session you start from your own game is organised. A standalone dedicated server is a separate program that you install and launch yourself. Choosing dedicated in the Host/Local menu does not turn your copy of the game into a standalone server, and running a standalone server does not require you to pick anything in that menu.
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The in-game Host/Local options
Dedicated session
In a dedicated session, the person who starts it manages the world but does not take part in it. Other players join and play; the host controls the session from outside it. This suits a host who wants to run a session for others without sharing their own character or base.
Non-dedicated session
In a non-dedicated session, the host plays in the world and other players join that host’s game. The host is a participant, so the session is tied to their play. Guests can explore, but only within the host barrier described below.
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- Use cunning strategy and tactics to tame, train, ride and breed the 100+ dinosaurs and other primeval creatures roaming the dynamic, persistent ecosystems across land, sea, air, and even underground Build your character's strengths and gain items, skills, and pet creatures using in-depth role-playing systems
- Start a tribe with hundreds of other players to survive and dominate competing tribes...and ultimately discover ARK's true purpose
- Build a fire or shelter, then craft customizable clothing & armors to help protect against damage and extreme temperatures on your way to unlocking advanced technologies and equipment
- Chop down trees and mine metal and other precious resources to build massive multi-leveled structures composed of complex snap-linked parts
Guest distance and the tether
The ARK Official Community Wiki’s Host/Local Settings page describes a host barrier in non-dedicated sessions that limits how far guests can get from the host. The server configuration reference names the setting that controls it: ListenServerTetherDistanceMultiplier. That setting scales the tether distance for non-dedicated sessions only, so it has no effect on a dedicated session.
Two cautions apply. First, the wiki does not present a single fixed radius as universal, and the effective distance can differ by platform and game version, so check your own version before planning a route or a base layout. Second, the configuration setting being adjustable does not mean every platform exposes the same control. Where you cannot change it, the barrier you experience is the one set for your session.
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- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
Running a separate dedicated server
A standalone dedicated server is started from a server executable and configured through its launch options and configuration files. It does not rely on any player’s game being open as the host, which is the main practical distinction from the in-game options. The server configuration reference explains how the standalone server is launched; check that page for the exact syntax that matches your game version rather than copying commands from older guides.
Running your own server carries more work than picking a menu option. You install the server software, keep it running, apply updates, and manage configuration and any mods. Resource needs depend on the map, the number of connected players, the age of the world, your settings, and the mods you use. The setup page gives example memory figures for an empty map. Treat those as illustrations of one scenario, not as a minimum specification.
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- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game. Run too far and not only will you be exhausted, but you will also quickly get hungry and thirsty. Weather effects are based on real-world climates, and so you'll need to hide out from rain and snow, while making the most of sunny days
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Gather Resources, Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes and style of everything from the walls of your home, to your character's armor, weapons and more
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout. Make your way to the final boss and figure out why you've been dropped into this Jurassic-era experience
Choosing between the options
The table below compares the main differences. Where the wiki does not address a point for a given mode, the cell says so instead of guessing.
| Question | Dedicated session (in-game option) | Non-dedicated session (in-game option) | Standalone dedicated server |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can the host play in the session? | No. The host manages it without playing. | Yes. Other players join the host’s game. | Not applicable as a player-host. The server runs as its own process, apart from any player’s client. |
| Guest distance limit | Not stated for this mode. The host barrier is described only for non-dedicated sessions. | Limited by the host barrier, which the tether multiplier can scale. | Not stated in the setup and configuration pages reviewed for this article. |
| Setup and administration | Chosen from the Host/Local menu in the game client. | Chosen from the Host/Local menu in the game client. | Requires installing, launching, configuring and updating a separate server. |
| Hardware and resources | Falls on the machine running the session. | Falls on the host’s machine. | Depends on map, players, world age, configuration and mods. Example figures on the setup page are conditional. |
A small group that wants the host to play with friends may find a non-dedicated session simpler, provided the tether is acceptable for how the group moves around. A group that wants a host who does not play, or that wants the server to run apart from any player’s game, should look at a dedicated session or a standalone server, accepting the extra work a standalone server involves. These are practical reasons drawn from how the modes are documented. They do not promise better uptime, performance or reliability for any particular group.
Rank #4
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
Version and platform notes
Support differs between the two main games, and it can change with updates. The ARK Official Community Wiki’s dedicated server setup page reports the following at the time of its most recent review, which you should verify against current patch notes before installing:
- ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE): the standalone server runs natively on Windows and Linux.
- ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA): the standalone dedicated server does not natively support Linux, according to the same page.
- Memory and CPU: the page gives CPU guidance and notes that memory use varies with map, connected players, world age, configuration and mods. Its figures are technical reference values, not purchase recommendations.
The ARK Official Community Wiki is community-maintained rather than an official developer publication. Where its pages and the current in-game options or patch notes disagree, follow the game itself.
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