Hosting ARK games is one of the most famous gaming trends in the current gaming environment. But the question here is whether hosting the ARK server is free? In this article, we are going to find the answer to this question; we will also look into some of the top ARK servers hosting providers you can try out. So read and grab the interesting information.
ARK: Survival Evolved is a survival game and was developed by Studio Wildcard in partnership with Instinct Games, Virtual Basement, and Efecto Studios. While playing, gamers must contend with roaming dinosaurs, environmental perils, and other malicious human players, all while trying to stay alive on an island. Now let us dig into the information about the question you are finding the answer for.
Can you Run ARK Server Hosting for Free?
ARK servers can only be obtained and hosted for free if you choose to do so yourself. Only power and the Internet will be charged to your account. Renting the VPS or a dedicated server can not be afforded free. You need to pay the monthly charges to get the services of ARK Server Hosting Providers if you are not able to host the ARK server by yourself. Getting the monthly subscription to one of the service providers is the best option if you do not want to put your mind into technical problems and glitches.
Requirements for Hosting ARK Servers
Game Server Requirements
When you plan to host an ARK server, the very first thing you should consider is the server requirements for the game. It is very important to know the server requirements of the game so that you can plan accordingly the type of server you will be required to smoothly host the game.
Operating System
A 64-bit operating system is required to host an ARK Server. Because you won’t be able to execute the system without an operating system of this data storage, it is emphasised on the need of having a 64-bit operating system.
The Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable and DirectX are both located in the Steam ARK game folder, for example, if you are running a Microsoft server.
SteamCMD cannot be installed or executed on 64-bit Linux servers without 32-bit binaries. Glibc 2.14 or above is also required for the game server. Ubuntu 14.04 and Debian 8 automatically meet this criterion.
RAM
ARK: Survival Evolved game servers require a minimum of 6 GB of RAM to work smoothly. This is a critical component. If you’re hosting more than 100 players, our recommendation is that you have at least 4 GB of RAM. Of course, when your player count grows, you may add extra RAM to the system.
Bandwidth
A fast and dependable internet connection is required while running an ARK game server. At a minimum, the upload speed should be at least ten megabits per second (Mbps). In addition, keep in mind that a larger number of participants will result in a greater bandwidth. When using the same PC as the server, be prepared for frame drops and latency that will waste your time playing ARK: Survival Evolved. Therefore, it’s preferable to play on another device.
Hosting Environment
Choosing between a physical server and a Virtual Private Server is a crucial decision. Only after deciding on your server’s operating system should you make this choice. The ARK: Survival Evolved game server will take more RAM on a Linux system than on a Windows system.
So now you know what are the requirements that you need to fulfil to host the ARK Server, now let us jump to check out some information about ARK server hosting providers that you can try out if you do not want to hassle with hosting your own ARK Server.
Best 3 ARK Server Hostings
BlackBox
Ark hosting from BlackBox distinguishes out due to its comprehensive cross-travel compatibility, procedural map generator, automatic mod upgrades, offsite backups, and completely automated scheduling.
Its pricing starts at $12.06 for 10 slots, which includes 5 GB of free RAM and an SSD. The following plan gives 20 slots for $18.76 and so on up to the $58.95 a month for a 120-slot package.
You can also increase the CPU priority or clock speed on the server. Aside from that, 8 GB of RAM costs $4.12, while 12 GB costs $9.64, and so on until 32 GB costs $33.08.
Other games can be hosted on BlackBox as well. Games like Aftershock, Conan Exiles, Arma 3, and Hell Let Loose are all on the list as well.
Game Servers
In addition to Ark hosting, Game Servers provides a clean and easy-to-use management interface and superior hardware with 24/7 support.
You may place your order and choose the sort of server you want with ease. There are no gimmicks or ambiguous technical specifications here. You can view the cost by selecting the number of players from the drop-down menu.
The only drawback is that it starts at a price of $29.95 for 30 player slots. However, for $69.99, you have access to all 70 of the available player spaces.
With just a few clicks, Games Servers can have your servers up and running in no time. For the lowest possible ping times, there is a wide network of gaming servers dispersed over 40 different locations.
ScalaCube
Scalacube is a great resource for free Ark server hosting. Hosting in the United States, United Kingdom, or continental Europe is possible with the Estonian hosting provider’s 24/7 free lifetime package.
This offer has one drawback: Scalacube does not specify the number of player slots it includes. As a result, it’s most likely a single-slot server, but it won’t stop some people from using it.
The 20-slot package costs $19 a month and is another option offered by the corporation. It has 32 GB of RAM, an octa-core 3.8 GHz CPU, and 320 GB of solid-state drive (SSD) storage.
A 30-slot package costs $24 a month. And the list of almost a dozen plans continues until the $44 100-slot plan and the $48 120-slot plan.
A free domain is included with all plans, as well as a rapid setup, DDoS protection, and uptime of 24X7.
Final Words
It can be concluded that you can host an ARK Server for free if you wish to, but you have to pay the monthly rental charges for getting a dedicated server or a virtual private network. You can try out the above listed ARK Server Hosting providers if you want a hassle-free gaming experience. So now you must have got the answer to your question, so choose your way as per your comfortability and enjoy the game.