ARK: Survival Evolved is a game published by Studio Wildcard. It is a giant sandbox in which you learn how to survive on one of the many maps. There are dinosaurs, prehistoric animals, mythical creatures, huge beasts, and many more things to tame and hunt in ARK. You can build huge tribes and dominate servers. This game can be played online or offline. For those wanting to play online, lag can be an annoying issue. Some of this will come from the game server, but most of the lag comes from your own connection to the game. In this post we will show you how to fix lag spikes and lower ping times with a VPN. We will provide suggestions for PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch.
How to Fix Lag Spikes in ARK
Here is the quickest way to improve ARK: Survival Evolved lag on PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee)
- Download the ExpressVPN app and connect to a server in the region you wish to play in.
- Test to see if your ping has lowered from your normal response time.
- Launch ARK and enjoy!
Want to fix lag spikes on PS4 or Xbox One? If so follow these instructions.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee)
- Log into Expressvpn.com and go to the “DNS Settings” tab.
- Click the button to register your IP address.
- You can also set dynamic DNS (more technical users)
- Click on the “Dashboard” tab
- Look for the “Set up on all your devices” section and click on the “see all devices” link.
- Click on the set up guide for your console. ExpressVPN MediaStreamer supports PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. They also have a YouTube video to help Nintendo Switch users get set up.
- Make note of the IP address given in the set up box to the right of the screen.
- Set the DNS on your console to the IP given on the ExpressVPN site.
Why Does ARK: Survival Evolved Lag?
The popularity of ARK is both a blessing and a curse. As we mentioned, you will play with users with differing Internet connection speeds. If you have performance issues when using the Internet in general then you can expect lag spikes when playing ARK Survival Evolved. The two main considerations for lag are your Internet speed and hardware. PC gamers will want to focus on CPU, memory, and graphics card. Everyone needs a fast Internet connection.
More Tips to Fix Lag Spikes in ARK
Let’s start by looking at the best way to increase your Internet speed and lower ping times. In doing so you can expect less lag and a better gaming experience. We recommend testing a VPN to improve ping and reduce your lag. The key is to find a better route between your system and the game server. Your ISP isn’t focused on this issue as much as VPN providers. They know that it’s a competitive advantage if they can offer you a faster router to key locations. Most of the game developers host regional game servers in the same locations. This allows VPNs to offer better routes and will give you a boost in performance.
ARK: Survival Evolved Server Locations
Studio Wildcard has not released their official servers for ARK: Survival Evolved. However, since people are allowed to host there own servers we can help you pick out locations that are best for each region.
Based off of other games we chose some key VPN servers locations for ExpressVPN.
- United States – Washington DC, Los Angeles
- Europe – London, Paris, Frankfurt
- Asia Pacific – Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Sydney
System Requirements and Recommendations
This section is mainly for PC gamers. You will want to make sure you have the proper system specs for ARK: Survival Evolved. The minimum requirements are often not enough to enjoy the game. You will want to come as close as possible (or above) these recommended system specs.
PC-
- Operating system – Windows 10 64 Bit, Windows 8.1 64 Bit, Windows 8 64 Bit, Windows 7 64 Bit
- Processor – Intel Core i5-2400 or AMD FX-8320 or better
- Memory – 8 GB RAM
- Video card – NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB or AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better
Mac-
- Operating system – OSX 10.9 or better
- Processor – 2 GHz Equivalent CPU or better
- Memory – 8 GB RAM
- Video card – OpenGL 3 Compatible GPU with 1GB Video RAM or better
Linux-
- Operating system – Ubuntu Equivalent Distro
- Processor – 2 GHz Equivalent CPU or better
- Memory – 8 GB RAM
- Video card – OpenGL 3 Compatible GPU with 1GB Video RAM or better
Here is a little more information on using a VPN for gaming.
How to Play ARK: Survival Evolved Online with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our choice for fixing lag. All you will have to do is connect to a server location close to where the game is hosted. ExpressVPN has 160 server locations throughout the world for you to choose from. Gaming companies like Electronic Arts, Bethseda, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo use similar hosts. Some of the most popular hosts are Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS). ExpressVPN has servers located close to these data centers. This will give you a closer connection to the game and improve your experience. You will be able to reduce ping and fix lag by using ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN has an exciting exclusive discount of 49% off a year subscription of VPN with an extra 3 months for all our readers. You can play online with less lag and improved privacy. Take advantage of regional exclusives and play with friends internationally through the over 160 server locations. It is easy to use and available across a variety of devices. ExpressVPN offers a 30 day money back guarantee. This gives you a full month to see how a VPN can help your gaming experience.
