Choosing the best game server hosting provider is not easy. Many providers out there promise the world but deliver the opposite. How do you know which one to trust?
In this article, we recommend the best Ark game server hosting provider based on our years of experience in the industry. We have carefully examined and tested it and have found that its benefits far outweigh its downsides. Read on to learn about it.
What Is Ark?
In a nutshell, ARK is a game about survival, with a bit of action and strategy. You’ll hunt for food and resources, taming creatures and crafting items.
You can develop your interoperable blockchain using the ARK platform with features like a decentralised consensus model, developer-oriented SDKs, and developer-oriented frameworks. The main goal is to create an ecosystem for sandbox games.
The ARK team consists of 23 core members based all over the world. The core team focuses on three main areas: good user experience, using as many coding languages as possible, and communication across chains.
Ark’s core infrastructure is modelled on Bitshares and Lisk. It uses a consensus algorithm called DPoS, or Directed Peer oS.
Several spin-off games have been released since ARK launched in October 2016. ARK Park and PixArk are sandbox survival games.
The ARK Launcher product allows developers to fully utilize the ARK technology stack, including a plug-and-play creation method. In addition, it includes a full-fledged consensus model and a payment plugin.
ARK’s public network supports special transaction types. IPFS hash transactions are supported, as are special registration transactions.
A new feature called the “smart bridge”, will enable the communication of several chains. This will facilitate cross-chain events, such as transferring coins or resolving conflicts.
ARK’s newest offering, Ark 2, is a sequel to the popular sandbox survival game. It was announced during the Game Awards in April and will be available on PC, Xbox and PS4 on the day of its launch.
Ark Server Hosting Requirements
Hosting your own game server can be a fun and profitable way to spend your free time. But to set up your own Ark game server, you’ll need the following:
Computer Requirements
The computer requirements for hosting your own game server can vary depending on the type of game that you’re planning to host. If you are considering hosting a multiplayer online game, you will need at least an Intel Core i3-4430 CPU and 8GB of RAM.
A low-end laptop may be sufficient for games like Unreal Engine 4, which does not require high graphics processing power. However, if you plan to host a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), like World Of Warcraft or Guild Wars 2, you’ll need a more powerful gaming rig.
A dedicated server system with enough computing resources to handle hundreds or even thousands of players is usually required, such as Intel Core i5-2500S @ 3.5 GHz (or equivalent)
When choosing the hardware needed for your game server, it’s essential to consider the cost and function necessary for running the chosen software. Read up on recommended specs before purchasing to avoid regretting later.
Reliable Internet Connection
When you host your own game server, you need a reliable internet connection to ensure players can connect and play the games you have installed. Without a good connection, players may experience lag, or they may not be unable to join multiplayer sessions. Also, if your game server is down for an extended period, it could damage players’ trust in your brand and deter them from playing future games.
Therefore, investing in a quality network infrastructure that can support the high demand that your game server will inevitably generate is important.
You should also consider cloud hosting services, so all your data is accessible from anywhere at any time. This way, if emergency repairs or updates are required on the server(s), they won’t disrupt gameplay.
Operating System
The best operating system for gaming is one that you are comfortable using. So, if you’re new to gaming or have never hosted a game server before, it might be better to start with Windows 10 since it is more user-friendly than other options. macOS and Linux offer great gaming capabilities, but they may not be as beginner-friendly as Windows 10.
Windows 10 also offers great performance, thanks to its Microsoft Edge browser and built-in game controller support. Plus, it integrates well with social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, making it a useful tool for staying connected with friends and family while playing games online.
Benefits Of Having Your Own Ark Game Server
When looking to play video games on Ark, you’ll have two options; set up your own game server or use a shared hosting environment. Setting up your own game server is better because of the following reasons:
You Have Complete Control of Your Server
With your own Ark game server, you have total control over the gaming environment. You can change everything on it. For instance, you can set up the server to your specifications and use your chosen operating system. You can also host any game you want and configure the game, and install unique scripts. You also control who has access to your server.
To control the memory load, you can set a maximum limit on the number of players in a game.
Additionally, you can create the game’s rules and change them whenever you like.
And if you’re unsure how to do something, send a support ticket, and they’ll either show you how or take care of it.
You Get a Reliable Game Server
Dedicated Ark game servers have enough power, backup systems, cooling systems, and constant monitoring systems, allowing your players to access the games anytime.
Additionally, Ark uses state-of-the-art hardware and superb connectivity for their game servers, maintaining server efficiency and preventing lag, slowdowns, game crashes, or sync problems.
You Get a More Secure Game Server.
Ark dedicated game servers are more secure than shared servers. This is because Ark invests heavily in cybersecurity for their dedicated servers, such as firewalls, DDoS protection, and scheduled backups. They also have a team of cybersecurity experts who monitor the server around the clock to neutralise any potential network and server infrastructure threats.
Make Money from Your Game Servers
There are several ways you can make money with your game server. You could charge players for access to your server, sell customizations and add-ons, promote other games on your server for a commission, or offer premium services, such as private servers or guilds. It all depends on the type of game you’re running and the specific needs of your players.
Whatever route you take, carefully research potential costs and expenses before starting your business. Make sure to set realistic expectations for how much money you’ll be able to earn each month and budget accordingly.
Ark Game Servers Can Handle High Amounts of Traffic
Ark dedicated servers come with enough bandwidth to handle high traffic. This means the server performance is unaffected by thousands of players playing simultaneously. Also, because the server administrator keeps an eye on the player count, they regulate the number of players to avoid server overload.
Things To Consider When Choosing a Game Server Hosting Provider
Choosing the right game server hosting provider is challenging, especially if you’ve never hosted a game server before. But with these pointers, it won’t work.
Server Location
When choosing a game server hosting provider, it is important to consider the location of the servers. Choose a game server hosting provider that has servers near you. If the host servers are close, you will experience reduced latency compared to servers farther away from you. This is because data will travel short distances, meaning faster reaction times and less lag during gameplay.
Connectivity
Connectivity is the network infrastructure that allows game server hosting to be remotely operated. Ideally, connectivity is internet connectivity. Connectivity is essential for maintaining a smooth online experience for players.
That’s why it’s important to have a reliable and fast internet connection when you host your own game server. The game server hosting provider should also have fast and reliable internet to ensure your game server is always online.
Fibre internet is the best for game server hosting. This is because fibre optic technology enables a quicker, smoother, and more dependable connection, allowing users to spend more time playing the game as intended and less time buffering.
The game server hosting provider should also guarantee that the server will be available online 24/7, no matter what. Therefore, they should have backup generators in their data centres to guarantee game server uptime even if there is a power outage.
Processor
The CPU is the processor in a gaming computer. It is the “brain” of your computer that reads the instructions and executes them. Choosing the best CPU for a multiplayer game server largely depends on the number of players on the server.
For example, if you plan to host a server and play games alone, you might want a CPU with at least two cores and a 2.5 GHz clock speed. If you’re building a multiplayer game server that is more CPU-intensive, you’ll need at least a five-core CPU with a 3.5 GHz clock speed.
Memory
The memory in your gaming computer (RAM) stores all the programs and files in your game server. The more memory your computer has the more programs you can run at once or the more number of people that can play a game simultaneously.
The amount of RAM available on a dedicated game server depends on the game server hosting provider. Most hosts typically offer each server between 16 and 64 GB of RAM.
If you’re renting a server to play games alone, an 8 GB RAM server will be enough. A 16 GB server or more will be sufficient if you intend to host multiple players.
Storage
RAM is a temporary storage in a game server, meaning when you shut down your game server, all the data and programs on the RAM disappears. The hard drive is the permanent storage in a game server, which means the data and programs on it do not disappear when you shut down your game server.
Game servers require a lot of storage space because of the constant uploads and downloads of games and the fact that you have to play with texture packs, modes, and more. So, a minimum of 240 GB of hard drive is enough if you want to play the game alone. But for 50 to 100 players, you’ll need up to 500 GB of hard drive storage.
But it’s a good idea to opt for a hosting provider that offers Solid State Drive (SDD) for storage. Some providers offer unlimited storage.
DDoS Protection
Game servers are more vulnerable to cyber attacks than any other type because of the number of people accessing the server, which increases the attack surface. That’s why game server hosting providers take the security of their servers seriously.
Game servers can be hacked if connected to the internet and are not properly protected. The most common cyber attack on a game server is the DDoS attack.
DDoS attacks are a form of cyber-attack that target hosting providers. They involve flooding the targeted server with traffic from multiple sources to cause it to become unavailable. The attacker’s goal is to overwhelm the servers with requests, thereby preventing them from working properly.
When the servers are overwhelmed with fraudulent traffic, legitimate players cannot access the server. This is bad for business because players might leave for good if they can’t access your server.
The attacker might also use this method to send a message to the targeted provider.
DDoS attacks can result in server downtime, financial loss, and stress for IT specialists trying to back up the server.
- Therefore, the game server hosting provider you choose must use effective detection and prevention techniques to prevent DDoS attacks, such as:
- Firewalls and intrusion detection systems that scan players before they log into the game server
- Antivirus software that scans and rids the server of viruses and malware
- A team of cybersecurity experts monitors their network and server infrastructures to prevent DDoS attacks.
- Backups
Data backup creates a duplicate copy of the data in your game server. The purpose of data backup is to ensure that your data is always safe and can be retrieved in case of data failure. Data failure can be caused by corruption, software or hardware failure, or human-triggered events like accidental data deletion or virus or malware attacks.
So, when choosing a game server hosting provider, select one with a backup policy. Ideally, the hosting provider should back up their data frequently, and they should have both onsite and offsite data backups.
Control Panel
A game server control panel allows you to manage your game server and its players. Specifically, you can do the following with a game server control panel:
- Install a game server
- Restart or stop the server
- Manage various game server settings, such as server name, server address, and server password
- Keep track of your server’s current status, such as current players, current map, current weapon, and all the current game events.
- Configure the server files
- Install your favorite operating system
- Back up your data
- View online and offline players on the game server
- View all messages
- View your server connection details
- Install modes
- View your server logs
- Update your server when required
- Edit your server configurations
- Customize your server to your liking
With all these functionalities, it’s easy to see why a game server control panel is important. So, choose a game server hosting provider that includes a control panel in their game server package.
Number of Player Slots
The number of player slots in a game server determines how many users can log in and play simultaneously. In the world of MMOs, this is a very important factor in determining the popularity and success of a game.
The server’s available hardware determines the number of player slots. In other cases, it’s determined by the server’s configuration. The more player slots you have, the more people can play a game simultaneously.
So, if you’re thinking of making money with your game server, choosing a game server with more player slots is a good idea. A server with a few player slots is ideal if you intend to play with a few friends. However, the more player slots you’ll pay monthly to maintain your game server.
Technical Support
Technical support is the backbone of a successful game server. It is critical that the server is kept up to date with the latest changes and is easy to use. When people come to the server and want to join a game, they expect to be able to do so without having to ask for help. When technical support is unavailable, players often report that the game server is unsuitable for their needs.
Also, you might run into technical issues when setting up or managing your game servers, such as memory leaks, inability to connect to the server, network outages, extreme server lag, and more. These technical issues may cause your server to go down. So, you’ll need technical support staff to help you fix them quickly.
That’s why it is vital to choose a game server hosting provider that provides technical support when you buy a game server from them. The provider should offer various technical support systems, such as phone, email, and live chat, and the support should be available around the clock.
Conclusion
Ark is a hosting provider that has gained popularity in the hosting industry over the past few years. It offers a wide range of services, including VPS, SSL, and dedicated hosting. Ark has excelled in the gaming industry by allowing individuals to set up their own game servers and start playing with friends. Individuals can also make money through their game servers.
With the best Ark game server hosting, you have complete control over your hosting environment. Plus, the Ark servers are available 24/7, which means your players can continue playing even if you’re offline.
