Optimizing Your ARK: Survival Evolved Experience with Custom INI Settings
In the vast and unforgiving world of ARK: Survival Evolved, every advantage counts. Whether you’re a seasoned survivor or a new player, understanding and tweaking the game’s INI settings can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. These settings allow you to customize everything from performance optimization to gameplay mechanics, ensuring that your time on the ARK is as enjoyable and efficient as possible. In this article, we’ll delve into the ark game ini settings, exploring how to use them to your advantage, and provide practical tips for getting the most out of your game.
What Are ARK INI Settings?
INI files are configuration files that allow players to customize various aspects of ARK: Survival Evolved. These files are used to override the default settings of the game, giving you control over parameters such as graphics, server settings, and even gameplay mechanics. By editing these files, you can tailor the game to suit your preferences, improve performance, or even add custom content like mods.
How to Access and Edit ARK INI Settings
Before you start tweaking your settings, it’s important to know where to find and how to edit the INI files. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Locate the INI Files:
On a dedicated server, the INI files can usually be found in the server’s configuration directory.
For single-player or non-dedicated multiplayer games, the INI files are located in your game directory under the ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsNoEditor folder.
Backup Your Files:
Before making any changes, always create a backup of your INI files. This ensures you can restore the original settings if something goes wrong.
Use a Text Editor:
Open the INI files with a text editor like Notepad or a more advanced editor like Notepad++. Make sure to save your changes after editing.
Restart the Game/Server:
After saving your changes, restart the game or server for the new settings to take effect.
Key ARK INI Settings for Performance Optimization
One of the most common reasons players edit INI files is to improve game performance. Here are some key settings you can tweak:
Resolution and Graphics Settings:
ResolutionScale: Adjusting this setting can help improve performance on lower-end hardware. For example:ResolutionScaleX=0.5
ResolutionScaleY=0.5
This reduces the resolution by half, improving frame rates without significantly affecting visual quality.
View Distance:
ViewDistance and TerrainViewDistance control how far you can see in the game. Reducing these values can improve performance:ViewDistance=2500
TerrainViewDistance=1200
Shadow Quality:
Disabling shadows or reducing their quality can drastically improve performance. Use the following settings:bDisableShadow=1
ShadowQuality=0
FPS Limit:
If you’re experiencing frame rate caps, you can remove the FPS limit by adding:bLimitFrameRate=0
Using INI Settings to Enable Mods
Mods are a fantastic way to enhance your ARK experience, adding new items, creatures, and gameplay mechanics. To enable mods on your server or single-player game, you’ll need to edit the INI files. Here’s how:
Install the Mod:
Download the mod from the Steam Workshop and ensure it’s installed correctly.
Add the Mod to Your INI File:
Open the Game.ini or GameUserSettings.ini file and add the mod ID under the [Mods] section. For example:
[Mods]
123456789
Save and Restart:
Save your changes and restart the game or server for the mod to take effect.
Tips and Best Practices for Editing INI Files
Test One Change at a Time:
Make one change