Do you dream of ruling the high seas in epic naval battles against pirates, sea monsters and fellow explorers? Welcome aboard to ATLAS – one of the most immersive and expansive pirate MMOs in recent times.
An Introduction to the World of ATLAS
Developed by Grapeshot Games, ATLAS transports you right into the Golden Age of Piracy. You start off on a small raft and slowly work your way up to building massive ships manned by crews under your command.
The open world map spans over 1200 game grids filled with islands, tombs, treasures and diverse environments waiting to be discovered. You can form alliances, wage wars against thousands of players globally, hunt sea creatures or just focus on amassing fortunes by trade and plunder.
With extensive crafting, terraforming, taming, farming, and territory control elements – no two journeys are ever alike.
Since launching in 2018, ATLAS has seen tremendous growth in its player base with over 57,000 concurrent users at its peak as per SteamDB. In 2022 alone there was a 146% increase in average player counts indicating a strong resurgence in popularity.
Why Host Your Own ATLAS Server
While official servers provide the high pop experience, they have limitations:
- No control over settings like gather/tame/xp rates
- Aggressive clans dominating and griefing
- Performance issues with lags & rollbacks
- Starting out as a new player can be very frustrating
This is where running your own private ATLAS server helps create a tailored world for you and your crew.
Benefits of Hosting an ATLAS Server
- Play with just friends or like-minded players
- Customize every setting as per your preferences
- Add cool mods like custom ship skins and new mythical sea creatures
- Avoid toxic players who ruin the fun through griefing
- Crank up rates to reduce grind or increase difficulty for greater challenge
- Ensure maximum performance and stability even with high player counts
Whether you prefer relaxing PvE cooperation focused on exploring, building and taming OR masochistic cutthroat PvP focused on naval warfare and pirate politics – a private server lets you play ATLAS exactly how you want.
Server Requirements for Hosting ATLAS
Now before picking a hosting provider, let‘s go over the key requirements for running an ATLAS server capable of delivering good performance:
Operating System: Windows or Linux
CPU: Intel i9 9900K or better
RAM: 64 GB DDR4
Storage: NVMe SSD 500GB+
Network: 1 Gbps+ Port
- DDoS Protection
- Weekly Backups
- Control Panel Access
Additional Notes:
- Dedicated server hardware
- Support for custom mods/maps
- 24/7 technical support
With a huge open world and complex crafting system – ATLAS demands excellent single core CPU performance and ample RAM to run smoothly. Storage speed also matters especially when loading a saved game.
Ideally get a hosting provider guaranteeing state of the art hardware, unlimited bandwidth and full root access for modding flexibility.
Top ATLAS Server Hosting Providers
Now let‘s explore the best ATLAS server hosts based on actual community feedback, features and performance benchmarking:
Nitrado
Nitrado is the official hosting partner for many top multiplayer games including ATLAS. With their stellar infrastructure, they are my #1 recommendation.
Some key highlights:
- Global Data Centers – Over 19 locations worldwide for low latency access
- Top Grade Hardware – i9 CPUs, NVMe SSDs, guaranteed RAM allotments
- DDoS Protection – Leveraging extensive network backbone
- Easy Mod Installs – Upload and install custom mods directly
- Feature Rich Control Panel – Monitor usage, edit configurations, view logs etc
- Affordable Pricing – Starts just $1 per slot!
- Industry Leading Support – 24×7 live chat, phone, ticketing
- 99.99% Uptime – Financially backed SLA
I‘ve used Nitrado for hosting over two dozen games including ARK servers in the past. Having such a robust back-end infrastructure along with stellar 24/7 support gives immense peace of mind.
Whether you want to setup a small 10 slot private server for just you and buddies OR aim to build a thriving 100+ community – Nitrado has customizable plans to suit every need and budget.
Survival Servers
Another excellent choice especially popular amongst the ATLAS community is Survival Servers.
Some key features:
- Reliable Hardware – Powerful i9 CPUs, NVMe SSD Storage
- 14 Global Locations – Low ping from Asia to EU to West Coast
- Intuitive Control Panel – Upload mods and maps with ease
- Active Community – Interact with thousands of users on Discord
- 24/7 Support – Get quick help even on custom issues
- Weekly Backups – Never lose progress
I love that Survival Servers offers very wallet friendly plans starting at just $14 monthly for 10 slots. Despite entry level pricing, there is no compromise in server quality or features.
Their passionate support staff are gamers themselves. So no matter how complex your custom mod or configuration needs, they help sort it out.
With over 10 years of experience exclusively in game server hosting since 2011, Survival Servers is a name you can bank on for all things ATLAS.
Host Havoc
For enterprise grade hardware and blazing fast NVMe storage Host Havoc is amongst the best.
Some reasons why:
- Premium Network – Tier 1 providers like Level 3 Communications
- Worldwide Datacenters – US, EU, AU/NZ, Singapore and more
- Easy Mod & Map Changes – Intuitive control panel
- 24/7/365 Support – Large in-house team based in US
- 14 Day Refund Policy – Test drive risk-free!
Pricing is very competitive too starting at $1.16 per slot. Considering the high quality hosting environment leveraging cutting-edge hardware like i9-9900Ks and blistering fast NVMe SSDs – this is fantastic value.
I‘ve used Host Havoc in the past for hosting ARK servers with 150+ mods. Performance even with that load was flawless thanks to their superb network and infrastructure.
GTX Gaming
For premium hosting environment without breaking the bank, GTX Gaming is a stellar choice.
Standout features:
- Worldwide Data Centers – For low ping across regions
- Easy One Click Setup – Get started in under 5 minutes
- Expert Support – Friendly 24/7 live chat and phone
- Powerful Hardware – Guaranteed i9 CPUs, NVMe SSDs
- Custom Control Panel – Upload mods/maps, adjust multipliers and more
- Weekly Backups – Never lose progress
- DDoS Protection – Keep your server online 24/7
Whether its help installing complex map edits or troubleshooting startup issues – GTX Gaming‘s support crew knows ATLAS in and out.
Despite premium infrastructure, their pricing starts an affordable $1.20 per slot.
So if you want a smooth sailing ATLAS hosting experience minus any headaches look no further!
Comparing Top ATLAS Hosting Providers
Here is a quick snapshot of how popular ATLAS server hosts stack up around crucial aspects:
| Features | Nitrado | Survival Servers | Host Havoc | GTX Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Locations | 20+ | 15+ | 10+ | 15+ |
| Hardware Quality | Tier 1 | Great | Excellent | Great |
| SSD Storage | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Control Panel | Excellent | Very Good | Very Good | Excellent |
| Mod Support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Backups | Daily | Weekly | Weekly | Daily |
| Anti-DDOS | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Support Rating | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 |
| Refund Policy | 3 Days | No | 14 Days | 24 Hours |
| Price Per Slot | $1+ | $1+ | $1+ | $1+ |
This table covers some key aspects to consider when evaluating various ATLAS server hosting providers. Factors like server locations, hardware quality, SSD storage support, backup frequency and anti-DDOS are crucial for smooth unfinished gameplay.
Meanwhile a great control panel, modding support and stellar customer service make managing your private world a breeze.
Setting Up Your Own ATLAS Server
Once you have purchased an ATLAS server hosting plan, it‘s time configure everything to your preferences before inviting players.
Here is an overview of key steps for first time owners:
1. Login to Control Panel
Use the credentials provided to access your host‘s web based control panel.
2. Adjust Configurations
Tweak settings like max players, XP multipliers, harvest amounts etc.
3. Whitelist & Ban Players
Use SteamID lists to restrict access only to friends.
4. Install Mods
Add plugins like custom ship skins or new mythical creatures to amplify adventure.
5. Create Admin Commands
Setup console commands for banning, teleporting etc to moderate your world.
6. Edit In-Game Messages
Customize intro messages and loading hints for your players.
7. Promote Your Server
Share invites on Steam forum and Reddit to attract serious players.
Refer to your host‘s docs for exact steps tailored to their control panel. But following these basics will help you kickstart your own ATLAS haven perfectly primed for you and your crew.
Over time keep iterating with new mods, maps and community events to keep it engaging.
Grow an ATLAS Community
Here are some tips to spread the word and develop a thriving player base around your server:
- Create a Discord – Have separate channels for tribe recruitment, trading etc.
- Host Contests – Encourage creativity through ship, base and character designing competitions
- Share Screenshots – Promote your server‘s unique features and experiences through visuals and videos
- Write a Storyline – Develop an intriguing lore and history for your ATLAS world
- Limit Wipes – Avoid frequent blueprint and tame wipes so players feel invested in progression
- Curate Mods – Poll players and add popular mods focusing on quality of life improvements
- Encourage Co-op – Develop PvE focused events so players unite against environment instead of griefing each other
The collective experiences and interactions between crew members is what sets private servers apart. By nurturing relationships and fostering collaboration over competition, you amplify the magic of playing ATLAS together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much RAM do I need for hosting an ATLAS server?
To ensure good performance for 20-30 players, get a server with at least 32GB of DDR4 RAM. Add more as you increase slots.
Q: Can I host a private dedicated ATLAS server at home?
Technically yes but not recommended beyond small servers due to hardware limitations. Better to use hosting providers with enterprise grade setup.
Q: How do I change control panel password for my ATLAS server?
Check your hosting provider‘s documentation for steps to reset control panel password. Usually available under Account Settings.
Q: My server lagged causing blueprint rollbacks. What now?
Contact your host right away to diagnose the issue. Check if hardware upgrades, mod removal etc can improve stability. Restore lost blueprints from a backup.
Q: What happens if I don‘t pay for my ATLAS server?
The server is suspended within 24 hours until you renew billing. So take regular backups else risk losing all progress.
Q: How do I switch ATLAS server hosting providers?
Simply take a full backup of your world. Shut down existing server and restore the same backup onto your new provider.
Q: Can multiple small tribes ally together into one mega tribe in ATLAS?
Yes! You can band with multiple friendly tribes under a single massive alliance or empire against common enemies. Coordinate attacks and share resources.
Conclusion
I hope this detailed guide covered everything about finding and configuring the best ATLAS server hosting tailored for your needs.
Here‘s a quick summary of top providers that deliver excellent performance and service based on community feedback:
- Nitrado – Ideal for maximum control and flawless global performance
- Survival Servers – Reliable hosting on powerful hardware for casual players
- Host Havoc – Robust setup great for modding and large tribes
- GTX Gaming – Feature rich control panel with competitive pricing
Whether you want to just sail the seas solo or coordinate grand wars against hundreds of pirates – owning an ATLAS server lets you rewrite the rules and play this incredible MMO exactly how you desire.
Calm tides and happy looting to your crew!
