Lost Ark is a free-to-play action MMORPG developed by Smilegate RPG and published on Steam by Amazon Game Studios. You explore a large fantasy world in search of the Lost Ark, with action combat, solo and co-op content, and optional PvP. It is aimed at adults: the Steam page carries an ESRB M rating and a provisional PEGI 18.
How to get it
Lost Ark is distributed through Steam: the play link on the official site at playlostark.com forwards you to the Steam page. Click Play Game there and Steam downloads the client. It is Windows only.
Cost and purchases
The game is free. Steam’s notes say it “offers in-game purchases”, and the ESRB and PEGI descriptors both mention in-game purchases that include random items. Budget-conscious players, and parents, should know that some paid items are chance-based.
Age rating in detail
The ESRB rating on Steam is M (Mature 17+) for violence, blood and gore, suggestive themes, language and use of alcohol, with users interacting online. PEGI lists 18 (provisional) for violence and in-game purchases with random items. Steam applies an age gate before showing the store page.
System requirements
Lost Ark’s minimum specification is heavier than many free games, mostly because of memory and storage:
| Component | Minimum (Steam) |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10, 64-bit only |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-10100 or AMD Ryzen 3 3100 |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 560 |
| DirectX | Version 11 |
| Storage | 110 GB |
An internet connection is required, and Steam warns that the requirements may change over time.
Accessibility
Steam lists adjustable text size, colour alternatives, camera comfort options, a keyboard-only option and custom volume controls.
Accounts and fair play
Gold-selling sites, bots and third-party tools are a known problem in MMORPGs. Buying gold or running automation breaks the publisher’s rules and can get the account banned, and sites that ask for your Steam login to “boost” a character put the whole Steam account at risk.
Questions
Is Lost Ark free to play?
Yes. It is free on Steam, with optional in-game purchases.
Can I play it on a Mac or on Linux?
The Steam page lists Windows only.
Why does it need so much RAM?
The publisher lists 16 GB as the minimum. Systems with less memory are below the supported specification.
