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Use a non-dedicated, player-hosted world if a small group plays together and wants the least setup. Choose a dedicated server when the world must stay available after the owner logs off, players join at different times, or you need server-side settings, mods, and administration. The right choice depends more on schedule and control than on raw performance.
What “dedicated” and “non-dedicated” mean
Non-dedicated (player-hosted) world
A non-dedicated session runs inside one player’s normal game client. The host starts the world, and friends join through the in-game browser or Steam. The world exists only while that host is in the game; closing the session makes it unavailable to everyone else. The host computer is running both the game and the hosting workload at the same time.
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Clients need to use the same game version as the host and must match the host’s Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) setting. For a small group that normally plays in one scheduled block, this is the simplest and least expensive arrangement because no separate server software or rented machine is required.
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A dedicated server runs the world as a separate process instead of inside a player’s game session. It can remain online when the owner logs out, allowing people to play at different times. You can run it on the same computer, a spare PC on your network, or rented hardware.
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- Explore – Huge, rich environments, with unique biomes and worlds up to 100 square kilometres in size.
- Craft – Handcraft and repair weapons, clothes, armour, tools, vehicles, with hundreds of recipes and schematics.
- Build – Design your fort with traps, electricity, auto turrets, and gadgets to survive in a fully destructible and mouldable world.
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The dedicated-server software is a separate, free Steam application (app ID 294420); the regular game is app 251570. A dedicated deployment exposes server configuration and administration files, making it possible to manage settings, mods, access, restarts, and updates independently of any player’s game client.
Dedicated vs non-dedicated at a glance
| Decision factor | Non-dedicated/player-hosted | Dedicated server |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Online only while the host is in the game. | Can stay online after the owner logs off. |
| Setup | Start a world in the game and invite or join friends. | Install and maintain a separate process; SteamCMD, firewall rules, port forwarding, updates, and restart management may be involved. |
| Resource use | The host PC runs the game and hosting workload together. | A separate machine keeps the game client and server from competing for CPU and memory. |
| Administration | Fewer exposed server-side controls. | More control over settings, mods, admin tools, and server files. |
| Cost | No rented server is needed for a friend group. | The software is free; rented hardware or managed hosting adds a recurring cost. |
| Crossplay | Depends on the current platform support and game settings. | Requires the documented dedicated-server settings and supported client versions. |
When a non-dedicated world is the better choice
Your group starts and stops together
Player hosting works well when one person normally organizes the session and everyone is available at roughly the same time. There is no separate service to monitor, update, or secure. The host launches the game, loads the world, and invites the group.
You want the shortest setup
There is no SteamCMD installation, service account, firewall administration, port-forwarding work, or restart policy to maintain. For a temporary co-op run or a small private world, avoiding that administration is often more valuable than gaining always-on access.
You do not want a hosting bill
A player-hosted session does not require renting a server. You still need a capable host PC and a stable connection, but there is no separate monthly infrastructure charge.
The host can tolerate the availability limit
The decisive limitation is simple: when the host leaves the game, nobody can continue in that world. If that interruption is acceptable, the other advantages of dedicated hosting may not justify its additional work or cost.
When a dedicated server is worth it
The world must persist between sessions
A dedicated process can remain online while its owner is away. This is the key reason to use one: players can return whenever they are free instead of waiting for the original host to launch the game.
Your group plays asynchronously
If members live in different time zones, have irregular schedules, or want to check the base at different times, persistent availability removes the host-as-gatekeeper problem. Everyone connects to the same running world.
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Dedicated hosting exposes configuration files and administrative tools that are not available in the same way from a player-hosted session. This is the appropriate option when you need to tune server settings, manage administrators, install server-side mods, or control the process independently of a player’s client.
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- Explore – Huge, rich environments, with unique biomes and worlds up to 100 square kilometres in size.
- Craft – Handcraft and repair weapons, clothes, armour, tools, vehicles, with hundreds of recipes and schematics.
- Build – Design your fort with traps, electricity, auto turrets, and gadgets to survive in a fully destructible and mouldable world.
- Cooperate or Compete – Work together to build settlements or against each other in a wasteland where zombies and outlaws rule the land.
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You can provide an always-on machine or service
A spare PC, a small always-on computer, or rented hardware can host the process. Managed hosting packages much of the operating-system work into a control panel; self-hosting gives you direct access but makes you responsible for maintenance.
Cost and hosting models
Player hosting
The game client does the hosting, so a small group can play without renting anything. The trade-off is that the host’s computer and play schedule determine when the world exists.
Self-hosted dedicated server
The dedicated software itself is free to download. You supply the machine, storage, network connection, operating-system setup, and administration. A typical deployment includes a separate service user, firewall and port-forwarding configuration, automatic restarts, update handling, and branch management. This route minimizes recurring fees but requires the most technical ownership.
Managed dedicated hosting
A provider supplies the machine and wraps common tasks in a control panel. Depending on the service, that may simplify backups, updates, restart scheduling, and mod management. Features, locations, backup policies, player limits, and prices vary, so verify those details for the specific plan before committing. Managed hosting is generally the lowest-administration dedicated option, not a guarantee of identical performance or crossplay support.
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Hardware and network requirements
The official Help Center warns that a dedicated server uses more CPU and RAM than running the game alone. Its Windows guidance lists 12 GB as recommended memory for the game, while noting that a dedicated process needs additional headroom. That 12 GB figure is game guidance, not a promise that every dedicated workload will fit within it.
| Guidance | What it means | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 4 fast CPU cores | Practical minimum baseline for a small dedicated instance. | Estimate from the setup guide; actual load changes with world activity, view distance, mods, and player count. |
| 6 GB free RAM | Baseline free memory for a small server. | Guide estimate, not a universal guarantee. |
| 10–16 GB RAM | More appropriate starting headroom for modded play or groups of four or more. | Still workload-dependent; leave memory for the operating system and other services. |
| SSD storage | Recommended storage type for the server and world files. | The guide recommends an SSD; it does not define a universal capacity. |
| Stable upload | Important for keeping remote players connected. | Required quality depends on player count and network conditions. |
Running the server and the game on one PC is possible, but both workloads then compete for the same processor time and memory. A separate machine avoids that contention. Regardless of hardware, keep the host system updated, use reliable storage, and plan how you will restart the process after a crash or maintenance window.
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How to start a non-dedicated session
- Align versions and EAC. Update the host and every client to the same game version, and make sure their EAC settings match.
- Launch the world from the game client. Create or load the world on the player who will act as host.
- Invite the group. Friends can join through the in-game server browser or through Steam.
- Keep the host in the session. The world remains available only while that player is actively hosting in the game.
- End deliberately. Warn players before the host exits, because leaving the game ends access to the world until the host starts it again.
This path is intentionally short: it avoids exposing server files and avoids operating a second application. Its limitation is equally clear—there is no independent process to keep the world alive.
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How to plan and operate a dedicated server
1. Choose the machine
Decide between the same PC, a spare LAN computer, and rented hardware. A separate machine is preferable when the owner also plays regularly, because it prevents the game client from competing with the server for resources.
2. Install the correct software
Install Steam’s dedicated-server tool (app 294420), not just the game app (251570). Self-hosted installations commonly use SteamCMD or an equivalent Steam deployment method.
3. Create an operating account and storage layout
Use a separate service user where practical and place the server and world data on SSD storage. Restrict write access to the accounts that actually administer the machine.
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Set the host firewall and, when the server is behind a router, configure the required port forwarding. The exact ports and rules depend on the current server documentation and your network design; do not copy a rule intended for a different branch or platform.
5. Set lifecycle management
Plan automatic restarts, update checks, and a safe response to crashes. Branch management matters because the server and clients must remain on compatible versions. Record who can change settings and who can restart the process.
6. Apply gameplay and access settings
Configure the server files for your intended player limit, visibility, EAC mode, and any supported mods. If you need modern console crossplay, use the dedicated crossplay requirements in the next section before inviting players.
7. Test before opening the world
Connect from a client, verify that the world is visible, confirm that the expected settings are active, and test a restart. For a public listing, also confirm that the server remains reachable after the owner logs out.
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PC and console crossplay requirements
Modern crossplay between PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S is possible on a correctly configured dedicated server. The Help Center’s dedicated cross-platform guidance specifies these values:
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| Setting | Required value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
ServerMaxPlayerCount |
8 maximum | Crossplay servers must be capped at eight players or fewer. |
ServerAllowCrossplay |
True |
Enables cross-platform joining. |
EACEnabled |
True |
Required for the supported console-compatible configuration. |
IgnoreEOSSanctions |
False |
Must remain false for the documented setup. |
Keep the server vanilla for this configuration, enable public visibility, and make sure every client and the server use matching versions and branches. Mods or mismatched builds can prevent clients from joining even when the four values are correct.
The supported modern group described by the guide is PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Legacy PlayStation 4 and Xbox One builds, as well as Nintendo Switch, are outside that documented crossplay group.
Administration, mods, and reliability trade-offs
Control
Player hosting favors convenience: the host works inside the normal game interface and has fewer server-side files to manage. Dedicated hosting favors control: administrators can edit server configuration, manage permissions, schedule maintenance, and operate the world independently of a player session.
Mods
Dedicated hosting is the practical choice when the group needs server-side mods or a controlled mod environment. For crossplay with the modern consoles, keep the server vanilla and follow the documented settings instead of assuming a modded configuration will remain compatible.
Maintenance
A persistent world is not maintenance-free. Updates, restarts, backups, storage health, firewall rules, and version branches all become your responsibility when self-hosting. Managed services reduce that workload but do not remove the need to check their stated backup, mod, and crossplay features.
Troubleshooting by symptom
| Symptom | Most useful checks |
|---|---|
| Friends cannot see a player-hosted world | Confirm the host is still in the game, then check that every client has the same game version and EAC setting. |
| The dedicated server disappears after the owner logs off | Verify that the standalone process is actually running on the intended machine and has not stopped during logout or a failed restart. |
| Console players cannot join | Check vanilla status, public visibility, matching branches, ServerAllowCrossplay=True, EACEnabled=True, IgnoreEOSSanctions=False, and a player cap of eight or fewer. |
| Some players connect while others fail | Compare each client’s version and branch with the server; then check whether a mod or platform falls outside the supported crossplay group. |
| Server performance degrades as the group grows | Review CPU and free memory headroom, move the process to a separate machine if it shares a gaming PC, and account for the additional load from mods and world activity. |
| Players disconnect during busy periods | Check the host’s upload stability, storage performance, and whether firewall or port-forwarding rules are intermittently blocking traffic. |
Practical decision examples
Three friends playing every Saturday
Choose non-dedicated hosting if one person is always present to start the world and nobody needs access during the week. You avoid server administration and recurring hosting costs.
Friends in several time zones
Choose a dedicated server. Persistent availability lets members play without coordinating around one host’s login time.
A modded PC-only community
Choose dedicated hosting when you need centralized server files, administrative controls, and a stable mod setup. Self-host if you are comfortable maintaining the machine; use managed hosting if reducing administration is more important than direct system access.
PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S players
Use a dedicated server configured for the documented modern crossplay rules. Keep it vanilla, public, EAC-enabled, crossplay-enabled, capped at eight players, and on the same version and branch as every client.
Final choice
Pick non-dedicated for a small, synchronized group that values immediate setup and no hosting bill. Pick dedicated for persistence, asynchronous play, cross-platform administration, mods, or a world that should remain online without its owner. The dedicated tool is free, but the machine and maintenance are not; the real decision is whether that ongoing availability and control justify the added operational work.
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