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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchUse the dedicated RimWorld Together server distribution, not the separate Multiplayer mod. The current release identified for 2026 is 26.10.4.1, published October 4, 2026. Download the Windows or Linux server archive, or run the official container image, expose the configured TCP port 25555, and have every player install the matching RimWorld Together client mod. Check the release notes against your RimWorld base-game version before creating or upgrading a world.
What you need to host RimWorld Together
A working server has four separate pieces: the RimWorld base game on each player’s computer, the RimWorld Together client mod on each player’s installation, the RimWorld Together dedicated-server files on the host, and a reachable network endpoint. The server can run on a Windows or Linux machine, or in the project’s official container image. The project’s dedicated-server guide does not support macOS as a server operating system.
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- Server software: RimWorld Together release 26.10.4.1 is the latest release identified here; it includes Linux and Windows server assets.
- Client software: every player launches RimWorld with the RimWorld Together client mod enabled.
- Network: the documented default is TCP port 25555. You may change the port, but the server setting, firewall rule, router rule, and container mapping must all use the same value.
- Writable storage: the server must be able to create its data and configuration files. Avoid protected operating-system directories.
- Compatibility: client, server, mod, DLC, and RimWorld base-game versions must be compatible. The material available for release 26.10.4.1 does not establish one specific RimWorld base-game version, so verify the current release notes before inviting players.
Do not mix RimWorld Together with the Multiplayer mod
RimWorld Together and the separately maintained project named Multiplayer are different projects. Their client files, server archives, configuration procedures, and gameplay assumptions are not interchangeable. RimWorld Together is the project that publishes a dedicated server distribution and an official container image. The Multiplayer project’s official release page describes its standalone server archive as a testing option rather than the same supported dedicated-server path.
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| Question | RimWorld Together | Separate Multiplayer project |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated-server distribution | Publishes Windows and Linux server assets and an official container image. | Its standalone server archive is described on its release page as intended for testing. |
| World and colony model | Its Workshop description presents multiplayer on the same planet, with separate colonies and separate pace. | Uses a different gameplay and server approach; do not assume its rules or files apply to RimWorld Together. |
| Client setup | Players use the RimWorld Together client mod and a compatible server release. | Requires that project’s own client and server instructions. |
| Mod and DLC handling | Follow the current RimWorld Together documentation and release notes; synchronization and automatic downloads are still evolving. | Check its current documentation separately. |
If a download is labeled only for Multiplayer, do not place it in a RimWorld Together server folder. When troubleshooting, first confirm the project name before changing ports or deleting files.
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Choose a hosting method
Home computer
A home Windows or Linux computer is suitable for a small private group when the machine can stay online and the host can configure inbound access. It avoids a separate hosting subscription, but the host’s internet connection, power availability, router, and firewall become part of the server’s reliability. The host can still play on the same machine if its hardware and connection remain responsive, although keeping the server on a separate always-on machine makes maintenance easier.
VPS or rented Linux host
A virtual private server is useful when the group wants the world available while the usual host is away or does not want to expose a home connection. Before paying for one, confirm that it offers a supported Linux environment, persistent storage, inbound TCP access on the selected port, firewall controls, and a practical way to back up the server data. No particular provider or minimum plan is established by the project documentation, so do not choose a specification based on an invented CPU, memory, bandwidth, or player-count number.
For a managed game-server option, Godlike.Host provides a game panel for RimWorld Together servers, so you can avoid maintaining the archive or container yourself. RimWorld Together’s code is licensed CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, a NonCommercial licence (github.com/RimWorld-Together/Rimworld-Together, 10 Oct 2026).
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Container host
The official image is convenient if you already operate Docker or Podman. The image is ghcr.io/rimworld-together/rimworld-together:latest, and the project’s example maps host port 25555 to container port 25555 while mounting persistent data at /Data. A persistent mount is essential: without it, deleting or recreating the container can also remove the world and configuration stored inside it.
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Hardware and operating-system expectations
The project describes the server as having modest hardware dependencies and emphasizes excellent network bandwidth. Its reviewed documentation does not publish a verified minimum CPU, RAM, bandwidth, maximum player count, or benchmark. Treat that as a deliberate limit on what can be promised: start with a supported Windows or Linux machine, watch CPU, memory, disk, and network behavior during your group’s actual sessions, and increase resources only when observation shows a bottleneck.
The dedicated-server creation guide supports Windows and Linux and says macOS is not supported for the dedicated server. A Mac can still be relevant as a player computer if the client mod and RimWorld version are supported there, but it should not be selected as the dedicated host under this guide.
Install the dedicated server from the release archive
Windows
- Open the official RimWorld Together releases page and download the current Windows server archive. For the 2026 release identified here, that is release 26.10.4.1, dated October 4, 2026.
- Create a folder intended for server data, such as
C:RimWorldTogetherServer. Do not use a protected location such as a system directory or a folder where security software blocks applications from writing. - Extract the archive into that folder. Keep the extracted executable, configuration files, and data directories together.
- Start the server executable from the extracted folder. On first launch, allow it to create its configuration and data files, then stop it cleanly if you need to edit settings before opening the world.
- Record the configured port. The default documented value is TCP 25555; if you change it, use the new value everywhere else in this guide.
- In Windows Defender Firewall or another host firewall, create an inbound rule for the server executable or for the configured TCP port. Restrict the rule to the private network when the server is only for people on that network; use the public profile only when you understand the exposure.
- Launch RimWorld on each player computer, enable the matching RimWorld Together client mod, and use the server’s address and port to connect.
Linux
- Download the Linux server archive for the same RimWorld Together release used by the clients.
- Extract it into a writable directory owned by the account that will run the service. A location in the account’s home directory or a dedicated application-data directory is preferable to a protected system path.
- If the executable is not marked runnable, grant execute permission with
chmod +xon the relevant server executable, then launch it from the extracted directory. - Confirm that the process can write its data and configuration files. Permission errors at this stage can look like a failed or empty world rather than a networking problem.
- Allow the configured TCP port through the host firewall. The default is 25555, not UDP 25555.
- Keep the process running in a service manager or terminal session appropriate to your host, and arrange a restart policy only after you have confirmed that the world data is stored where you expect.
The archive names and executable names can change between releases, so follow the files included with the release you actually download rather than copying a filename from an older tutorial.
Run the official container image
The project documents the image ghcr.io/rimworld-together/rimworld-together:latest, a persistent data directory mounted at /Data, and a port mapping of 25555:25555. The following example creates a host directory, maps TCP 25555, and keeps the server data outside the container:
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mkdir -p rwt-data
docker run -d --name rimworld-together --restart unless-stopped -p 25555:25555/tcp -v $PWD/rwt-data:/Data ghcr.io/rimworld-together/rimworld-together:latestOn Windows PowerShell, create a folder such as . and replace the shell’s current-directory syntax with the full host path if Docker cannot resolve it. Podman uses the same general image, volume, and port concepts, although its command and service management may differ.
wt-data
Verify the container before sharing the address
- Run
docker psand confirm that the container is up and that the host-to-container mapping shows TCP 25555. - Inspect the container logs with
docker logs rimworld-togetherand wait for the server to finish starting. - Check that files appear in the host’s
rwt-datadirectory. If the directory remains empty, stop before creating a valuable world and correct the mount or permissions. - Open the host firewall for TCP 25555 and, when required, forward the same port on the router.
latest follows the image’s moving tag. The source material confirms the image and mapping but does not define a release-management policy. If you need controlled upgrades, first confirm an available release tag in the project registry, pin that tag instead of guessing one, back up the mounted data, and test the new image before replacing a long-running world.
Configure the network correctly
Local network
For players on the same home or office network, use the host’s private IP address and the configured TCP port. Ensure the operating-system firewall permits connections from that network. Guest Wi-Fi, client isolation, and some mesh-network settings can prevent devices from reaching one another even when the server is running.
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For players outside the host’s network, the connection must pass through every layer between the client and server:
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- Set the RimWorld Together server to the port you intend to publish.
- Allow that TCP port in the host firewall.
- Forward the same TCP port from the router’s public interface to the server machine’s private IP address, unless your hosting provider supplies a different networking mechanism.
- For a container, map the same host port to the container’s port. A mismatch such as host 25556 to container 25555 is valid only if players use 25556 and the firewall and router also use 25556.
- Give players the reachable address and port, never an old address from before a router or hosting change.
The reviewed documentation supports TCP. Do not substitute a UDP-only rule. If your internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT or blocks inbound connections, ordinary router forwarding may not work; use a hosting network that permits inbound access or the project’s suggested VPN workaround.
VPN workaround for private groups
The project README mentions VPN software as an option when a group cannot configure router forwarding. Use a trusted solution, have every participant join the same virtual network, and verify that clients can reach the host’s virtual IP on the configured TCP port. A VPN does not remove the need to run the server, allow its firewall rule, and use matching client and server versions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Install the client mod and handle compatibility
Every player must launch RimWorld with the RimWorld Together client mod enabled. The dedicated server has its own files and mod configuration; copying the server archive into a player’s normal mod folder is not a substitute for installing the client mod.
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- Write down the RimWorld Together server release and the client mod release.
- Read the current release notes for the base-game version supported by that release. For 26.10.4.1, the exact base-game compatibility is not established in the material used here, so do not assume compatibility from the year alone.
- Use the same compatible release family for every player. A client that loads successfully can still fail to join if its network protocol or mod configuration differs.
- Confirm DLC and mod requirements in the current project documentation. RimWorld Together does not guarantee that every RimWorld mod works in multiplayer.
Release 26.10.4.1 mentions improved mod-configuration synchronization and an initial rollout of automatic mod downloads. The rollout is described as ongoing, so treat automatic installation as a convenience that may not be available to every setup. Keep a manual record of the server’s required mods and DLC rather than relying on the feature being enabled.
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Create a world and let players join
- Start the dedicated server and wait for its startup messages to indicate that it is ready.
- From a client installation with the RimWorld Together mod enabled, open the project’s multiplayer connection screen.
- Enter the server address and configured TCP port. Use the private address for a local network, the forwarded public address for internet play, or the host’s virtual VPN address for a VPN group.
- Connect with one test player before distributing the address to the whole group. This isolates server, firewall, and version errors while the setup is still simple.
- After the test succeeds, have the remaining players use the same client release, mod configuration, and DLC assumptions.
RimWorld Together’s documented play model places players on the same planet with separate colonies and separate pace. Agree on practical group rules before starting: who can alter shared settings, when the server will be shut down, and how backups will be named. Those are operating decisions rather than technical requirements, but they prevent accidental world changes when several people administer one persistent save.
Backups, updates, and safe maintenance
Back up before upgrades
Stop the server cleanly, copy the complete server data directory, and label the backup with the date and the old release. For a container deployment, back up the host directory mounted at /Data; backing up only the container image does not preserve the world. Keep at least one backup that is not on the same disk as the live server.
Upgrade an archive installation
- Read the new release notes, including migration warnings and compatibility changes.
- Stop the old server and make a verified backup.
- Extract the new release into a separate directory instead of overwriting the old installation immediately.
- Move or point the new installation at the existing data location only as the project documentation instructs.
- Start the new server, test with one client, and confirm that the world and configuration load correctly.
- Keep the old directory until the group has completed a successful session.
Upgrade a container
- Stop the running container and back up the host directory mounted at
/Data. - Pull the image tag you intend to test. Do not assume that a tag exists merely because a release number exists in the archive list.
- Recreate the container with the identical data mount and TCP port mapping.
- Review logs and perform a client connection test before allowing normal play.
Never delete the persistent data directory as a generic fix for a failed upgrade. Doing so can destroy the world you are trying to recover.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The server does not start
- Confirm that you downloaded the RimWorld Together server archive for Windows or Linux, not files from the separate Multiplayer project.
- Move the installation to a writable directory and check file permissions.
- On Linux, verify that the executable has permission to run.
- For a container, inspect logs and confirm that the mounted data directory is writable.
- Check the release notes for a required RimWorld or operating-system compatibility change.
The server starts, but no one can connect
- Confirm the process is still running and listening on the configured TCP port.
- Check the host firewall, router forwarding, and any VPS or provider firewall.
- For containers, compare the published host port with the internal port and the port shown in the server configuration.
- Test from the same local network first. A local success followed by an internet failure points toward routing, carrier-grade NAT, or provider filtering rather than the RimWorld client.
- Make sure clients are using the current address and port, not a previous home IP or an old forwarded port.
A client reaches the server but fails to join
- Verify that the client has the RimWorld Together mod enabled.
- Compare the client and server release versions and the RimWorld base-game version supported by the current release notes.
- Compare DLC and mod lists. Remove unsupported or mismatched mods according to the project’s current guidance.
- Do not assume that automatic mod downloads are active: release 26.10.4.1 describes the feature as an initial, ongoing rollout.
The world or settings disappeared after a restart
- For an archive install, check that the process is still using the original data directory.
- For a container, check that the host directory is mounted at
/Dataand that you did not recreate the container without the volume. - Restore the most recent verified backup only after stopping the server.
Players experience lag or disconnects
The project emphasizes network bandwidth but publishes no numeric bandwidth threshold. Measure the host connection during an actual session, avoid saturating the uplink with unrelated uploads, and test whether a wired connection or a different host improves stability. Do not treat an unverified CPU, RAM, or player-count figure from another game server as a RimWorld Together requirement.
Quick Recap
Checklist before you publish the address
- Server release recorded: 26.10.4.1 or the newer release you verified.
- Windows or Linux host, or the official container image, selected.
- Server data stored in a writable, backed-up location.
- Configured port recorded and opened as TCP at every required firewall, router, and container layer.
- Every player has the compatible RimWorld Together client mod.
- RimWorld base-game, DLC, and mod compatibility checked against current release notes.
- One test connection completed before the full group joins.
- Backup created before the first major update.
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