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To host a Soulmask server in 2026, install the dedicated-server files with SteamCMD, launch the world with the correct map and ports, and allow the game and query traffic through your firewall and router. A small private world should start with at least 16 GB of system RAM; 24 GB or more leaves useful headroom, especially when you operate two linked maps. You can run the machine yourself for maximum control or rent a managed game server if you do not want to maintain hardware, updates, networking and backups.
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The procedure below follows a Windows example from a guide updated June 6, 2026, plus the official Steam listing’s private-server and client-requirement information. SteamCMD commands and server parameters can change with patches, so check the current game files and patch notes whenever an update breaks a previously working setup.
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Choose self-hosting or a managed server
Both approaches can provide a persistent private world. The practical difference is who owns the machine and who is responsible when something fails.
| Decision area | Self-hosted machine | Managed game-server plan |
|---|---|---|
| Setup skill | You install SteamCMD and the server, edit launch parameters, and troubleshoot Windows or Linux. | The provider supplies a control panel or installer, but you still need to understand maps, passwords and server settings. |
| Recurring cost | No hosting bill if you already have suitable hardware; electricity, storage and internet capacity remain your costs. | A monthly fee covers rented resources. Current prices and Soulmask-specific features vary by provider and must be checked directly. |
| Control | Direct access to files, launch scripts, logs and gameplay settings. | Control depends on the panel. Confirm that file access, custom command-line parameters and GameXishu.json editing are available. |
| Networking | You open firewall rules and, for a home connection, forward ports on your router. | The host normally handles the public network, while you select a region and configure the game ports in its panel. |
| Uptime and restarts | You provide power, operating-system updates, automatic restarts and monitoring. | Datacenter power and basic availability are handled by the provider; verify its restart and maintenance policies. |
| Backups | You choose the backup schedule and location. | Ask whether backups are automatic, how long they are retained and whether restoring a world costs extra. |
| Two-map clusters | You can run both instances if the machine has enough memory and you configure unique ports and cluster settings. | Confirm that the plan supports two Soulmask instances, cross-map travel and enough allocated RAM before paying. |
| Location | The server is wherever your machine and internet connection are. | You can usually select a datacenter closer to most players, reducing latency. |
Steam’s store description explicitly supports private servers with custom rules. That confirms the game mode exists, but it does not certify any particular third-party host or guarantee a player count for a given amount of RAM.
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Hardware and operating-system requirements
Memory is the first constraint
The June 6, 2026 setup guide recommends 16 GB of RAM as a minimum for a dedicated server and 24 GB or more for additional headroom. It specifically warns that two maps need more room. Steam lists 16 GB minimum and 24 GB recommended for the game client; those figures are not dedicated-server benchmarks. No independent capacity test establishes how many players a particular machine can safely support, so do not advertise a player limit from RAM alone.
- Use 16 GB only for a small, single-map installation with monitoring and conservative expectations.
- Choose 24 GB or more if the server shares the machine with other services, if you expect a busy world, or if you plan to run both maps.
- Leave operating-system and disk-cache headroom instead of allocating every available gigabyte to the game process.
- Use an SSD where possible; world saves, updates and log writes are less frustrating than on a heavily loaded hard drive.
Pick Windows or Linux
The setup guide covers both platforms and gives separate Steam application IDs: 3017310 for Windows and 3017300 for Linux. Choose the operating system you can patch and administer confidently. Windows is often simpler for a first installation because the example command and firewall path are familiar; Linux is a good fit for an existing headless machine but requires comfort with services, permissions and command-line networking.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsPlan storage, power and connectivity
Keep the server installation and save data on a disk that has room for game updates, logs and backups. A wired connection is preferable to Wi-Fi. Home hosting also depends on an upload path that can handle every connected player; if your ISP uses carrier-grade NAT, inbound port forwarding may not work and a rented server or tunnel service may be necessary. The June 6, 2026 setup guide does not provide a bandwidth formula, so test your connection rather than assuming a particular player capacity.
Install the dedicated-server files with SteamCMD
The following is the Windows procedure documented in the June 6, 2026 guide. Treat the application ID and switches as version-sensitive instructions, not permanent official documentation.
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- Prepare a folder. Create a directory such as
C:SoulmaskServer. Download SteamCMD from Valve’s official distribution and placesteamcmd.exewhere you can run it. - Open a command prompt. Change to the directory containing SteamCMD, or use the full path to the executable.
- Install or update the server. Run:
steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir C:SoulmaskServer +app_update 3017310 validate +quitThe anonymous login downloads the public dedicated-server files.
+force_install_dirselects the destination,+app_updateinstalls or updates the app, andvalidatechecks local files. Replace the path with your own. - Wait for completion. Do not launch the game while SteamCMD is still writing files. If validation reports an error, rerun the command after checking disk space, permissions and the network connection.
- Keep the command. Save the install line in a text file or update script so you can repeat it after a patch. Recheck the current app ID and launch syntax if an update changes the package.
On Linux, use SteamCMD with app ID 3017300 and a Linux installation directory. The June 6, 2026 setup guide does not provide a complete Linux launch line, so do not copy Windows path syntax into a Linux service; adapt paths, execute permissions and service management to your distribution.
Launch a first single-map world
Start with one map and the default gameplay files. A first clean launch confirms that the executable, ports and save directory work before you add a cluster.
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The guide’s Windows example launches the main map with the following parameters:
StartServer.bat Level01_Main -server -Port=8777 -QueryPort=27015 -ServerName="Your Soulmask Server" -MaxPlayers=10 -JoinPassword="replace-this-password" -AdminPassword="replace-this-admin-password" -pveThe exact wrapper filename can differ between releases; use the server executable or batch file shipped in your installation. The important parameters in the example are:
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Level01_Mainloads Cloud Mist Forest.-serverruns the dedicated-server mode.-Port=8777selects the game-connection port.-QueryPort=27015selects the Steam query and browser-listing port.-ServerNamesets the name players see.-MaxPlayerssets the configured limit; the example uses 10, not a tested capacity recommendation.-JoinPasswordprotects entry to the world.-AdminPasswordprotects administrative commands. Use a different, strong value and do not publish it in screenshots or public posts.-pverequests player-versus-environment rules in the example.
Replace both passwords and the name before sharing the command. Keep the launch line in a script with restrictive file permissions. If the server closes immediately, run it from a visible console and read the last log lines instead of repeatedly double-clicking the shortcut.
Open the right firewall and router ports
Allow only the traffic you need. The two UDP ports are the normal requirements for players and Steam visibility; the TCP ports are administration interfaces and should not be exposed casually.
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| Protocol and port | Purpose | Exposure guidance |
|---|---|---|
| UDP 8777 | Game connections | Allow through the server firewall and forward to the server’s private IP when hosting from home. |
| UDP 27015 | Steam query and server-listing traffic | Allow and forward alongside UDP 8777 so the server can be queried and displayed. |
| TCP 18888 | Telnet administration | Keep local as the setup guide advises; do not publish it to the internet. |
| TCP 19000 | RCON administration | Open only if you deliberately use RCON, and restrict the source addresses with firewall rules. |
Windows firewall sequence
- Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.
- Create inbound rules for UDP 8777 and UDP 27015, selecting Allow the connection for the profiles you actually use.
- If you enable RCON, create a narrowly scoped TCP 19000 rule. Do not create a public Telnet rule for TCP 18888.
- Confirm the server executable is allowed on the correct network profile and that a third-party security suite is not blocking it.
Router forwarding sequence
- Give the server machine a stable private address using a DHCP reservation or a static configuration.
- Forward UDP 8777 and UDP 27015 from the router’s public interface to that address.
- Do not forward TCP 18888. If RCON is required, forward TCP 19000 only to a trusted administration address or use a private VPN.
- Test from a different network, such as a phone hotspot. Testing only from inside your home LAN can produce a false success because some routers do not support hairpin connections.
If outside players cannot connect, check the local firewall first, then the router target address, then whether your ISP blocks inbound traffic or places you behind carrier-grade NAT. A server that appears in a browser but rejects joins commonly has a mismatched game port, password or outdated client/server build.
Run once, then edit gameplay settings
Do not create or edit configuration files before the first successful boot. The guide says the server creates WS/Saved/GameplaySettings/GameXishu.json after its first run.
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- Launch the single-map server and wait until the console indicates that the world is ready.
- Stop it cleanly from the server console. Avoid killing the process while it is saving.
- Open
WS/Saved/GameplaySettings/GameXishu.jsonin a text editor that preserves JSON syntax. - Change only values you understand, keeping commas, quotation marks, braces and data types valid.
- Save a backup copy before each edit, then restart and test one group of changes at a time.
The file controls tunable gameplay values. A malformed JSON file or a value no longer recognized by a patch can prevent startup or silently revert a setting. When that happens, restore the last known-good backup, start the server, and reapply changes individually.
Run Cloud Mist Forest and Shifting Sands as a linked cluster
Cross-map travel is more involved than adding a second map name. The guide describes two linked server instances, each with its own process, ports and cluster configuration.
Map identifiers
| World | Map identifier |
|---|---|
| Cloud Mist Forest | Level01_Main |
| Shifting Sands | DLC_Level01_Main |
Cluster planning
- Duplicate the working launch script so each map has a separate command and save location.
- Set the first instance to
Level01_Mainand the second toDLC_Level01_Main. - Assign unique game and query ports to the second process. Never let both processes bind to UDP 8777 or UDP 27015; the supplied guide does not prescribe universal second-port numbers, so choose unused values and document them.
- Apply the corresponding firewall and router rules for every externally reachable port.
- Configure both instances to use the same cluster identity and the version-specific travel settings described by the current server files. Cluster parameter names can change, so verify them after updates.
- Start one instance, confirm its save and cluster files, then start the other. Test travel with a disposable character before inviting the whole community.
Players need access to the DLC map as well as the base game. A past promotion reportedly covered a claim window from April 10 to May 10, 2026; that date has passed, and it should not be presented as a current free-access offer. Check the current Steam product and DLC terms for your account and region.
Two maps increase memory use and operational complexity. If either process runs out of memory, reduce other workloads, add RAM, or return to a single-map setup before troubleshooting gameplay settings.
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Security, backups and routine maintenance
Protect administrative access
- Use long, unique join and admin passwords; never reuse an email or operating-system password.
- Keep Telnet on localhost as advised. If you need remote administration, use a VPN or a restricted management network rather than exposing TCP 18888.
- Restrict RCON (TCP 19000) by source address and change its credential if it appears in a log or chat message.
- Run the server under a dedicated operating-system account without unnecessary administrator privileges.
Back up saves before updates
Stop the server cleanly, copy the world and configuration directories to a separate disk or machine, and label each backup with the date and game version. Keep at least one backup offline or otherwise inaccessible to the running server so ransomware or an accidental deletion cannot remove every copy. Restore to a test directory when possible; a backup that has never been restored is only an assumption.
Update deliberately
- Announce maintenance and stop both instances if you run a cluster.
- Back up saves, launch scripts and
GameXishu.json. - Run SteamCMD with
app_updateandvalidate. - Read the patch notes for changed map names, ports, parameters or DLC requirements.
- Start one map, inspect the logs, then start the second and test joins and travel.
Troubleshoot the common failures
SteamCMD cannot install or validate
- Confirm the app ID matches the operating system: Windows
3017310, Linux3017300. - Check that the install directory exists, is writable and has enough free space.
- Close another SteamCMD process that may be locking files, then rerun the command.
- If a patch has changed the package, look for an updated official or community command before assuming the old line is still valid.
The server is running but invisible
- Verify UDP 8777 and UDP 27015 are allowed in the host firewall.
- Check that router forwarding points to the server’s current private IP.
- Make sure no other application is using either port.
- Test from outside the home network and check for carrier-grade NAT.
Players see the server but cannot join
- Confirm every player is on a compatible game version.
- Check the join password and the configured player limit.
- Inspect the console for a failed save load or a malformed
GameXishu.json; restore the backup if necessary. - For a cluster, verify that each map uses unique ports and that both instances share the intended cluster identity.
The process crashes or the world becomes unstable
- Compare actual RAM use with available memory, especially when two maps are active.
- Remove recent settings edits and test the default configuration.
- Check disk health and free space for failed saves or incomplete updates.
- Capture the log and exact game version before asking the community for help; “it crashed” without the last lines is rarely actionable.
What the available evidence can and cannot tell you
The official Steam listing confirms that Soulmask supports solo play, co-op, private servers with custom rules and official servers. Its 16 GB minimum and 24 GB recommended memory figures describe the client. The dedicated-server memory guidance comes from the June 6, 2026 third-party setup guide, which recommends 16 GB minimum and 24 GB or more for headroom. Neither source supplies a tested player-capacity table, latency guarantee or current provider comparison.
For that reason, size your machine from your map count, other workloads and observed memory use, then increase resources when logs and operating-system monitoring show sustained pressure. Recheck ports, launch syntax, DLC access and managed-host compatibility after major patches rather than treating this procedure as immutable.
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