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Private Game and Dedicated Server are different hosting models
The decisive difference is where the server process runs. In a Private Game, the server is bundled into the V Rising client and runs in the background on the player’s computer. In a Dedicated Server, a separate server application runs independently of the game client. Stunlock’s official server materials describe these as separate deployment paths.
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| Option | Where the process runs | When the world is reachable | Best fit | Primary responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Game | Inside the host’s V Rising client | While that host has the game running and the session available | Small groups that play at the same time | The host starts the session and manages the local save |
| Self-hosted Dedicated Server | A separate V Rising Dedicated Server process on your machine | Whenever the process, machine and network are available | Asynchronous groups, clans and persistent worlds | You handle configuration, ports, updates, permissions, logs and backups |
| Managed Dedicated Server | A separate process on a hosting provider’s machine | According to the provider’s uptime and your plan | Groups that want persistence without maintaining hardware | You pay a recurring charge and use the provider’s control panel |
That distinction explains most practical differences. A Private Game is not a permanently running service that friends can enter independently. A Dedicated Server can remain online without the owner launching the game, provided the server process and its network connection stay available.
Use this decision framework before choosing
1. Does anyone need to play while the original host is offline?
If the answer is no, a Private Game avoids unnecessary deployment work. If the answer is yes, use a Dedicated Server. The dedicated process can continue running after the person who configured it has closed V Rising, so another player can join during a different time zone or schedule.
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2. How much setup and maintenance will your group accept?
Private Game setup is handled through the normal game flow. A dedicated deployment adds a separate application, configuration files, network access rules, update procedures and save-file administration. Self-hosting is reasonable when one player is comfortable treating the world like a small service. Renting is more practical when nobody wants to maintain a host machine.
3. Do you need persistent administration?
Dedicated hosting is the stronger choice for a clan or community that needs a stable server name, repeatable settings, administrator permissions, logs, scheduled restarts or controlled updates. A Private Game can work for informal co-op, but its administration follows the host’s local game and save workflow rather than a continuously managed service.
4. What is the real cost?
A Private Game uses the host’s existing computer and does not add a separate hosting bill. Self-hosting shifts the expense to hardware, electricity, bandwidth and your time. A managed server adds a recurring provider charge; no universal price is established, so compare the current quote for your region, player capacity and storage before subscribing.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems5. Which platform and instruction branch applies?
Stunlock publishes separate current and legacy instructions for PC and PlayStation 5. Follow the branch matching the installation you actually run. A procedure written for an older release or another platform may use different files, launch methods or update steps.
Why a Private Game works well for small, synchronous groups
Advantages
- Minimal deployment: the server component is included with the client, so there is no separate dedicated-server installation.
- Fast start: one player creates the session through the game’s normal private-play flow and invites the group.
- No extra hosting subscription: the host uses an existing gaming PC or console rather than paying a provider each month.
- Low operational overhead: there is no standalone process to monitor, no server control panel to learn and no independent service to patch.
Limits you should accept
- Host-dependent availability: when the host exits V Rising, friends cannot use that world until the host starts it again.
- Schedule friction: players with different work hours or time zones must wait for the host to be available.
- Local save ownership: the world and its save-management workflow remain tied to the host’s machine and account setup.
- Less service-style control: persistent logs, independent restarts and a continuously administered environment are not the focus of this mode.
Typical Private Game workflow
- Start V Rising on the player who will host the world.
- Choose the Private Game option in the game’s online-play flow and configure the world settings offered there.
- Enter the world and invite the other players using the game’s available invitation or join method.
- Keep the game running for the entire session; ending the host’s session ends access for the group.
- When finished, exit normally and keep the host’s save files protected with the platform’s standard backup facilities.
The exact menu wording can change between PC and PlayStation 5 releases, so use the label shown by your installed version rather than instructions for a different branch.
When a Dedicated Server is the better fit
Persistent access for asynchronous play
A dedicated process can stay online when the owner is not playing. That makes it suitable for groups that want members to gather resources, build or progress at different times instead of arranging every session around one host.
Administration for clans and communities
The standalone model gives you a durable place to set a server name, apply advanced options, grant administrator permissions, inspect logs and control restarts. Those controls matter more as the player count and number of regular users grow.
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Operational trade-off
Persistence is not automatic. A self-hosted server is available only while its machine is powered, the server executable is running and the network path is reachable. You also become responsible for security, updates, save protection and recovery after a crash or configuration error.
How to set up a self-hosted Dedicated Server on PC
Stunlock distributes the V Rising Dedicated Server through Steam’s Tools library. The following sequence follows the official deployment outline while leaving platform- and version-specific details to the current Stunlock branch.
- Install the tool. In Steam, open Library, filter or browse to Tools, and install V Rising Dedicated Server.
- Select the correct instructions. Open Stunlock’s current guide for your platform and release line. Use the legacy branch only when your installation requires it; PC and PlayStation 5 instructions are not interchangeable.
- Launch from the installation directory. Start the dedicated-server executable from the folder Steam installed. A first launch uses the default settings and creates the files needed for later customization.
- Set identity and gameplay options. Change the server name and the advanced options in the configuration files or controls described by the applicable Stunlock guide. Record every change so another administrator can reproduce it.
- Prepare network access. Allow or forward the required server ports on the host machine and router, following the current official instructions. Do not copy port values from an old guide without checking that they match your release.
- Start and verify the process. Keep the executable running, then test a connection from a second account or another network when possible. A newly launched server may take a few minutes to appear in the public list.
- Give players reliable join information. Share the exact server name and, when appropriate, the external IP address. Tell players whether they should search the list or use a direct connection method supported by your version.
- Protect the data. Back up configuration and save files before changing settings or applying updates. Store a copy outside the live server directory so a corrupted file or failed update does not remove your only world.
Configuration and administration practices
- Keep a written record of the server name, settings, administrator permissions and who is allowed to change them.
- Use a predictable restart schedule if the machine runs continuously, and notify players before taking the world offline.
- Restrict administrative access to trusted people; a persistent server is exposed for longer than a private session.
- Review logs after crashes, failed joins or unexpected restarts instead of repeatedly launching the process without checking the cause.
Updating a dedicated server without risking the world
Stunlock’s current 1.1.x PC guidance says the update method depends on how the server was deployed. One supported approach is SteamCMD verification and updating while the server is offline. Treat an update as a maintenance operation rather than an in-session action.
- Announce a maintenance window and stop the server cleanly.
- Back up the save and configuration directories before changing binaries.
- Use the update method specified for your deployment, such as SteamCMD verification and update for the applicable PC setup.
- Review configuration files after the update; preserve intentional settings rather than blindly replacing edited files.
- Start the server, watch the console or logs for errors, and perform a test join before telling the whole group that maintenance is complete.
Do not assume that a guide for a previous release, another operating system or a rented control panel describes the same update path. The deployment method determines which files are authoritative and when the process must be offline.
Managed rental versus self-hosting
| Consideration | Self-hosted dedicated server | Managed rental |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | You provide and keep an appropriate machine running. | The provider supplies the server hardware. |
| Network work | You configure firewall and router access and maintain the connection. | The provider generally exposes a managed connection; exact networking controls depend on the plan. |
| Administration | You edit settings, inspect logs, restart the process and grant permissions yourself. | A web control panel can provide status, basic settings, logs, configuration files, restarts, updates and permissions. |
| Cost model | Hardware, electricity, bandwidth and administrator time; no provider subscription is required. | Recurring hosting charge; current price and regional availability must be checked with the provider. |
| Failure responsibility | You diagnose outages, restore backups and replace failed hardware. | The provider handles the underlying host, while you still own configuration and save-management decisions. |
When a managed service is sensible
Stunlock’s hosting guide names PocketHost as a service where players can rent and manage a V Rising server. Its listed controls include status, basic settings, logs, configuration files, restarts, updates and permissions. This model is useful when the group wants a persistent world but no member wants to leave a home computer online or troubleshoot router rules.
Godlike.Host V Rising game-server hosting includes its own game panel, SFTP/FTP access, scheduled tasks and up to three free backups a day with restore.
What to verify before paying
- Where the server location is and whether it is close enough to your players.
- How backups are created, retained and restored.
- Whether you can download configuration and save files if you leave.
- Which version, update and restart controls are exposed to customers.
- What happens to the world after a missed payment, cancellation or provider outage.
For PlayStation 5, Stunlock’s FAQ names GPORTAL as a server-rental option. Availability, pricing, geography and any referral arrangement can change, so confirm the current terms before ordering.
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PC and PlayStation 5 considerations
Do not choose a hosting method solely from a PC tutorial if your group plays on PlayStation 5. Stunlock maintains separate current and legacy documentation for PC and PS5, and the dedicated-server tool distribution and launch process may differ. Start with the branch matching both your platform and your installed game version.
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Official servers are a third option, not a substitute for every private world
Official servers can remove the need for one player to host or administer a private environment, but they operate under the publisher’s policies and settings. In a May 3, 2024 announcement, Stunlock wrote: “The goal of official servers is to provide a stable V Rising experience, but ultimately we expect players to move on to private servers with more tailored gameplay after they’ve got their Vampire legs under them.” That announcement also stated that official servers had a 60-player cap at that time. Both the cap and server policies are time-sensitive; check current notices before treating the 2024 figure as a present limit.
Use an official server when convenience and a publisher-operated environment matter more than custom control. Use a private or dedicated server when your group needs its own settings, administrators, schedule or community rules.
Common failure points and practical fixes
Friends cannot connect after the host leaves
This is expected for a Private Game: its server process ends with the host’s game session. Start that world again, or move the group to a Dedicated Server if independent access is a requirement.
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The dedicated server is running but nobody can find it
- Wait several minutes for list propagation after a fresh launch.
- Confirm that the process is still running and that no startup error stopped it.
- Check the host firewall and router forwarding against the current official port requirements.
- Have one player try the documented direct-connection method using the external IP, if supported by the version.
- Verify that everyone is searching the correct server name and compatible game version.
A server update changed or removed settings
Stop the process, restore the pre-update backup if necessary, and compare the edited configuration with the new version’s defaults. Reapply only the settings supported by the current guide; do not overwrite a working file with an old copy without checking for changed options.
The world is unavailable after a restart or power loss
- Check whether the machine rebooted and whether the dedicated executable starts automatically.
- Inspect logs for permission, path or configuration errors.
- Confirm that the network address and forwarding rules still point to the correct machine.
- Restore the latest known-good save only after preserving the current files for diagnosis.
Players are unsure who can administer the server
Document the administrator list and permissions in a shared, access-controlled note. Remove former administrators promptly and avoid distributing credentials in public chat.
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Which choice fits these real-world groups?
Four friends who meet every Friday
Choose Private Game. Everyone already arrives at the same time, and the value of a separate always-on process would not justify the additional configuration.
A group spread across several time zones
Choose a Dedicated Server. Members can play during their own windows, and the world does not depend on one person’s evening schedule.
A clan that wants rules, moderators and regular restarts
Choose a Dedicated Server with documented permissions and backups. Self-host if a trusted administrator wants full control; rent if the clan prefers a control panel and provider-managed hardware.
A console group with no spare computer
Compare the current PS5-compatible rental options named in Stunlock’s documentation, including GPORTAL, against the group’s budget and region. A Private Game remains the low-maintenance fallback when everyone can play together.
A technically confident player with an always-on home machine
Self-hosting can deliver the lowest ongoing cash cost and the greatest control, but only if that player is willing to monitor uptime, secure the network, apply updates and maintain recoverable backups.
Bottom-line decision
Pick Private Game for simplicity and same-time co-op. Pick a Dedicated Server for persistence, mixed schedules and administration. Between dedicated options, self-host when control and hands-on maintenance are acceptable; rent when predictable access matters more than owning the hardware and doing the operations work yourself.
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