P2P hosting is another popular choice for modern multiplayer gaming. P2P allows one player to dynamically act as a host that facilitates the connections of other players. With this setup, you’re reliant on the connection of whoever gets chosen as host, so a poor host connection means a poor experience for everyone.
But with a dedicated gaming server for compatible games, you can play your favorite multiplayer games with fewer limits on performance and stability. You can experience the game the way you want, with less lag, and fewer dropped connections.
One thing to keep in mind is that, unless you have high upload and download speeds, users connecting to your server over the internet may experience connectivity issues and lag. (You don't have to worry about this if you're setting up a local area network (LAN) that is only being used by friends on the same network.)
A dedicated server is also a great way to get extra mileage out of an old PC. Using a separate PC for your gaming server frees up resources on your system, and helps ensure greater stability for both your gaming PC and your server.
Here are some dedicated server hardware requirements that will help ensure you can host the latest games. These specs should be a decent baseline for most 32-player multiplayer games, but you may need even more power for games with 64 or more players. Keep in mind: The more players on your server, the greater the strain on your hardware.
Solid State Drive (SSD) it's best not to run a server on a mechanical hard drive – the constant read-write actions and slower speeds could cause problems
Many of the most commonly played PC games use Steam* for their multiplayer architecture, which offers a convenient and centralized way to set up a dedicated gaming server.
Before you start, you’ll need to check out the Dedicated Servers list in the Steam* developer wiki to make sure that the game you’re looking to host is supported. (Don’t worry, almost all of the big non-Valve* games, like Killing Floor 2*, the Arma* series, Rust*, ARK*, and DayZ*, are on that list.) In the wiki above, you’ll also find helpful links to step-by-step setup instructions for some of the most popular titles.
The wiki will also let you know whether you can set up a dedicated server for your game using the Steam* Client, or with SteamCMD*, a command-line-only version of Steam* that you can download for free.
If you want to enable connections via the internet, you’ll likely need to make changes to your network/router setup. This Steam* help article has comprehensive instructions on how to configure your router or home network, as optimal settings will vary depending on your particular setup.
For people who are comfortable working with the command line interface, SteamCMD* allows you to install and set up your dedicated server without having to install the full Steam* client on your server. To use SteamCMD*, you’ll need to know the Steam* App ID number of your game.
If you choose to go this route, the SteamCMD*-GUI tool is a simplified solution for setting up your dedicated server. This program allows you to set up and run servers for most Steam*-compatible games, including Source servers for old-school titles. It’s also considerably more compact than the full Steam* installation.
SteamCMD*-GUI is relatively straightforward, so it’s the preferred way to set up a dedicated gaming server for those who don’t want to load the full Steam* client.
For players just looking to get their CS:GO* dedicated server off the ground with minimal fuss, the Pyr0s CS:GO* Server Launcher is a script that can streamline most of the process. As with any third-party content, be sure to use appropriate caution to avoid potential viruses or malware.
After you download the batch (.bat) file linked above, move it to your dedicated server computer’s CS:GO* installation folder and open it. A script will execute, and automatically launch the server setup process, allowing you to run a server for any of CS:GO*’s main game modes.
However, customizing and tweaking your server (like using custom graphics, sound effects, and music), requires a bit more work. Read more on the Valve* Developer wiki.
A Team Fortress 2* dedicated server is very easy to set up via the SteamCMD*-GUI tool, but you’ll need to modify some files in the game’s directory. The TF2* wiki is a great resource for getting your dedicated server up and running.
If you’d prefer not to use a GUI tool to run your server, there’s an unofficial ARK* wiki with some solid instructions on how to create your server. (Be warned, no matter which you choose, that hosting an ARK* server can be very hardware-intensive.)
Not every game uses Steam* as the basis for a dedicated server. The most popular example of a game that uses its own server software is Minecraft*, but other games like Warframe* also have a unique setup process.
Ragnarok Online Private ServerMinecraft* uses proprietary hosting software, so you’ll need to take a different route than Steam* in order to create a dedicated gaming server on your own hardware. On the linked page, you’ll have the option to install server software for both the Java* and Windows* 10 versions of Minecraft*. Cross-play between the two isn’t supported, so make sure you install the correct version.
Once you download and run the appropriate software server program, it will create file folders for your server wherever you run it. Be sure to install in a separate “Minecraft* Server” folder to keep everything nice and organized.
From there, you’ll just need to make some quick changes to two text files, and you’re good to go. For step-by-step instructions, the unofficial Minecraft* wiki at Gamepedia* has a good tutorial for setting up your first private server.
Setting up a dedicated server is far quicker and easier than it was in the early years of PC gaming. With a surprisingly small amount of work, you and your friends can enjoy a seamless experience with your favorite multiplayer titles.
Along with offering you advanced stability and reliability for memory-intensive online multiplayer games, hosting your own private gaming server allows you to control every aspect of gameplay—including establishing game configurations and choosing which players can connect to your server.
No matter if you are playing Minecraft, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or Rust, running your own dedicated game server gives you access to more memory, processing power, bandwidth, and storage capabilities than any other hosting model. You’ll also experience admin-level oversight across your entire gaming platform.
Interested in learning how to make a game server for your own game or for a game you can play with your friends? This guide will break it down for you.
Public online multiplayer games use client-server hosting or peer-to-peer (P2P) hosting. Unfortunately, both hosting models have drawbacks, including non-customizable game configurations or dealing with gameplay lag.
Client-Server Hosting Model — In the client-server model, the main host (such as larger game publishers) controls the gaming server. This means that the main host directly manages individual connections for all players and that individual players do not have control over all aspects of game configuration. This model works for many recreational online gamers but doesn’t allow avid gamers to control their gaming experience at a granular level. It also leaves players at the mercy of the main host server’s bandwidth, memory, CPU, and other resources.
P2P Hosting Model — In the P2P model, the player who initiated the game or has the lowest latency is selected as the host for all other players. This means the host player’s computer must have the processing power, bandwidth, storage capacity, and Internet connection to maintain syncing and activities for all players within the game lobby. If the platform-assigned host has an inadequate device or Internet connection, all players in the game will deal with lags, glitches, or, worse, complete game crashes.
However, by creating your own dedicated server for gaming, you gain access to a private server (a server that does not share the same resources with other websites or applications) that provides you ultimate control over game configuration, resulting in significant improvements in performance and connection stability.
While building a server PC comes with many benefits, there are a few drawbacks to consider before creating one. These servers require the following:
If you want to go the DIY route rather than pay for premium dedicated server hosting, you can technically use an old PC that you already have (although you will definitely have to upgrade most components). You can also buy the components to make a gaming server from scratch. In general, spinning up a gaming server requires all the components that a gaming PC does, aside from a graphics card. These include:
When building a gaming PC, using a separate PC for your dedicated game server will help to free up resources. This ensures more stability and reliability for your gaming experience.
Keep in mind that the more players you want on your dedicated game server, the greater the workload will be for your hardware. If you plan on having more than 32 players per game, you’ll likely need to opt for more powerful components than the ones listed above. Be sure to check with your specific game’s server requirements.
Even beyond performance, a managed dedicated server from a reputable provider takes care of ongoing maintenance and routine patching and has robust solutions to keep your server secure. But this is just one pain point you’ll encounter with managing and creating a gaming server.
