Abiotic Factor splits its settings in two. Identity settings such as the name, password and player limit are startup parameters. World rules live in a file called SandboxSettings.ini inside the save.
1. Name, password and player limit
These are read when the server process launches, so they are set on the Startup page in the panel rather than in a config file. That page is not linked in the sidebar, so open your server in the panel and add /startup to the end of the address.
| Parameter | What it does |
|---|---|
-SteamServerName | The name in the server browser. |
-ServerPassword | Password players must type to join. Empty means open. |
-MaxServerPlayers | Player slots. |
-WorldSaveName | The save folder to load. A new value starts a new world. |
-AdminPassword | Password for the in game admin tools. |
- Stop the server.
- Change the value on the Startup page and save.
- Start the server and confirm the new name in the console banner.
If a parameter you need is not shown as a field, open a ticket and tell us the parameter and the value.
2. World rules in SandboxSettings.ini
Difficulty, resource rates, hunger and thirst speed, item stack sizes and building rules are all sandbox settings and belong to the world, not the server.
- Stop the server.
- Open the Files tab and browse to
AbioticFactor/Saved/SaveGames/Server/Worlds/. - Open the folder named after your world save.
- Open
SandboxSettings.ini. If it is not there, create it. - The first line must be
[SandboxSettings]or the file is ignored completely. - Add one setting per line, then save and start the server.
Because the file lives inside the world folder, each save has its own rules. Starting a new world with -WorldSaveName gives you a fresh SandboxSettings.ini as well.
3. Order of work
- Stop the server.
- Change startup parameters.
- Edit the sandbox file.
- Start once and check the console for the world name it loaded.
Editing files while the server is running is wasted effort. Abiotic Factor writes the save on shutdown and will overwrite what you typed.





