Players who run Core Keeper on Steam join a PlayNHost Core Keeper server with its Steam Game ID. Pugstorm says PC players on Epic Games, GOG and the Microsoft Store need a direct connection instead, and that Core Keeper has no crossplay between PC and consoles, so PlayStation, Xbox and Switch players cannot join.
Can Steam players join?
Yes. The Steam Game ID row on your server's Overview page is the way in for the Steam version of Core Keeper. In patch 1.1.2.4 (September 2025), Pugstorm renamed it "Steam GameID" in the server's connection info "to emphasize that it can only be used by Steam client to join". The panel's row help says the same: friends who play Core Keeper on Steam join with it, not with an address. Steps: How to join your Core Keeper server.
Can players on Epic Games, GOG or the Microsoft Store join?
Pugstorm made it possible in patch 1.1.2.3 (August 2025): "All PC platforms now support joining and playing in Steam dedicated servers using direct connections", joined "using the servers IP, Port and Password". Pugstorm puts the setup steps in the dedicated server's own README file.
On a PlayNHost server, the server makes a new direct-connection password at every start, and the panel does not show it. The panel has no steps for direct connections. If your group mixes PC stores, open a support ticket before you rely on one.
Can PlayStation, Xbox or Switch players join?
No. The patch 1.1.2.4 notes say: "The game currently does not support crossplay between PC and consoles." No later Pugstorm patch notes, up to 1.3.0.6 in October 2026, change that. A Core Keeper dedicated server is for PC players.
Does each player need to own Core Keeper?
Yes. Each player joins from their own copy of Core Keeper on their PC. The server itself needs no copy of the game: your PlayNHost server installs the free Core Keeper Dedicated Server from Steam by itself, and you never sign in to Steam in the panel.
What else do players need to join?
- The same game version as the server: Players cannot join your Core Keeper server after a game update.
- The same mods as the server, if it runs any: How to add mods to your Core Keeper server.
- A free player slot: How many players can play on a Core Keeper server?
