What happens the first time you start your V Rising server

On its first start, a PlayNHost V Rising server loads the settings from your panel, creates a new world named world1 and opens for players. When PlayNHost measured it on 5 October 2026, it took 47 seconds from start to running. When the badge next to the server name says Online, your friends can join.

Start it

1. Open your server in the panel. The badge next to the name says Offline.
2. Click Start. The badge changes to Starting.
3. Open the Console tab to watch the server log as it loads.
4. Wait for the badge to say Online. The panel switches it when the server prints its Startup Completed line. Players can join from then on.

The server was installed when you ordered it: Steam's V Rising Dedicated Server (app 1829350, the free server download from Stunlock Studios) is already on it, so the first start does not download the game again. With Automatic Updates on, each start first checks for a newer version and installs it, which can add a little time after a game patch.

What the server does on the first start

• It reads save-data/Settings/ServerHostSettings.json. The panel writes your Game Settings into that file every time the server starts.
• It creates the world in save-data/Saves/v4/world1, because Save Name is world1. The v4 folder is the game's save format version.
• It applies the difficulty from Game Difficulty Preset (Difficulty_Normal) and, because Game Settings Preset is empty, the game's own default rules.
• It starts saving: an autosave every 120 seconds, keeping up to 20.

The panel's description of the presets warns that some settings may not apply after the save file is first created. If you want PvE or a different preset, choose it before the first start, or start a new world after: How to choose PvP or PvE on your V Rising server.

What a new server already has

Change the name and set a password before you invite people: How to change the server name, password and description of your V Rising server.

Nobody is an admin yet. Admins are added by SteamID in a file: How to become admin on your V Rising server.

Already have a world?

You can bring a world from your PC or another host instead of playing world1: How to upload your own V Rising world.

Next steps

1. Join your server.
2. Invite your friends.
3. Go through the main settings.

If the badge never reaches Online, see V Rising server problems and fixes and How to fix a server that will not start. Plans and features: V Rising server hosting.