How to host a V Rising server (2026)

Short answer. You can host a V Rising server yourself for free: download the V Rising Dedicated Server (Steam app 1829350) with SteamCMD using an anonymous login, start it with VRisingServer.exe, and open the game port and the query port as UDP on your firewall and router. Or rent a V Rising server and skip the networking.

Stunlock Studios ships the server for Windows only. Players find it by name in the in-game server list, and a password, if you set one, keeps strangers out.

Checked on 5 November 2026, accurate for V Rising 1.1 (latest announced patch: 1.1 Hot Fix 12, 11 September 2026).

This guide follows Stunlock Studios' own dedicated server instructions for version 1.1.x (PC) and what we run on our own V Rising servers. To go straight to the rental route, see Option 2.

What you need

• Operating system: Windows. Stunlock's instructions say that at the moment there is only a Windows version of the server.
• Hardware: Stunlock does not publish server requirements in its instructions. For our own sizing notes, see How much RAM does a V Rising server need?
• Network: two UDP ports, one for game traffic and one for the Steam server list (the query port). Open both if you want the server to appear in the list. If you only open the game port, players can still connect, but the server does not show up in the list.
• Steam account: not needed to download the server, which is free for everyone. The download uses +login anonymous.
• The game: every player needs their own copy of V Rising for PC.

The server software is free. You pay for the machine, power and bandwidth, not the software.

Option 1: host it yourself

This works on a spare Windows PC, a home server or a Windows cloud virtual machine. The steps below come from Stunlock's instructions and its example scripts.

Windows

1. Install SteamCMD. Download it from Valve's SteamCMD page and extract it to a folder such as C:\steamcmd.
2. Download the server. This is the command Stunlock's example download script runs, with your own folders filled in (the Steam app id of the dedicated server is 1829350, on the default branch):

   C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\VRisingServer +login anonymous +app_update 1829350 validate +quit

3. Copy the example start script. In the install folder, copy start_server_example.bat to your own file and edit the copy. Stunlock warns that the example can be overwritten when the server updates. Stunlock's published example starts the server like this:

   set SteamAppId=1604030
   VRisingServer.exe -persistentDataPath .\save-data -serverName "My V Rising Server" -saveName "world1" -logFile ".\logs\VRisingServer.log"

   -persistentDataPath keeps your settings and saves in one folder you choose. Stunlock recommends it in general and says it is a must if you run several servers on one machine.
4. Change the settings. The server reads ServerHostSettings.json (name, ports, player cap, password, listing) and ServerGameSettings.json (game rules) from the Settings folder inside your persistent data path. Put only the values you want to change in that copy. Do not edit the default files in VRisingServer_Data\StreamingAssets\Settings: an update can overwrite them. Every host setting can also be given as a VR_... environment variable or a command line option.

   "Name": "My V Rising Server",
   "Password": "",
   "MaxConnectedUsers": 40,
   "SaveName": "world1",
   "ListOnSteam": true,
   "ListOnEOS": true

   The maximum number of players Stunlock says the server technically supports is 128. An empty Password means no password. The in-game client looks for servers on the Epic (EOS) list by default, so leave ListOnEOS on if you want players to find you there.
5. Pick a rule set (optional). GameSettingsPreset loads a preset such as StandardPvP, and GameDifficultyPreset accepts Difficulty_Easy, Difficulty_Normal or Difficulty_Brutal. The presets live in the GameSettingPresets and GameDifficultyPresets folders under VRisingServer_Data\StreamingAssets.
6. Open the ports. Allow the server through Windows Firewall and forward the game port and the query port, both as UDP, on your router. Set them in ServerHostSettings.json (Port and QueryPort) or with -gamePort and -queryPort.
7. Start the server with your copy of the start script.
8. Check it from outside. Ask a friend on another network to search for your server name in the server list, or join with the address.

Becoming admin and keeping the server tidy

• Admin list: add your SteamID (one per line) to adminlist.txt in the Settings folder. No restart is needed. In game, enable the console in the options menu, open it with ~ and run adminauth. See How to become admin on your V Rising server and use admin commands.
• Updates: stop the server and run the same SteamCMD command again.
• Restarts: Stunlock recommends restarting the server daily, when it is least populated.
• Backups: Stunlock strongly recommends backing up the Saves folder often, and before patching.

Option 2: host it on PlayNHost

Renting removes the firewall, port forwarding and update routine. The ports and the settings file are set up for you.

1. Pick a plan. Open the V Rising server hosting page and compare the plans (MAIRWYN for 20 players and VALENCIA for 50 players at the time of writing). Press Create Server on MAIRWYN or Customize Plan on VALENCIA, and finish the order. Prices change, so check them on that page.
2. Wait for the install. You get a "server ready" email and the server appears at panel.playnhost.com. On the Console tab, the panel counts the server as running when it prints [Server] Startup Completed.
3. Open Settings, then Game Settings. These fields are written into ServerHostSettings.json each time the server starts:
   • Server Name and Server Description: what players see in the server list.
   • Server Password: the join password. Leave it empty if anyone may join.
   • Save Name: the world's save folder. A new name starts a new world.
   • Game Settings Preset and Game Difficulty Preset: pick a rule set from the lists. See How to choose PvP or PvE on your V Rising server.
   • Max Connected Admins, Auto Save Count, Auto Save Interval, Server FPS, Secure Server, List On Steam and List On Epic, plus Enable RCON and RCON Password if you want RCON (Stunlock says the RCON password cannot be left empty).
   Automatic Updates (under Show advanced) is on by default: the server checks Steam for a new build every time it starts. Max Connected Users is shown but not editable here, because it comes with your plan.
4. Restart. When the panel shows "Saved. The server must restart before these take effect.", press Restart now and wait for [Server] Startup Completed.
5. Join. Find your server name in the in-game server list and enter the password if you set one. To go further, see How to join your V Rising server.

What our setup does for you

• Linux, Wine and ports. Stunlock ships a Windows server. Our servers run that same Windows build (app 1829350) through Wine, and the panel passes the game port on the start line. At every start it also writes Port, QueryPort, Name, Description, Password, MaxConnectedUsers, SaveName, the presets and the other fields above into save-data/Settings/ServerHostSettings.json. Hand edits to those keys are replaced at the next start, so change them in Game Settings.
• Install retries. On our own installs, Steam has sometimes answered "Failed to install app (Missing configuration)" while SteamCMD still ended with "success" and left no game files. Our install script runs SteamCMD up to three times and only accepts the install when the app manifest for 1829350 exists. If you self-host and VRisingServer.exe is missing after a download, run the download command again.
• Files that are yours. Keys the panel does not write, such as ResetDaysInterval, DayOfReset and AutoSaveSmartKeep, and ServerGameSettings.json, are edited under Files in save-data/Settings. Stop the server first.
• Backups. If your plan includes backups, see How to back up and restore your V Rising world, and take one before changing files by hand.

Self-hosting or renting: an honest comparison

• Cost. Self-hosted: the software is free, and you pay for hardware, power and bandwidth, or a cloud virtual machine. Rented: a monthly fee set by plan. See the current plans.
• Operating system. Self-hosted: you need Windows, because the server is Windows only. Rented: nothing to install on your side.
• Availability. Self-hosted: as reliable as your machine, power and home internet, and it has to stay on when your friends play. Rented: runs on the host's hardware, not your PC.
• Network exposure. Self-hosted: players connect to your public IP, and you look after the firewall and router. Rented: your home IP is not involved.
• Skill needed. Self-hosted: command line, JSON editing, port forwarding and an update routine. Very doable. Rented: a web panel with form fields.
• Updates. Self-hosted: stop, run the SteamCMD command again, start. Rented: Automatic Updates installs a new build when the server starts, so press Restart after a patch.

Self-hosting suits you if a Windows machine already runs all day and you are comfortable with networking. Renting suits you if you would rather not look after hardware. Ready to start? See the V Rising server plans.

FAQ

Can I host a V Rising server for free?

Yes. The dedicated server is free on Steam and downloads with an anonymous login. You still pay for the machine, power and internet, and it must stay on while people play.

Can I run a V Rising server on Linux?

Stunlock only provides a Windows server. We run that Windows build through Wine on our own machines, but Stunlock's instructions do not describe a Linux route.

How many players can join?

The maximum Stunlock says the server technically supports is 128. Our plans are for 20 and 50 players at the time of writing. See How many players can join a V Rising server?

Which ports does a V Rising server use?

One UDP port for game traffic and one UDP port for the Steam server list (the query port). RCON, if you turn it on, uses a TCP port, 25575 in Stunlock's example.

Do I need to own the game to run the server?

Not to install it. Players need the game to join.