Survival · High-resource
Host a Sons of the Forest Server in Staging (Staging)
Staging: awaiting manual game-client validation. Player connections are not yet verified. Evaluate this server before inviting players.
Host Sons Of The Forest on your own Windows 10/11 or Linux computer. Swarm Hosts gives you a browser control panel to start, stop, monitor, and back up your server.
- Backups
Staging · client validation pending
Hardware and runtime
What Sons Of The Forest needs
Minimum requirements are a starting point. World size, player count, content, and game settings can require more resources.
- CPU
- 4+ cores
- Memory
- 8 GiB minimum
- Player traffic
- UDP
- Backup coverage
- 1 saved data location
Start with 4 CPU cores and 8 GiB memory. Allow free disk space for game downloads, compatibility-runtime files, saves, logs, and backups. Monitor resources before increasing the player count.
Technical overview
The runtime downloads the Windows dedicated server through Steam and runs it inside its server container. First boot can take longer than a native Linux server. See Staging games for evaluation limits.
Launch workflow
From host to running server
The staging defaults use SaveMode=Continue and skip the external network accessibility self-test so the server can initialize for local evaluation. This does not establish public-port accessibility, listing, or client joins. The publisher warns that SaveMode=new overwrites the selected slot each restart; preserve the continuing-save setting when testing persistence.
The game uses separate UDP routes, commonly 8766, 27016, and 9700 inside the container. Use the public mappings shown on the server page. The Endnight dedicated-server guide describes these routes and the generated configuration.
- Choose Sons Of The Forest from Staging and select a suitable host.
- Keep the offered launch defaults for the first test.
- Launch and watch the logs while Steam installs the dedicated server.
- After the configuration is generated, stop the server and use Files & Backups to set its name, join password, and intended save settings.
- Restart and inspect the logs before attempting a client connection.
Networking
How players connect
For later client evaluation, open the game's Multiplayer → Dedicated server browser and locate the configured server. Use the displayed public endpoint for a direct or favorites workflow when the client offers one. Listing, relay joining, and save selection must be checked manually; a running process does not confirm any of them.
Managed shared relay when the game, host, and current relay path support it.
Game management tools
Manage your Sons Of The Forest server
Available tools depend on the game, server status, and your permissions. The game guide explains any setup needed for Server Actions.
Use the settings, files, backups, logs, and server controls available for this game. The complete guide documents any game-specific action prerequisites.
Mods & Content status
Mods and custom content
Track mods in one place and apply them manually through the game-specific workflow.
The content page records desired identifiers only. It does not install, verify, or roll back Sons Of The Forest mods. Use vanilla for the first client evaluation; manual changes need compatible files and a backup.
Know before launch
Before you launch
- Awaiting manual game-client validation. Fresh image startup, five-minute dedicated-server stability, configuration persistence, and loading the existing initial save on restart were tested locally on 2026-10-09. The external network self-test is skipped. Client connections, player progression, and public networking remain pending.
- Host on Windows 10/11 or Linux with Docker Desktop in Linux-container mode on Windows, or Docker Engine or rootful Podman on Linux.
- Managed shared relay when the game, host, and current relay path support it.
Windows 10/11 + Linux
Ready to host Sons Of The Forest?
Connect the Windows or Linux computer you already own, then follow the game-specific launch path.