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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsYes. Satisfactory has a free dedicated-server tool for the desktop game. You can run it on a 64-bit Windows or Linux machine, leave the world online without a player’s game client acting as host, and let Steam and Epic players join the same server. Console dedicated-server support is not covered by the current setup documentation.
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A dedicated server is not a hosted world that runs by itself: someone must supply the computer, internet connection, ports, updates, saves and backups. The guide below explains the supported platforms, requirements, network settings and practical choices between running the server yourself and paying for managed hosting.
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In a normal multiplayer session, one player’s game client also hosts the simulation. That player has to be running the game and reachable before others can enter the world. A dedicated server separates those jobs. The server process runs the factory simulation and stores the world while players connect with their regular game clients.
That separation is useful for a shared factory. Friends can join at different times, and construction can continue even when the person who originally created the save is offline. Epic Games describes its tool this way: “Our Dedicated Server tool gives players the ability to host their own dedicated servers, meaning you can keep building your factory even if your friends aren’t online!”
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The trade-off is operational responsibility. The machine must remain powered and connected, and its operator has to install updates, allow network traffic, protect and back up saves, and recover the service when something fails.
Who can use one?
| Part of the setup | Supported situation |
|---|---|
| Server operating system | 64-bit Windows or 64-bit Linux on x86-64 hardware |
| Server distribution | Steam client tools, SteamCMD, or the free Dedicated Server add-on in the Epic Games Store |
| Player clients | Steam and Epic game clients can connect to the same server, regardless of which store supplied the server binaries |
| Console clients or hosts | The cited setup documentation does not support dedicated servers for the console release |
The cross-store rule applies to the server software as well as the clients: a server installed through Steam can accept Epic players, and an Epic-provided server installation can accept Steam players. Players still need compatible game versions and the server’s connection details.
Satisfactory’s official support page directs administrators to the community-maintained wiki for detailed dedicated-server procedures. That wiki is therefore the place to check current launch options and version-specific behavior.
Hardware and operating requirements
Use the published minimums as a floor, not as a performance guarantee. A factory’s save size, number of players, simulation activity, virtualization and other workloads all affect how much headroom is available.
| Resource | Published baseline | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Epic’s Windows table lists an Intel i5-3570 at 3.4 GHz with four cores; the community guidance calls for a recent x86-64 Intel or AMD processor | Server simulation load varies with the world and player activity, so an older processor may run but provide less headroom |
| Memory | 8 GB minimum; 16 GB recommended in Epic’s Windows listing | The wiki notes that larger saves or more than four players may need 16 GB |
| Storage | 20 GB available space; Epic recommends a 20 GB SSD for Windows | Leave additional room for updates, logs and backup copies rather than filling the drive |
| Operating system | Windows 10 or later, 64-bit, in Epic’s Windows table; 64-bit Linux is also supported | 32-bit and ARM systems are not supported by the cited server guidance |
| Network | Broadband internet; an internet connection is required for multiplayer | Upload capacity and connection stability affect how reliably remote players can reach the world |
The 16 GB recommendation comes from the Coffee Stain Studios/Epic Games Store listing displayed in 2021. It remains a useful planning figure, but it should not be read as a promise that every save will perform identically on that amount of memory.
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How to set up a dedicated server
The exact command-line switches can change between game releases and branches. Use the current dedicated-server wiki instructions for the launch command and configuration syntax; do not copy an experimental-branch command into a production installation without checking the branch it targets.
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- Choose an always-on host. Select a 64-bit Windows or Linux computer with x86-64 hardware, enough memory for the save and player count, storage for the installation and backups, and a broadband connection. A desktop, spare PC or virtual machine can work if it meets those conditions.
- Install the server software. On Steam, open the library’s Tools filter and install the Satisfactory dedicated-server tool if the account has access. With SteamCMD, install and update the server from the command-line client instead of installing the full graphical Steam client. On Epic, add the free Dedicated Server tool listed by Coffee Stain Studios. All three routes install server binaries; they do not require every player to use the same store.
- Select the correct branch. Stable and experimental branches can have different files and launch arguments. The setup documentation includes branch-selection examples, including an experimental branch option for SteamCMD. Label any branch-specific procedure clearly and verify the current syntax before applying it.
- Start the server once locally. Launch it using the current wiki procedure so it can create its initial configuration and save data. Watch the server output for startup errors before attempting an internet connection. Keep the installation’s save and configuration locations documented for the people who will administer it.
- Allow the required traffic. Create host-firewall rules for the server ports, then configure the router to forward the same ports to the server machine when players are connecting from the internet. The port groups are listed in the next section. If your home arrangement cannot accept normal inbound connections, the setup documentation notes that a VPN can be used in some hosting arrangements.
- Test from outside the host network. Have a player connect using the server’s external address and port while the server process is running. Testing from another network is important: a connection from the same home network can succeed even when router forwarding is wrong.
- Move in the real save. Stop the server before replacing or restoring world files. Keep an untouched backup of the previous save, then place the intended world where the current server configuration expects it and start the process again. Confirm that the factory loads before allowing everyone to build.
- Document administration. Record who can stop or update the process, where backups are stored, which branch is installed and when maintenance normally occurs. A dedicated world is shared infrastructure, not just another game shortcut.
Ports, firewall rules and reachability
The setup documentation identifies two port groups. Port numbers and networking behavior can change with a major patch, so verify them against the current instructions whenever you update the game.
| Port | Protocol | Purpose identified in the setup documentation |
|---|---|---|
| 7777 | TCP | Server traffic and HTTPS API |
| 7777 | UDP | Game traffic and query traffic |
| 8888 | TCP | Reliable messaging |
For an internet-accessible home server, allow these ports in the host operating system’s firewall and forward them from the router to the server’s local address. Forwarding only one protocol is not enough when both TCP and UDP are specified. If players cannot see or join the world, check the running process, local firewall rules, router forwarding and whether the server is listening on the expected ports before changing game settings.
Opening a port exposes a service to the internet. Restrict administrative access to the people who need it, keep the operating system and server software updated, and avoid sharing private management credentials in a public chat.
Steam and Epic cross-store play
Cross-store play is one of the strongest reasons to use a dedicated server for a mixed group. The official setup guidance says Steam and Epic clients can connect regardless of where the server binaries were downloaded. You can therefore choose Steam, SteamCMD or Epic for the server based on the host machine and your preferred update workflow, while friends use whichever desktop store they already own.
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This does not remove version compatibility requirements. Keep the server and clients on compatible branches and versions, especially after a game update. If one player cannot connect while others can, first compare their branch and game version with the server rather than reinstalling the entire world.
Running the server on Linux
Linux is a supported server platform, provided the host is 64-bit and uses x86-64 hardware. The distribution method can be SteamCMD or another supported server installation path documented by the wiki. Plan for the same responsibilities as on Windows: persistent storage, a process that can be restarted, firewall rules, router forwarding when needed, updates and tested backups.
ARM boards and 32-bit systems are outside the cited support guidance. A small ARM single-board computer is therefore not a supported substitute simply because it consumes less power. If you use virtualization or a container, the underlying machine still needs to meet the x86-64 and memory requirements, and you remain responsible for mapping the required ports and preserving save data.
Do dedicated servers work on console?
Not according to the cited setup documentation. It describes dedicated servers for the desktop release and states that they are unavailable for the console release, without stating a plan to add console support later. Do not promise a console-compatible dedicated world unless a newer official announcement changes that status.
How much RAM do you need?
Plan around 8 GB as the published minimum and 16 GB as the recommended Windows figure. The community guidance specifically warns that larger saves or groups of more than four players may need 16 GB. That makes 16 GB the sensible target for a persistent group world, especially when the host also runs an operating system, monitoring tools or other services.
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Memory is only one constraint. A heavily developed factory can stress CPU time and storage even when free RAM remains. If players report simulation slowdowns, inspect CPU use, memory pressure, disk activity and background workloads together instead of assuming that adding RAM alone will solve the problem.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Self-hosting versus managed hosting
A managed service can be convenient, but the cited material does not establish any particular provider’s price, uptime, region, backup schedule or support terms. Compare a service using the operational criteria below and verify each promise in its current contract.
| Consideration | Self-hosted server | Managed service |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Direct access to files, configuration and update timing | Control depends on the provider’s panel and policies |
| Operational work | You handle the operating system, firewall, restarts, updates and recovery | The provider handles much of the machine and routine service work |
| Cost shape | Uses existing hardware and electricity | Adds a recurring hosting fee |
| Reachability | Home hosting may require router forwarding or a VPN | Normally supplies an internet endpoint, subject to the provider’s network |
| Reliability and recovery | You must design and test backups and restart procedures | Scheduled restarts and backups may be included, but must be verified for the chosen plan |
Self-hosting is a good fit when someone in the group already has suitable hardware and is comfortable maintaining it. Managed hosting is mainly a convenience purchase: it shifts routine administration to another company, but it does not eliminate the need to understand saves, versions and access control.
Updates, saves and recovery
Treat the world as important data. Stop the server cleanly before planned maintenance, keep more than one backup copy, and test that a backup can actually be restored. Store at least one copy separately from the live machine so a failed disk or accidental deletion does not remove both the server and its only recovery point.
Schedule updates when players are offline, announce downtime to the group and confirm the branch after updating. If an update causes connection failures, compare the server and clients’ versions and branches first. If a save appears damaged, stop making changes to it, preserve the original copy and restore a known-good backup rather than repeatedly launching the same file.
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Common connection problems
The server starts, but nobody outside the house can join
Confirm that the server process is running, that both TCP and UDP rules for port 7777 and TCP 8888 are allowed by the host firewall, and that the router forwards those ports to the correct machine. Test from a different network. A VPN may be an option in some home-hosting arrangements when ordinary forwarding is not workable.
Only one store’s players can connect
The server distribution does not impose a Steam-only or Epic-only client group. Check that every player and the server are on compatible game versions and branches, then recheck the address and port being used by the players who fail.
The world is online but performs poorly
Check save size, player count, CPU load, memory pressure, disk activity, virtualization overhead and background services. The published 8 GB minimum is not a guarantee of smooth simulation; 16 GB is the recommended Windows figure, and larger worlds can require more headroom.
An update changed the behavior
Port numbers and launch options are update-sensitive. Re-read the current dedicated-server instructions after a major patch, especially if you use an experimental branch or SteamCMD branch-selection option.
Bottom line
Satisfactory does have dedicated servers for desktop players. Run the free server tool on a 64-bit Windows or Linux x86-64 host, provide at least the published hardware and network baseline, forward the documented ports, and maintain the saves yourself. Steam and Epic players can share the same server; console dedicated-server support is not established by the current setup documentation.
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