Yes, you can host Space Engineers without paying a monthly server fee. The genuinely free route is to install Keen Software House’s Dedicated Server on a Windows computer you control. The software is free for owners of the game, but you still supply the PC, electricity, internet connection, public networking, backups, updates and administration. If you do not want that work, managed PC or Xbox hosting is paid rental service, while Keen’s official community servers provide free access with less control.
Godlike.Host offers hosted Space Engineers servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
This guide separates those meanings of “free,” explains the practical requirements, and shows which option fits a private group, a public community or a console player.
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What “free Space Engineers hosting” actually means
There are three different offers people describe as free:
- Free server software: Keen’s dedicated-server files cost nothing to owners of Space Engineers. You run them on your own Windows machine and absorb all operating costs.
- Free community access: Keen operates official servers that players can join without buying a separate server subscription. You generally accept the operator’s world settings, moderation and availability.
- Free provider promotions: A hosting company may advertise a trial or temporary credit. That is not the same as a permanently free server, and no current offer, price or duration is established here.
A dedicated server is an independent game instance rather than a player-hosted peer-to-peer session. Keen describes it as running without rendering or audio effects, which is intended to make connections more consistent and reduce the lag that can occur when one player’s machine is also the host. The trade-off is that someone must keep the instance online and maintain it.
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Your options at a glance
| Option | Recurring host fee | Platform | When it stays online | Control and work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-host Keen Dedicated Server | No hosting fee; you pay hardware, electricity and internet costs | Windows PC; PC players, with cross-play depending on your configuration | Whenever your computer and connection are running | Highest control over worlds, admins, settings and mods; you handle ports, updates, backups and troubleshooting |
| Managed PC rental from GTX Gaming | Paid rental; current plans and prices are not stated here | PC | According to the plan and provider maintenance | Provider handles the machine and network; you compare slots, locations, backups, mod support and support terms |
| Managed Xbox rental from Nitrado | Paid rental; current plans and prices are not stated here | Xbox | According to the plan and provider maintenance | Useful for Xbox communities; verify cross-play, world and mod limits before ordering |
| Keen official community servers | Free to access | Platform availability depends on the listed server | Controlled by Keen, not by your group | Easy entry, but no private-server guarantee for your world, mods, administration or uptime |
| Torch administration layer | No compute or hosting included; separate project | Runs with a Windows dedicated server | Matches the underlying server | Adds live controls and plugins; you still provide and operate the server |
Option 1: self-host Keen’s dedicated server
Self-hosting is the only route in this list that is both private and free of a recurring hosting bill. At least one Steam account must own a valid Space Engineers license to obtain the server files; the machine running the server does not need a separate game license. This distinction matters if a friend supplies the licensed account while an always-on household PC runs the service.
Hardware and software requirements
Keen Software House’s current dedicated-server documentation lists these figures:
| Category | Published minimum | Published recommendation for public hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 3.2 GHz CPU with three logical cores | 4.5 GHz CPU with three logical cores |
| Memory | 6 GB RAM | 10 GB RAM |
| Network | 5 Mbps bandwidth | Static IP for public hosting |
The figures are server requirements, not a promise of a particular player count or simulation speed. Large worlds, heavy automation, many moving grids and numerous mods can require more headroom. A compact Windows mini PC can work for a small group if its listing meets the CPU speed, logical-core count, RAM, Windows version, storage, cooling and network-connection requirements; no specific model is established as tested.
Keen’s setup also requires Windows, .NET Framework 4.8 or newer, and the Visual C++ Redistributables from 2013 and 2017. Install those prerequisites before diagnosing a server that will not start.
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Install the server files
- Using Steam: Open the Steam Library, change the library filter to show Tools, and install the Space Engineers Dedicated Server entry.
- Using SteamCMD: Download SteamCMD, open a command prompt in its folder, and run
steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir somedirectorypath +app_update 298740 +quit. Replacesomedirectorypathwith the folder where you want the files stored. Keen identifies298740as the dedicated-server application ID. - Launch the dedicated-server executable and create or select a world. The server interface exposes the name, password, administrator list, reserved slots, mods, restart controls and update controls.
- Start with a private password and a small test world. Confirm that you can join locally before opening the server to the internet.
Make a public server reachable
Players outside your home network need a reachable public address. Keen says a server can run on a LAN without a static public IP, but people outside that LAN cannot connect without one. Ask your internet provider whether your connection uses carrier-grade NAT; if it does, normal port forwarding may not work even when your router settings look correct.
- Give the server PC a stable address on your home network, preferably a DHCP reservation in the router.
- Forward the server’s UDP listen port from the router to that local address. The default is 27016 unless you changed it in the server configuration.
- Create a Windows Firewall rule allowing incoming UDP traffic on that same port. Allowing only the game executable without the correct port can still block outside players.
- Check that the server is listening and test from a different connection, such as a phone hotspot. Testing only from inside the LAN can hide forwarding or NAT problems.
Do not expose administrative tools or remote desktop broadly to the internet. Use strong passwords, limit administrator accounts, keep Windows patched and remove access that you no longer need.
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The dedicated-server console lets you select worlds, set names and passwords, assign administrators, reserve slots, add mods and control automatic restarts or updates. You remain responsible for copying world saves, deciding when to apply game updates, checking logs and restoring a backup after corruption. Schedule backups before mod changes and before major version updates, and keep at least one copy away from the server machine.
Home hosting has a real cost even when the software is free. Electricity, heat, hardware wear, an internet plan with sufficient upload capacity and your own time all count. An always-on desktop may consume considerably more power than a low-power mini PC, while a mini PC may provide less thermal headroom for sustained simulation. Compare those practical costs with a monthly rental before deciding that self-hosting is cheaper.
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Option 2: managed PC hosting from GTX Gaming
Keen’s official hosting information names GTX Gaming as the official server host for the PC version. “Official” identifies Keen’s designation; it does not establish a current price, player limit, service-level guarantee or affiliate arrangement. Treat it as a starting point for comparing plans, not as proof that one plan is best for your group.
A managed host removes Windows maintenance, router configuration and most restart work. Before paying, check the details that determine whether the service suits your world:
- Player-slot limits and how CPU and RAM are allocated as the world grows.
- Data-center locations and expected latency for the majority of players.
- Support for the mods, plugins, cross-play or EOS behavior you need.
- Automated backups, retention, restore procedure and world-download access.
- Scheduled restarts, update handling, DDoS protection and incident communication.
- Cancellation, renewal and data-export terms.
This is the practical choice for a PC group that wants the world available when the original owner’s home computer is off and does not want to troubleshoot ports or Windows services.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Option 3: managed Xbox hosting from Nitrado
Keen identifies Nitrado as the official server host for the Xbox version. As with the PC designation, that statement does not supply current prices, locations, capacity, mod restrictions or uptime guarantees. Xbox players should verify those items on the plan they are considering.
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Pay particular attention to whether a plan supports the exact Xbox edition and any intended PC cross-play or EOS behavior. Confirm the allowed world and mod features, backup access, restart schedule, support response process and cancellation policy. A Windows self-hosted dedicated server is not a substitute for an Xbox managed plan when your group needs a console-native setup.
Option 4: Keen’s free official community servers
Keen support states that its official servers are not sold as part of Space Engineers and that access is provided as a free community service rather than a separate paid subscription. This is the simplest no-cost way to play online: choose an available official server and join it.
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Option 5: add Torch for administration
Torch is an optional third-party administration layer, not a host and not a source of free computing resources. Its project README describes a live-management interface, chat commands, entity management, configuration editing and a plugin system. The installer can download the Space Engineers dedicated server, which can simplify initial setup.
Use Torch when the base interface does not provide the live controls or plugin workflow your administrators need. It remains in early development, and its README warns that bugs or incomplete features may occur. Keep a clean backup of the underlying world and test Torch, plugins and game updates on a copy before applying them to a public instance. If you only need a small private world, adding another software layer may create more maintenance than it removes.
Which option fits your situation?
Choose self-hosting when
- You already own an always-on Windows PC and can configure a router and firewall.
- Your group values control over worlds, admins, passwords and mods more than hands-off support.
- You can perform backups, updates and recovery yourself.
Choose managed PC hosting when
- Your players need the world online while the owner is away.
- You prefer predictable support and data-center connectivity to home-network administration.
- You are willing to pay after comparing capacity, location, backups and cancellation terms.
Choose managed Xbox hosting when
- The community primarily plays on Xbox and needs a console-oriented server workflow.
- You have confirmed the plan’s cross-play, world and mod behavior.
Choose an official community server when
- You want immediate, free access and can accept someone else’s rules and world.
- Private ownership, persistent progress and custom administration are not essential.
Self-hosting troubleshooting checklist
- Friends cannot see the server: verify the server is running, the external address is correct, UDP port 27016 (or your changed port) is forwarded to the right local address, and Windows Firewall permits inbound UDP.
- LAN players connect but internet players cannot: investigate public-IP changes, carrier-grade NAT and router forwarding. A LAN-only setup does not provide outside access.
- The process will not launch: confirm Windows, .NET 4.8 or newer, and both required Visual C++ Redistributables are installed; then review the server log for a missing dependency or invalid configuration.
- Performance degrades as the world grows: inspect CPU utilization, available RAM, simulation load and mod activity. Reduce expensive automation or entities, and move to faster hardware if the server repeatedly falls behind.
- An update breaks the world or a mod: stop the server, restore the most recent known-good backup, and test the update on a copied world before reopening the public instance.
- Players report lag despite adequate bandwidth: check geographic distance, upload saturation and simulation speed. A dedicated process avoids player-host rendering overhead, but it cannot eliminate a slow home uplink or an overloaded CPU.
Bottom line for “free” hosting
For a private PC community, Keen’s Dedicated Server is the legitimate free-software answer: install it on Windows, meet the published hardware and network requirements, forward UDP 27016, and accept responsibility for power, maintenance and security. For Xbox, or for anyone who wants the machine and networking managed, use the official host named for that platform and compare its current terms. For zero setup and zero server ownership, Keen’s community servers are free to join, but they are not a replacement for a private world.
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