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How to Direct Connect to a Space Engineers Server

Use Main Screen → Join Game → Direct Connect, enter the host's current IP:port, choose Steam or EOS as appropriate, and troubleshoot UDP forwarding, firewalls and public addresses when the server does not respond.
Length9 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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In Space Engineers, open Main Screen → Join Game → Direct Connect. Enter the server address in IP:port format—for example, 203.0.113.25:27016—then connect and provide the password if requested. UDP port 27016 is the documented dedicated-server default, not a universal value; the host may have changed it.

What you need before connecting

Direct Connect does not discover a private server for you. Ask the server owner for the exact details below before opening the game:

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  • Reachable IP address: Use the host’s public IP when connecting from outside the host’s home or office network. A player on the same local network may instead need the server computer’s LAN address.
  • Listen port: The official dedicated-server documentation lists UDP 27016 as the default. The owner may have configured another port.
  • Password: Private servers can require one, and the game asks for it after the connection attempt when applicable.
  • Network type: On PC, find out whether the server is using Steam or EOS (Epic Online Services), so you can select the matching server view.

The address and port are normally written together with a colon, such as 198.51.100.40:27016. Replace both parts with the values supplied by the owner; the example is only a formatting illustration.

Direct-connect procedure

  1. Start Space Engineers. Wait for the main menu to load completely.
  2. Choose Join Game. This screen also contains public dedicated servers, player-hosted games, LAN games and friends; Direct Connect is the option for a private game whose address was given to you.
  3. Select Direct Connect. A field appears for the server address.
  4. Enter the IP and port. Type the supplied value in IP:port form. If the owner says the port is 28016, enter that port rather than substituting the 27016 default.
  5. Choose the matching PC network view. Select Steam for a Steam-based PC server or EOS for an EOS server. EOS is the route that supports PC, PlayStation and Xbox crossplay; Steam is the PC-only route.
  6. Submit the connection. If the server is reachable, the game proceeds to the join process.
  7. Enter the password. Supply the server password when prompted. A wrong password is different from an unreachable server, so obtain a fresh password from the owner rather than changing network settings.

The official multiplayer guidance describes the same process: when you have been given the IP address of a private game, press Direct Connect to paste it in and connect.

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Which address should you enter?

The correct address depends on where your device is located relative to the server.

Where you are playing Address to request Why
Outside the host’s home or office network The host’s public IP and forwarded listen port Internet traffic must reach the router and then the server computer.
On the same local network as the server The server computer’s LAN address, if the network requires it Local routing can avoid the public Internet path; some routers do not loop a public address back into the LAN.
Crossplay using EOS The address and port supplied for the EOS server EOS is the network path used for PC, PlayStation and Xbox crossplay.
PC-only Steam server The address and port supplied for the Steam server Steam is the PC-only server path.

Do not replace a public address with a private address such as a 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x or 172.16–172.31.x.x address when you are connecting from another household. Those addresses are normally valid only inside the host’s local network.

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What is the default Space Engineers server port?

Keen Software House’s dedicated-server documentation identifies UDP 27016 as the default listen port. “Default” means the value used when the server has not been changed; it does not mean every server listens there. A host can select another port, and the actual value in the owner’s configuration takes precedence.

Item Documented value Qualification
Dedicated-server listen transport UDP The forwarding and firewall rules must allow UDP, not only TCP.
Dedicated-server default listen port 27016 Default documented by Keen Software House; configurable by the host.
Address notation in Direct Connect IP:port Use the configured port, whether it is 27016 or another value.

For a server that has been customized, ask the owner to check the listen-port setting in SpaceEngineersDedicated.cfg. Entering 27016 against a server configured for a different port will fail even when the IP address is correct.

Steam and EOS: choose the same network path as the server

Steam servers

Steam is the PC-only path. A PC player should use the Steam view when the host created the server for Steam networking. Console players cannot join a Steam-only server through the crossplay path.

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EOS servers

EOS supports PC, PlayStation and Xbox crossplay according to the official wiki. On PC, choose the EOS view when the host says the server is EOS-based. Crossplay still requires the game versions, server settings and access credentials to be compatible; selecting EOS does not convert a Steam server into a crossplay server.

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How to resolve uncertainty

If the owner did not specify Steam or EOS, ask before troubleshooting ports. A correct address entered in the wrong network view can look like a network outage, while changing router settings cannot correct a Steam/EOS mismatch.

When Direct Connect says the server is not responding

Work through the checks in this order. Each one eliminates a different failure mode.

1. Confirm that the server is running

Ask the owner to verify that the dedicated-server process is started and that the intended world has finished loading. A powered-off computer, stopped service or crashed world cannot answer Direct Connect, regardless of the address you enter.

2. Verify the public IP and port together

Have the owner confirm the current public IP and the configured listen port. Residential Internet connections can receive a new public IP after a modem restart or provider change. If the owner changed the port, use that value rather than 27016. The official support guidance specifically recommends checking the public IP:port and the SpaceEngineersDedicated.cfg file.

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3. Check router forwarding

For an Internet-hosted dedicated server, the router must forward incoming UDP traffic on the configured port to the computer running the server. With the documented default, that means forwarding UDP 27016; with a custom port, forward the custom value instead. Forwarding the wrong protocol or sending traffic to another computer produces the same symptom as an offline server.

4. Check the host firewall

The server computer’s firewall must allow the same incoming UDP port. A router rule can be correct while a host firewall still drops the packets. The owner should create or enable an inbound rule for the dedicated-server executable or configured UDP listen port, then retry the connection.

5. Distinguish LAN and Internet tests

A player inside the host’s network may be able to connect with the server’s LAN address even when the public forwarding rule is wrong. A remote player needs the public address and a reachable forwarded port. Test with the address appropriate to your location; do not assume that a successful LAN test proves Internet access.

6. Match Steam or EOS

On PC, return to the Join Game screen and select the network view that matches the server. Ask the owner to confirm the choice if the server remains invisible or unresponsive after the address and port have been checked.

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7. Recheck the password

If the server reaches a password prompt but rejects the entry, request the current password. Do not diagnose a password rejection as a port-forwarding problem.

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8. Consider a changed public address

Keen recommends a static public IP for hosts serving people outside their local network. Without one, the owner may need to provide a new address after the Internet connection changes. A static public IP helps keep the Direct Connect details stable, but it does not replace forwarding or firewall rules.

What the server owner must configure

These are hosting requirements, not requirements for a player joining someone else’s server.

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  1. Install and start the Space Engineers dedicated server on the intended computer.
  2. Read the configured listen port from SpaceEngineersDedicated.cfg. If it has not been changed, Keen documents UDP 27016 as the default.
  3. Give the server computer a stable address on the local network, or reserve one in the router, so forwarding does not point to a different device after a reboot.
  4. Forward incoming UDP traffic on the configured port from the Internet router to that local server address.
  5. Allow the same UDP traffic through the computer’s firewall.
  6. Provide players with the current public IP, port, password and Steam/EOS choice.

Keen’s documentation states that people can reach a server only after the router forwards incoming UDP traffic on port 27016—or another specified port—to the computer running the dedicated server. The documentation lists 6 GB of RAM as the dedicated-server minimum and 5 Mbps of bandwidth as the minimum bandwidth. Those figures describe the host; a player joining an existing server does not need to provide them.

Direct Connect versus the other Join Game options

Join Game option Use it when What you need
Direct Connect The owner gave you an IP address and port for a private game. Reachable address, configured port, matching Steam/EOS path and password if required.
Public dedicated servers You want to browse publicly listed servers. A listed server; no private IP handoff from a host is required.
Player-hosted games You are joining a session hosted from a player’s game. The host’s available session and any access requirement.
LAN games The host and player are on the same local network and the game is advertised there. Local-network access to the advertised session.
Friends You are joining through the game’s friend relationship rather than entering an address. An eligible friend session and the required platform connection.

Direct Connect is therefore not a faster replacement for every Join Game method. It is the explicit-address method for a private game, especially when the session is not appearing in a browser list.

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Self-hosting or rented hosting?

If you want a persistent world but do not want to operate a home computer, Keen’s official hosting page lists GTX Gaming for PC hosting and Nitrado for Xbox hosting. The page names those providers but does not establish current prices or referral terms, so treat availability and cost as details to verify directly. Regardless of provider, ask which platform and network path the service uses, whether you receive control over configuration and mods, and what address and port players should enter.

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Decision factor Running the dedicated server yourself Using a hosted service
Platform fit You choose the hardware and supported PC or console arrangement. Choose a plan that explicitly supports the platform and Steam or EOS path you need.
Configuration and mods Direct control of SpaceEngineersDedicated.cfg, worlds and installed modifications. Control depends on the provider’s panel and plan.
Networking work You administer router forwarding, firewall rules and public addressing. The provider handles its infrastructure; you still need the service’s supplied address, port and credentials.
Uptime Depends on your computer, power and Internet connection. Depends on the provider’s service and maintenance.
Cost You avoid a hosting subscription but supply hardware, bandwidth and administration. Recurring pricing varies by provider and plan and must be checked at the time of purchase.

A quick checklist for players

  • Have the owner send the public or LAN address appropriate to your location.
  • Confirm the exact UDP port; 27016 is only the documented default.
  • Enter the value as IP:port under Main Screen → Join Game → Direct Connect.
  • On PC, select Steam or EOS to match the server.
  • Keep the password exactly as supplied.
  • If the server is not responding, ask the owner to verify the process, public IP, configuration file, UDP forwarding and firewall rule.
  • For crossplay, confirm that the server is EOS and supports the participating PC, PlayStation or Xbox players.

Common mistakes to avoid

Entering only the IP address

A server on a non-default port needs the port appended. Ask for the complete IP:port, not an address by itself.

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Assuming 27016 is mandatory

27016 is the documented default, while the host can configure another listen port. Always use the owner’s current setting.

Forwarding TCP instead of UDP

The dedicated-server guidance calls for incoming UDP traffic. A TCP-only rule does not satisfy that requirement.

Using a private address from another network

A LAN address generally cannot be routed from a different household. Request the host’s public address for an Internet connection.

Ignoring the Steam/EOS distinction

The platform view is part of the connection details. A correct port cannot compensate for choosing an incompatible network path.

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Treating host specifications as player prerequisites

The 6 GB RAM and 5 Mbps bandwidth minimums apply to a dedicated-server host. They are not hardware or bandwidth requirements imposed on someone merely joining a server.

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