Knockout City for Windows PC: Download Guide, Tips and Features

Yes—Knockout City is still playable on Windows PC, but not as the original live-service game. Its public servers permanently shut down on June 6, 2023. The free Knockout City – Private Server Edition is the legitimate way to play now: install it through Steam, then play solo against bots, over LAN, or on a player-hosted or community server. Official matchmaking, the old progression system, and in-game voice chat are not part of this edition.

Can you still play Knockout City on PC?

Yes, with an important distinction: the original game and the Private Server Edition are not interchangeable. The original live-service version relied on online services and stopped working when its public servers closed permanently on June 6, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. UTC. The current Private Server Edition preserves the game for local and privately hosted play; it does not bring back the original public matchmaking. Velan’s shutdown announcement explains why the original client cannot continue past its title screen without those services.

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The Private Server Edition is a free Windows PC release. Velan says PC is the only supported platform for this edition, so there is no equivalent supported console release. Think of it as a preservation build for solo, LAN, and private online sessions—not a revival of the former live-service ecosystem.

Where to download Knockout City

For most players, Steam is the straightforward route. Start from the official page so you can verify that you are getting the right edition, rather than an old listing or an unofficial download.

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1. Open the official Private Server Edition page.
2. Select its Steam link and confirm the product is named Knockout City – Private Server Edition.
3. Install it from the Steam listing, then launch it from Steam.

The edition is free to download and use. Velan’s page says it includes more than 1,300 cosmetics unlocked by default. Old purchases, account progression, and unlocks do not carry over. Use the official page and Steam rather than third-party mirrors or modified executables; Velan specifically advises against third-party downloads. Older setup instructions may mention standalone downloads, but the current landing page emphasizes Steam, so do not assume past direct-download options are still offered in the same form.

System requirements

The following are the requirements published on Steam, not a guarantee of a particular frame rate or performance. The listing specifies Windows 10; it does not establish formal Windows 11 support. Actual results can vary with resolution, texture version, drivers, background applications, and—if you host—a server’s workload.

These are the Steam-published specifications. Hosting can be more demanding than running the game client: Velan notes that server capacity is CPU-sensitive and may improve on higher-spec hardware.

How to start playing

Play solo or set up a private match

Launch the Steam-installed edition and choose the private-play options for a match. You can practice against bots without finding an online opponent. The edition also supports LAN and online sessions when you connect to a private server. For a group session, ask the host for the server address and port; if the server is password-protected, get that password too.

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Join a privately hosted server

The official connection argument uses this format:

-backend=1.2.3.4:23600

Replace the example address and port with the values supplied by the host. To add a username, the documented optional argument is:

-username=insertnamehere

1. In Steam, open the game’s local files using Manage > Browse local files.
2. In the game folder, right-click KnockoutCity.exe and choose Create shortcut.
3. Right-click the shortcut, choose Properties, and locate the Target field.
4. After the executable path, add a space and the -backend=IP:PORT argument. Optionally add a space and the -username=Name argument.
5. Apply the change and start the game from that shortcut.

Use the server host’s exact address, port, and connection instructions. The path shown in the shortcut depends on where Steam installed the game, so use the local-files command rather than relying on a hard-coded folder path. Velan documents these arguments in its Private Server Edition setup guide.

How to host a Knockout City server

Velan’s setup guide documents a standalone server application and Windows shortcut arguments. If you use that route, download the server application through the official source, extract the folder with Windows Explorer, and create a shortcut to KnockoutCityServer.exe. Add the arguments you need to the shortcut’s target, start the server, then give players its address, port, and any configured password.

The documented default port arguments are:

-backend_port=[23600]
-server_min_port=[23600]
-server_max_port=[23699]

To set a password, add the optional argument below, replacing the example text:

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-secret=[InsertPasswordHere]

Keep the port settings consistent with the connection details you give your players. UPnP is supported, but it does not guarantee that every router will configure itself successfully. Players joining from outside the host’s home network may need router port forwarding, and Windows Firewall may need to allow the server application through. Router steps vary by model and network, so there is no single forwarding procedure that applies to everyone.

• Hosting and playing on one PC is supported; using separate machines may perform better.
• Practical player capacity depends on CPU performance and network configuration. Reduce the player count or close other demanding applications if the server struggles.
• External paid hosting is an option Velan mentions, but it is a third-party service, not an official Velan hosting product.

What is included in the Private Server Edition?

The edition retains the core third-person dodgeball action: players throw, catch, pass, dodge, tackle, and use special balls in team and free-for-all formats. Passing can charge a ball; players can also curl throws around obstacles or ball up so a teammate can throw them at an opponent. The Steam description highlights 3v3, 4v4, free-for-all, special balls, passing, catching, and balling up.

It also supports the Hideout and training activities, bot matches, LAN sessions, and privately hosted online play. Velan says nearly every playlist it featured—including limited-time event playlists—is available in Private Match, with bot support. That gives returning players ways to revisit a range of modes without relying on a public queue. The official edition page describes the included content and cosmetics.

What is missing or disabled?

Several elements familiar from the live game either depend on services that have ended or are explicitly unavailable in the Private Server Edition. Interface options may remain visible even when they no longer perform their original function.

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These limitations are described in Velan’s Private Server Edition FAQ and setup information. The old build’s EA/Origin-era account and service instructions do not restore the closed public game.

Beginner tips for private matches

• Practice catching. A well-timed catch can turn defense into possession; do not rely on dodging as your only response to a throw.
• Pass to build pressure. A charged throw is more threatening, and a pass coordinates your attack rather than leaving each player to act alone.
• Vary your throws. Mix timing, angles, curves, charged shots, and passes so opponents cannot settle into one predictable catch rhythm.
• Use the map. Walls, platforms, hazards, and sightlines can change whether a direct throw is safe or easy to catch. Avoid overcommitting near edges.
• Make ball-up plays with a plan. A teammate thrown as a ball can create a coordinated attack; keep track of who can follow up and where teammates are positioned.
• Learn each special ball separately. Their effects alter timing and positioning, so practice how each changes an encounter instead of treating them like ordinary balls.
• Use bot matches for practice. Solo play gives you a way to work on catches, passes, and movement even when no community server has players available.

Because in-game voice chat is unavailable, arrange team communication through an external service before a coordinated match.

Troubleshooting common problems

The old game stops at the title screen

This usually means you have the original live-service build, which cannot get past the title screen after its services shut down. Install Knockout City – Private Server Edition through Steam instead; reinstalling the old EA/Origin-era version will not restore public servers.

The game opens, but there are no opponents

The Private Server Edition does not provide official matchmaking. Try a private match with bots, or connect to a community or player-hosted server using the address and port its host provides. If you already have a server to join, check that the connection argument is correct and that local firewall settings are not blocking the game.

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Friends cannot connect to a server

• Confirm the host gave everyone the current IP address or hostname and correct port.
• Check that the server is running and that everyone is using the same password if one is configured.
• Check Windows Firewall permissions for the server and client.
• If friends are outside the host’s local network, check router port forwarding; UPnP support alone does not ensure the router is reachable.

The server is unstable or struggles with players

Server performance is CPU-sensitive. Try reducing the player count, closing other applications, or running the server on a separate, higher-spec machine. An external host may be an alternative for a group that needs a persistent server, but such hosting is third-party rather than a Velan service.

Voice chat or reporting buttons do nothing

Some interface remnants are nonfunctional in this edition: in-game voice chat is unsupported, and player or lag reports are not delivered. Use external voice chat and community channels for coordination or help.

Is Knockout City worth downloading in 2026?

It is a good fit if you have a Windows PC and want to revisit the mechanics, practice alone, play locally, or organize private matches with friends. It is a poor fit if you want a conventional live-service game with official public queues, active seasons, account progression, or in-game voice chat. For community sessions, Velan’s final information page points players to the official Discord and community-run spaces; activity and server availability can change, so check those channels rather than assuming a particular population or queue time.

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