V Rising Server Settings Explained: ServerHostSettings and ServerGameSettings

V Rising splits dedicated-server configuration between two JSON files: ServerHostSettings.json controls how the server is exposed and managed, while ServerGameSettings.json controls rules inside the vampire world. Keeping that boundary clear prevents common mistakes such as changing a gameplay value in the host file or editing a default file that an update later replaces.

Prefer not to run the server on your own PC? Godlike.Host offers hosted V Rising servers with free DDoS protection and up to three free backups a day.

This guide shows where both files belong, which settings matter most, how presets and launch arguments affect the final result, and how to troubleshoot values that appear to be ignored.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		V Rising Standard - PC Steam [Online Game Code]	$34.99	Buy on Amazon
2		Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth- Rising Tide - PC	$11.89	Buy on Amazon
3		Womens Tempest Rising RTS Game C&C GDF NOD V-Neck T-Shirt	$18.99	Buy on Amazon
4		Women's Ronove Rising Master of Shadows V-Neck T-Shirt	$21.99	Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What each V Rising settings file controls

The files work together, but they answer different questions. The host file describes the server process and its connection to players. The game file describes the world that players enter.

ServerHostSettings.json: identity, networking and operations

Use ServerHostSettings.json for settings that determine how the dedicated server is advertised, reached and maintained:

#1 Best Overall

V Rising Standard - PC Steam [Online Game Code]

• Awaken as a Vampire. Hunt for blood in nearby settlements to regain your strength and evade the scorching sun to survive.
• Raise your castle and thrive in an ever-changing, open world full of mystery. Gain allies online and conquer the land of the living.

$34.99

Buy on Amazon

• Name and Description define the server-list identity and displayed description.
• Port is the UDP port used for game traffic.
• QueryPort is the UDP query port used for Steam server-list information.
• Address binds the process to a specific local IP when a machine has more than one interface or needs a restricted bind.
• MaxConnectedUsers sets the concurrent-player ceiling. Stunlock Studios’ current 1.1.x instructions identify 128 players as the maximum technically supported value.
• MaxConnectedAdmins reserves administrator connections that can join when the normal player capacity is full.
• Password and Secure control access and VAC protection.
• ListOnEOS and ListOnSteam control registration in the Epic Online Services and Steam listings.
• SaveName, AutoSaveCount and AutoSaveInterval identify the world and control save retention and cadence.
• GameSettingsPreset and GameDifficultyPreset select packaged rule bundles.
• LanMode limits operation to a local-area network.

Changing these keys does not, by itself, change loot, crafting speed, clan size or combat rules. Those belong in the game file or in a preset that supplies game rules.

ServerGameSettings.json: the rules inside the world

ServerGameSettings.json controls the experience after a player connects. Its settings fall into several practical groups:

• Mode and combat: PvE or PvP, player damage, castle damage, siege behavior and raid scheduling.
• Progression: loot, resource yields, crafting, refining, research and servant-conversion speeds.
• Survival pressure: blood drain, sun and garlic effects, enemy multipliers, durability drain and losses on death.
• Building and territory: castle limits, build height, spacing, decay and siege-related rules.
• Group scale: clan size and the way groups fit within the server’s player capacity.

Representative keys include ClanSize, BloodDrainModifier, DurabilityDrainModifier, BuildCostModifier, RecipeCostModifier, CraftRateModifier, ResearchTimeModifier, RefinementRateModifier, repair-cost controls, servant-conversion settings and death durability or resource-loss settings.

Where the files go

Do not edit the installation defaults

The packaged defaults are in VRisingServer_Data/StreamingAssets/Settings/. Updates can replace files in that directory, so treat it as a template location rather than the place for permanent customizations.

Windows override directory

On Windows, local overrides are read from:

%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalLowStunlock StudiosVRisingServerSettings

Place ServerHostSettings.json and ServerGameSettings.json there. If the launcher uses -persistentDataPath, that option relocates the data root; the server then expects Settings and Saves beneath the chosen path.

Rank #2

Sale

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth- Rising Tide - PC

• Colonize the Ocean: Build floating settlements and access natural resources hidden beneath the seas of the alien planet. Alien beasts with unique abilities inhabit the water and challenge the player in new ways. The ocean provides a fully replayable map, new gameplay mechanics and strategic possibilities for players to reign supreme on their new world
• Dynamic Leader Traits: Players and AI Leaders alike unlock new Traits through gameplay and activate different combinations to respond to the changing world. These dynamic sets of Traits also provide benefits and add to the new Diplomacy system, governed by the new Fear and Respect attributes.
• New, Enhanced Diplomatic Options: Shape the diplomatic landscape by using political capital to upgrade your traits, change diplomatic relationships, and leverage the benefits of your allies’ traits.
• New Sponsors: Four new factions have been added to the game including Al Falah, nomad explorers descended from wealthy and resilient Middle Eastern states that possess a rich cultural and commercial heritage.
• New Artifact System: Collect and combine powerful relics to unlock new perks, unit upgrades, and buildings for your faction on the new world.

$11.89

Buy on Amazon

For example, a launcher configured with -persistentDataPath .save-data commonly uses:

save-dataSettingsServerHostSettings.json
save-dataSettingsServerGameSettings.json

Copy your customized files into that persistent folder so an update to the server installation does not erase them. A full settings file is supported, but an override can contain only the keys you intentionally change. Missing keys inherit the built-in defaults.

How override precedence determines the effective value

A value visible in ServerGameSettings.json is not always the value the running world uses. Check the layers in this order:

1. Launcher arguments and environment overrides: the official host configuration supports command-line and environment-variable overrides for many host keys. These can supersede values in the host file.
2. Host-file preset selectors: GameSettingsPreset loads a packaged ServerGameSettings preset from the server’s GameSettingPresets directory. GameDifficultyPreset is a separate host-level bundle.
3. Local JSON overrides: keys in the persistent ServerHostSettings.json and ServerGameSettings.json fill in or replace defaults after the preset selection.
4. Built-in defaults: any key you omit falls back to the installed version’s defaults.

The most frequent “ignored setting” case is a difficulty preset. It can override individual gameplay values at startup, including blood drain, enemy health and damage, loot and sun damage. Remove or change the preset before judging an individual value. Do not confuse GameDifficulty in ServerGameSettings.json with GameDifficultyPreset: the former is a narrower control for boss-behavior complexity, while the latter is a packaged bundle that can replace several gameplay values.

A safe editing workflow

1. Stop the server. Never edit the active files while the process is writing saves or loading settings.
2. Back up both settings and saves. Copy the entire Settings folder and the relevant save data before changing rules.
3. Copy the example launcher. Keep the vendor-provided batch file untouched because updates may overwrite it. Make changes in your own startup script.
4. Choose a persistent path. Add -persistentDataPath when you need update-safe storage or several server layouts on one machine.
5. Put the two JSON files in the persistent Settings folder. Confirm that the path in the launcher and the path you edited are the same.
6. Keep overrides minimal. Add only keys you are deliberately changing. This lets new keys and corrected defaults arrive with updates instead of freezing an obsolete copy of the entire file.
7. Set world rules in ServerGameSettings.json. Decide PvE/PvP, clan size, progression rates, castle rules, durability and raid windows here.
8. Set infrastructure in ServerHostSettings.json. Configure name, ports, capacity, password, listing, save name, autosaves and preset selectors here.
9. Check both preset fields before troubleshooting. A preset can make an otherwise valid game-file value appear ineffective.
10. Restart and verify. Test the listing, direct connection, effective rates, save creation and any rule that matters to your community.

Example of a deliberately small override

A minimal file can contain only the rules you want to change. The following is an illustrative PvE override using the documented clan-size default as an example; add or remove keys to match your design:

Rank #3

Womens Tempest Rising RTS Game C&C GDF NOD V-Neck T-Shirt

• Tempest Rising RTS Game C&C GDF NOD
• Tempest Rising Tempest Rising GDF NOD
• Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem

$18.99

Buy on Amazon

{
  "GameModeType": "PvE",
  "ClanSize": 4
}

Do not copy a complete old file merely because it is available in a guide. Keys and defaults can change between releases, so compare your intended override with the files installed by the server version you are actually running.

Choosing the gameplay rules that players notice most

PvE or PvP and combat scheduling

GameModeType establishes whether the world is PvE or PvP. Related controls govern player damage, castle damage and when sieges or raids can occur. Decide these together: a PvP mode with unrestricted castle damage creates a very different obligation for players than a PvP world with narrow raid windows.

Clan size and population

ClanSize controls the maximum members in one clan. The reference default is 4, but defaults are version-sensitive; verify the installed file before publishing a preset. Clan size should be considered alongside MaxConnectedUsers: a 128-player technical ceiling does not require a 128-player community, and a low clan cap can matter more to group balance than the raw server capacity.

Progression rates

Loot, resource yields, crafting, refining, research and servant conversion each affect a different bottleneck. Raising every rate produces a fast server but can remove the reason to build production infrastructure. Change one group at a time and test a fresh character or a controlled resource loop so you know which modifier caused the result.

Survival, durability and death loss

BloodDrainModifier changes how quickly blood is consumed, while sun, garlic and enemy multipliers change the danger of traveling and fighting. Durability settings affect equipment upkeep and repair costs. The documented reference default for Death_DurabilityFactorLoss is 0.25; treat that number as a version-sensitive baseline, not a promise for every release. Death-related resource-loss settings should be evaluated separately from durability loss because they punish different behaviors.

Rank #4

Women's Ronove Rising Master of Shadows V-Neck T-Shirt

• Ronove: a powerful Ars Goetia demon in striking black-and-white detail, wielding a staff with commanding presence, blending gothic mystique and dramatic contrast. Embrace the shadow. Command your story.
• Perfect for gamers, cosplay fans, and occult enthusiasts. Ideal for gamers, conventions, fandom events, or anyone drawn to dark lore, symbolic art, and powerful character-inspired designs. Ideal for Halloween, dark art showcases, and fandom drops
• Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem

$21.99

Buy on Amazon

Castles, territory and servants

Castle limits, build height, spacing, decay and siege behavior determine how much territory a community can occupy. Servant limits and conversion speed shape defensive labor and raid preparation. These settings are best chosen as a package: increasing build capacity without considering castle limits or decay can change land availability more than expected.

Ports, listing and connection checks

The official definitions are straightforward: Port carries game traffic over UDP, and QueryPort carries Steam server-list queries. Common examples use 9876 for game traffic and 9877 for queries, but those are examples rather than universal requirements; the values in your host file and firewall must match.

• Open or forward the selected UDP game port to the server machine.
• Open or forward the selected UDP query port if you want Steam-list information to work correctly.
• Ensure the launcher, host file and router use the same numbers.
• Use ListOnSteam and ListOnEOS according to where you want the server discoverable.
• Use Address only when binding to a particular interface is necessary; an incorrect bind can make a healthy process unreachable.

RCON is a separate administrative channel. Its options can vary by installed version, so use the host settings shipped with that version rather than copying an old port or syntax from an unrelated guide.

Troubleshooting settings that seem to be ignored

The server starts, but gameplay is unchanged

1. Confirm that the file is named exactly ServerGameSettings.json and is inside the active persistent Settings directory.
2. Check that the JSON is valid and that the key is spelled and capitalized as expected.
3. Look for GameSettingsPreset and GameDifficultyPreset in the host file.
4. Check the launcher for an override or environment setting that supplies a different value.
5. Stop and restart the server, then test with a behavior directly affected by the changed key.

The server is not visible in the list

• Verify that the UDP Port and QueryPort are reachable through the firewall and router.
• Confirm that the corresponding listing flag is enabled for the service you are checking.
• Check whether LanMode is enabled; LAN-only operation will not behave like a public listing.
• Use a direct connection test to separate a listing problem from a server-process or network problem.

An update reverted custom behavior

Move custom files out of StreamingAssets/Settings and into the persistent override path, then make sure the launcher points to that path. Keep your backup and compare the newly installed defaults before reapplying only the keys you still need.

Version awareness and maintenance

V Rising updates can add keys, remove options or change defaults. The 128-player ceiling cited by Stunlock Studios applies to its current 1.1.x instructions, while the clan-size and death-durability figures above are reference defaults that should be checked against the files installed on your server. Treat every copied preset as a starting point: verify the key names, restart behavior and in-game result after an update.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1

V Rising Standard - PC Steam [Online Game Code]

$34.99

SaleBestseller No. 2

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth- Rising Tide - PC

$11.89

Bestseller No. 3

Womens Tempest Rising RTS Game C&C GDF NOD V-Neck T-Shirt

Tempest Rising RTS Game C&C GDF NOD; Tempest Rising Tempest Rising GDF NOD; Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem

$18.99

Bestseller No. 4

Women's Ronove Rising Master of Shadows V-Neck T-Shirt

Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem

$21.99

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.