To deploy a game server on a VPS, choose a game with official dedicated-server instructions, confirm its current operating-system and resource requirements, then install and configure its server software, open only the required network ports, and set up backups and maintenance. A VPS provides a remote machine that can stay online; you remain responsible for administering it unless you choose a managed game-server service.
Choose between a self-managed VPS and managed game hosting
A self-managed VPS gives you a general-purpose remote server. You install and operate the game server yourself; a managed game-hosting service may take on some of that work, depending on its plan. Confirm the exact division of responsibilities before choosing: the label “managed” does not establish which tasks or games are included.
| Responsibility | Self-managed VPS | Managed game hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Operating-system administration | You maintain the OS, accounts, access, and security updates. | Ask the provider which host administration it handles; terms vary. |
| Game installation and configuration | You install the server software and configure it using the game’s instructions. | Ask whether the title is supported and whether installation and configuration are included. |
| Firewall and connectivity | You check both provider-level network controls and the host firewall. | Ask who configures network access and what controls you retain. |
| Game updates and backups | You plan game updates, protect saves, and arrange recovery. | Ask whether updates and backups are included, how often backups run, and how restoration works. |
| Support and compatibility | You troubleshoot the VPS and verify that the game supports your OS and architecture. | Ask what support is available and which games, versions, and server features are compatible. |
Compare the actual service terms, not just the server label. The available official guidance does not establish provider prices or service levels, so those need to be checked with each provider.
Check the game’s requirements before choosing a VPS
Start with the game developer’s current dedicated-server documentation. Requirements are title-specific, and can differ by operating system, server mode, and version. Verify these details before selecting a VPS plan or changing firewall rules:
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- Supported operating systems and processor architecture.
- Required libraries, runtime dependencies, and installation method.
- Player limit and the expected workload for your group.
- Required ports and protocols, including whether the game uses a relay or direct connections.
- Server configuration options, save-file location, and update procedure.
Do not infer CPU, memory, storage, or bandwidth needs from another game’s requirements or player count. Choose a plan only after checking the title’s current guidance and considering how your own workload may differ.
Prepare secure access to the VPS
Provision an image supported by the game, then confirm you can administer the machine remotely before installing the server. For Ubuntu, Canonical recommends SSH for remote access, routine work from a non-root account, current security updates, and a firewall. Ubuntu’s default firewall tool is UFW. See Canonical’s server security overview, firewall guide, and automatic updates guide.
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- Retain secure administrative access. Set up SSH access according to your provider’s instructions and make sure you can reconnect before changing network rules.
- Use least privilege. Create or use a non-root account for routine administration. Use elevated privileges only when needed for system-level changes.
- Apply host security updates. Update the operating system before exposing the game server to players.
- Review both firewall layers. Identify the VPS provider’s network firewall or security-group controls as well as the firewall running inside the operating system. They are separate controls.
Install and configure the game server
Follow the game developer’s current instructions for downloading, installing, and launching the dedicated server. Do not assume commands, dependencies, paths, or launch options from one title apply to another. Keep track of the exact install location and any changes you make so you can maintain or restore the server later.
Valheim example: Steam installation and Linux dependencies
Iron Gate’s Valheim dedicated-server guide, dated April 11, 2024, covers the Steam version. It says to install the dedicated-server tool from the Steam Library’s Tools section. The guide documents start_server.sh for Linux and start_headless_server.bat for Windows. For Linux, it lists libatomic1, libpulse-dev, and libpulse0 as prerequisites. These are Valheim-specific details, not general VPS instructions.
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Iron Gate advises copying the supplied startup script and configuring the copy, because a Steam update can reset the original. Follow the guide’s current directions for the script and the server version you install.
Set the game’s server options
Configure the name, world or map, access controls, port, and persistent save location using the options documented for your game. For Valheim, Iron Gate documents the launch arguments -name, -port, -world, -password, and optional -savedir. Its stated default Linux save directory is ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim. Check the current game guide rather than assuming these names or paths apply to other titles.
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Allow only the game’s documented network traffic
Use the game’s official networking instructions to identify the required ports and protocols. Add only those rules in both the provider’s network firewall and the VPS’s host firewall. Leave unrelated services closed, and preserve the access you need for administration.
Valheim port behavior is backend-specific
For Valheim’s Steam backend, Iron Gate says the server uses its selected port and the next port; the default pair is 2456–2457. With Valheim’s Crossplay backend, traffic is relayed, so router port forwarding is not required. These details apply to Valheim, not to game servers generally. On a VPS, check the provider firewall and the host firewall even when no router forwarding is needed.
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Run the server persistently and verify access
Use the game’s documented launch method or an appropriate service manager so the server can continue running beyond an interactive login session. Configure startup behavior carefully: automatic restarts can help after a failure, but should not replace checking why a process stopped.
- Check the server’s startup output or logs for errors, missing dependencies, and confirmation that it has started.
- Connect from a real game client using the address and connection method the game specifies.
- If a connection fails, check the server process and logs, the configured port and protocol, both firewall layers, and whether the selected backend expects direct or relayed traffic.
Back up saves and plan maintenance
Identify the save and configuration locations before making changes. Keep backups somewhere other than the VPS’s only copy where feasible, and document how to restore them. Iron Gate’s Valheim guide documents a default Linux save path and a -savedir override; it does not prescribe a backup schedule, so choose a cadence appropriate to how often the world changes and how much progress players can afford to lose.
Game updates and operating-system security updates are separate maintenance streams. Ubuntu says unattended security updates are enabled by default and run daily; its automatic reboot option is configurable and defaults to off. Plan restarts around player use rather than assuming that updates will restart the machine safely. Before a game update or other risky change, protect the world data and know how you would restore it.
What Valheim’s player cap does—and does not—tell you
Iron Gate’s official material caps a Valheim dedicated server at ten players. That is a game-specific limit, not a general sizing rule for VPS game servers. The reviewed Valheim guide does not state a recommended CPU, RAM, disk, or bandwidth baseline, so the player cap alone cannot establish a suitable VPS plan.
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