Hosting a Palworld dedicated server on shared hosting or low-end servers will result in rubber-banding, crashes in the middle of raids, and most importantly, angry players who won’t come back to your server. By hosting Palworld dedicated server you will get to customize the server to fit the needs of your game.
But that’s only possible if the underlying infrastructure is of sufficient size to handle the load of the Palworld process. This meets the minimum requirements when it's single-threaded for the majority of the game's logic (so the clock speed, not the number of cores, is what you need to prioritize in your server settings) and the latency to your players. A server on the wrong continent cannot support low-latency play, adding 30-100ms that in practice translates to 300-1000ms (or 3-10 seconds) in-game.
This guide will go through all aspects of making an informed choice about your server’s infrastructure. The hardware your server runs on, the network it’s connected to, where to host your server and last but not least the choice between self-managed bare metal servers and managed hosting.
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Whether you’re running a private server for a small group of friends or a high population public server, the correct setup will keep your world persistent, your ticks on time and your players online.
What Is Palworld 1.0 Server Hosting for Dedicated Servers?
A dedicated server runs your Palworld world in a dedicated server on remote server s, independent from your PC. Unlike peer-to-peer session-op-op where a session will end when the host logs off, a hosted server will keep your world up 24/7/365.
What Palworld Server Hosting Actually Does
Our palworld server hosting option will keep your game running on high end data center hardware 24/7. Your users connect to the processing power of our fast servers instead of individual user computers. In this setup your bases will remain intact, your Pals will continue to roam free and timers will keep running even when no one is online.
One player can capture Pals and complete dungeons at midnight on a dedicated host, while another can continue where they left off the next day at noon without any prior coordination. Progress is never lost because the server maintains state continuously, preserving all player achievements and base development.
The server tracks each player's captured pals, their levels, and assigned work tasks, ensuring that breeding programs and base automation continue uninterrupted across sessions. This persistent environment allows friends to log in and play whenever their schedules permit, removing the coordination overhead typical of peer-to-peer sessions.
How Much RAM Does a Palworld Dedicated Server Need?
Please check the official system requirements before you start provisioning. The recommended amount of RAM for a small group of players is 16 GB. For larger populations of twelve players or more, it is recommended to have 32 GB of RAM or more to support smooth performance and avoid stuttering on base raids.
Adequate disk space is also essential, with at least 50 GB of available storage recommended to accommodate save files, logs, and future updates. Verify that your operating system meets the minimum version requirements, as older distributions may lack necessary libraries for the server binary. Plan to upgrade your server specifications as your community grows, since player count directly impacts memory consumption and processing demands.
Is DDoS Protection Included With Palworld Game Server Hosting?
This can vary from provider to provider. We include always-on L3/L4 DDoS protection as standard with all deployments, with no additional cost for this and other additional services as required. Our core protection provides excellent cover against volumetric attacks that are becoming common place on game server hosts. Our team provides excellent service with rapid response times to ensure your server remains operational during critical gameplay moments.
If you want to host a competitive or public community for Palworld, we can enable advanced L7 protection via our network team. Whether you choose to host through a managed provider or self-host on bare metal, L7 filtering ensures application-layer attacks won't disrupt your community during peak hours.
Dedicated Server vs. Local Co-op: Why It Matters to Capture Pals
Palworld relies on uptime and a stable connection to support its survival loop. local multiplayer-op in Palworld is locked to the hardware of the player who started it, meaning it’s a single point of failure that brings an end to the progress of all players.
Local Co-op vs. Dedicated Server Hosting
When the host of a world shuts down his gaming PC, the world in question quickly disappears. All of the friends stop breeding, the bases stop producing and every other player in the world is disconnected from the world in question. A dedicated server will run a persistent world 24/7 without the need for any connection.
| Factor | Local Co-op | Dedicated Server |
|---|---|---|
| Uptime | Host-dependent | 99.9% SLA, always on |
| Player count | Up to 4 | Up to 32 |
| Lag source | Host CPU and home upload | Unmetered 10 Gbps uplink |
| Player limits | Hard cap at 4 | Configurable up to 32 |
Can You Run a Palworld Server on Linux?
Palworld 1.0 comes with a native Linux server version. It runs on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and does not require a license for Windows. It requires a minimum of 4 cores, 16 GB of RAM and a high reliability, low-latency network connection. The Linux build eliminates the need for windows licensing costs while delivering equivalent performance for dedicated server deployments. The Linux build eliminates licensing costs, making it a cost-effective choice for communities seeking a free alternative to Windows-based deployments.
The Netrouting Advantage: High Reliability With Its Control Panel
Netrouting bare-metal servers come with fixed CPU-cores and unmetered 10 Gbps connectivity. No sharing, no noisy neighbors. We have a set of servers in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Miami and 10 other locations, all within sub-20 ms latency from your game players. Make sure to pick the right hardware for your game before you start provisioning.
How to Play Palworld on a Dedicated Server Step-by-Step
Running your own Palworld server will grant you full control over the realm of your Pal and you can go through 4 main steps in setting this up: download, configure, open ports, launch. Setting up your own palworld server requires careful attention to both technical configuration and ongoing maintenance to ensure stable gameplay. Port forwarding on your router is essential to allow external connections to reach your server instance.
You can customize server parameters including difficulty settings, experience rates, and resource gathering multipliers to match your community's preferred playstyle. Many hosting providers offer a free trial period to test server performance before committing to a long-term plan. Before you begin, verify that you have administrative access to your router and that your firewall rules permit the server binary to install without interference from antivirus software.
Downloading the Dedicated Server Files for Your Game
On Windows you can download the Palworld physical server from your Steam library by searching for it. On Linux you can download it with SteamCMD, which has support for specifying the app ID 2394010. Dedicated servers hosted by the community can not be connected with by the Palworld version from the Microsoft Store.
Once you have the dedicated server files installed via Steam or SteamCMD, you can proceed to configure your instance before launching it for the first time. The server files require approximately 8 GB of disk space to install and extract fully before configuration begins.
Configuring Server Management Settings for Instant Setup
Copy PalWorldSettings.ini from the DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini template. Key server settings to edit: server name, password, player limit, and xp rates. Keep RESTAPIEnabled=true off unless you need remote admin. You can also adjust difficulty settings and PvP rules through the configuration file or by using an in-game admin command once the server is live. Admin commands give you direct control over player permissions, spawn rates, and server behavior without restarting the instance.
Each configuration change takes effect immediately upon server restart, allowing the administrator to tailor gameplay parameters to match their community's preferences without requiring technical expertise from every individual user. Server administrators can customize spawn rates, resource multipliers, and day-night cycle length to create unique gameplay experiences tailored to their community. These customization options let server owners shape the game experience to match their vision, whether that means a hardcore survival challenge or a relaxed creative environment.
The default port for the UDP stream is UDP 8211. Forward this port, as well as the TCP port 27015 (used by Steam for queries) in your router.
Do I Need to Keep My PC On to Host Palworld Server?
Server process is running 24/7. To have an instant setup without having a server running 24/7 on your own machine a dedicated bare-metal server is the way to go. Netrouting can setup bare metal servers within 60 minutes. Once you have decided to go the bare metal route, the next decision is whether to host it yourself or rent it as a bare-metal server.
Why Choose Netrouting for Palworld Server Hosting
Serious Palworld server hosting demands hardware that keeps up with your player count. Our dedicated servers give your game instance the resources it needs, no shared infrastructure, no lag, no surprises.
- Instant setup, bare metal performance. Palworld self-hosted host files are running on provisioned hardware in under 60 minutes. Your friends connect to a persistent server environment backed by real CPU and RAM, not a shared personal gaming rig.
- Unmetered 10 Gbps bandwidth. Every dedicated hardware ships with unmetered 10 Gbps. High player counts and active pals generate real traffic. We don't throttle it.
- Always-on DDoS protection at no extra cost. L3/L4 mitigation is included on every service. Your Palworld private server stays online when attacks hit.
- Global server locations. Deploy close to your community, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Miami, Singapore, Hong Kong, and more. Low latency means players stay connected and capture pals without interruption.
- 24/7 support team, 1-hour ticket guarantee. Our NOC monitors infrastructure around the clock. If something affects your server, our support team responds fast.
ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certified. Built for teams who take their Palworld hosting experience seriously. Explore our gaming hosting or contact sales to configure your dedicated Palworld server.
Running a Palworld dedicated server on bare metal hardware makes a measurable difference. You get consistent uptime, predictable performance under load, and full control over configuration, the kind of support that choosing to host on a local machine simply cannot reliably deliver. The hardware specifications are modest, but the hosting environment you choose determines whether those specs translate into a smooth experience for every player on the server.
Hardware matters too. A server with enough CPU headroom and RAM can host Pal AI, base automation, and concurrent players without the frame drops and desync that plague underpowered setups.
Netrouting's dedicated servers deploy in under 60 minutes, come with unmetered 10 Gbps connectivity, and include always-on DDoS protection on every plan, a practical fit for hosting a set of worlds full of mysterious creatures. Browse available configurations and get your server online today.
