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Desolate Planet is a Java Edition 1.20.1 Forge modpack. Install the client through CurseForge or Modrinth with 6–8 GB of allocated memory, then use the matching “Desolate Planet Server Pack Curseforge.zip” from the current CurseForge release for a persistent server. The latest listed release is Desolate Planet 1.8.6.0, dated June 17, 2026. For a temporary multiplayer session, the included e4mc mod can publish a LAN join address; for a world that remains available when the owner is offline, run the dedicated server pack or use managed hosting.
What Desolate Planet is—and what you need
Desolate Planet – A Crash Landing Remake is a hardcore, quest-based survival pack inspired by Crash Landing. Its setting is Planet T4L0S in the Varkin system, where a crash leaves players in an arid environment with elevated radiation, high mineral content and subterranean hydrocarbons. Progress depends on managing heat, thirst and food while gathering scarce resources, advancing through technology and eventually finding a way to escape.
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The project describes itself as “A hardcore survival modpack inspired by Crash Landing by Iskandar.” This is not a Bedrock pack: the supported platform is Minecraft Java Edition 1.20.1 with Forge, and the project is marked as playable on both client and server.
- Current listed release: Desolate Planet 1.8.6.0.
- Release date: June 17, 2026.
- Client memory guidance: allocate 6–8 GB in the launcher or modpack app.
- Multiplayer components: e4mc for temporary LAN play and a separate server pack for a dedicated server.
- Hardcore design: deaths and survival debuffs are intentional parts of the balance; Sync shells are the recommended in-game way to obtain extra lives.
Before downloading anything, confirm that every player owns Java Edition, can run Forge 1.20.1, and has enough free memory for the launcher allocation plus the operating system and other applications. A computer with 8 GB of total physical RAM may not be able to give the game a full 8 GB safely; close memory-heavy applications and leave room for the operating system.
Install the client through CurseForge or Modrinth
The simplest installation is through a supported modpack app. Do not assemble individual mods by hand: the pack’s configuration, quests and dependency versions need to stay together.
- Install the CurseForge app or Modrinth app for Minecraft Java Edition.
- Open the Minecraft section and search for the exact project name, Desolate Planet.
- Check that the listing targets Minecraft 1.20.1 and Forge, rather than a similarly named pack or a different loader.
- Select Install and let the app download the pack and its dependencies.
- Open the app’s Minecraft or modpack settings and set the allocated memory to at least 6 GB. Use 8 GB when the computer has enough physical RAM, matching the project FAQ’s recommendation.
- Launch the installed profile once before inviting anyone. This confirms that the pack can create a local instance and gives the launcher a chance to finish downloading files.
If loading stalls, check the memory allocation first. The project FAQ specifically advises verifying that at least 6 GB is assigned before changing mods or deleting files. Keep the profile on the same release as the people who will join; a client on 1.8.5.x, for example, should not be mixed with a 1.8.6.0 server unless the project explicitly says those versions are compatible.
How much RAM does Desolate Planet need?
The project’s official guidance applies to the client: allocate 6–8 GB. That is a launcher allocation, not a statement that the entire computer only needs that much physical memory. Java, the operating system, the launcher and background applications require additional memory.
| Use case | Memory figure | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Client | 6 GB minimum guidance | The project FAQ says to allocate at least 6 GB in the modpack or launcher settings. |
| Client | 8 GB preferred when available | The same FAQ says 8 GB is its usual recommendation if the computer has enough memory. |
| Small hosted server | 6 GB | One commercial hosting page recommends this for a small group; it is a provider estimate, not an official project requirement. |
| Five to ten players | 8 GB | The same provider suggests 8 GB for this group size. Actual needs vary with activity, world growth and host configuration. |
Server memory cannot be selected reliably from player count alone. Chunk generation, exploration, automation and the host’s CPU affect performance. Treat the 6 GB and 8 GB server figures above as starting points from one provider, then watch for lag and adjust within the host’s available plans. The project itself publishes the 6–8 GB client guidance, not a universal dedicated-server specification.
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Choose the right multiplayer method
Desolate Planet supports three practical arrangements. The best choice depends on whether the owner must remain online, how much control you need and who will maintain backups.
| Method | Persistence while owner is offline | Setup effort | Control and maintenance | Memory/CPU headroom | Backups and cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| e4mc temporary LAN | No. The host’s single-player world must be running. | Lowest: open the world to LAN and share the address printed in chat. | Uses the client world and launcher profile; few server files to manage. | Limited by the host computer running both the game and the shared world. | The host owns the world save and backups; no recurring hosting fee. |
| Self-hosted dedicated server | Yes, while the server process and machine are running. | Moderate: download, extract and run the server pack, then manage access and updates. | Full control of files, configuration, Forge setup and upgrade timing. | Can reserve memory and CPU separately from a player’s client, subject to the machine. | You are responsible for backups, security, uptime and hardware or bandwidth costs. |
| Managed hosting | Usually yes, according to the provider’s service and uptime. | Lower administration after the provider’s pack profile is selected. | Panel-based controls; the provider controls some Java, Forge and infrastructure details. | Choose a plan with enough RAM and CPU; limits and prices differ by provider. | Recurring charge; confirm backup policy, location, upgrade process and cancellation terms. |
Use e4mc when a few friends are joining a short session and everyone can play at the same time. Use a dedicated server when the world should persist independently of a player’s local game. Managed hosting trades some low-level control for a simpler always-on setup; verify the provider’s Desolate Planet profile rather than assuming a generic Forge plan is configured correctly.
Set up a dedicated Desolate Planet server
Download the matching server pack
- Open the current Desolate Planet project page on CurseForge.
- Open the release files and select the latest release, currently Desolate Planet 1.8.6.0, dated June 17, 2026.
- Open Additional Files.
- Download the file named Desolate Planet Server Pack Curseforge.zip that is dated June 17, 2026.
- Store the ZIP in a dedicated folder for this server. Do not overwrite an existing world until you have a backup.
The server pack is not the same thing as an ordinary client installation. Uploading a client profile can leave out server files or include client-only components. The Additional Files server pack is the project’s documented route for a dedicated instance.
Run it on Windows
- Extract the server-pack ZIP into the folder you chose.
- Open the extracted folder and locate
run.bat. - Start the server with
run.bat. Keep the server folder intact so the script can find the Forge and configuration files it expects. - After the first start has created the server’s files, stop it cleanly before editing configuration or replacing files. Use the server console’s normal stop action rather than closing the window abruptly.
If Windows blocks the script, check the Java installation and the Windows security prompt before changing files. The pack targets Java Edition 1.20.1 with Forge; a different Java or Forge environment can prevent startup even when the ZIP extracted correctly.
Run it on Linux or macOS
- Extract the server-pack ZIP on the machine that will host the world.
- Open a terminal in the extracted server directory.
- Run the supplied
run.shscript. On systems that require it, grant the script execute permission using the operating system’s normal file-permission tools. - Leave the server process running while players connect, and stop it cleanly before maintenance or updates.
The project supplies the script for Linux and Mac rather than asking administrators to construct a Forge command manually. Keep the server’s Java and Forge versions aligned with the pack release and with every client.
Use a hosting provider
- Choose a host that explicitly supports Minecraft Java Edition, Forge 1.20.1 and custom modpacks.
- Upload the extracted contents of the Desolate Planet server pack, or select the host’s verified Desolate Planet profile if one is offered.
- Set the server’s Java version to Java 17 where the host exposes a Java-version selector; one commercial hosting guide for this pack specifies Java 17.
- Allocate at least the project’s 6 GB client-level guidance as a starting point for a small server, then use the host’s sizing advice. That provider recommends 6 GB for a small group and 8 GB for five to ten players.
- Start the server and confirm that its pack version is 1.8.6.0 before sharing the address.
- Configure scheduled backups, access controls and automatic-update behavior before inviting players. Never assume that a hosting plan’s generic backup or update setting protects a modded world.
One provider documents a seven-day trial at 8 GB and paid tiers, but trials, prices and availability can change. Treat those details as that provider’s offer rather than as a Desolate Planet requirement; verify the current terms directly before paying or moving a world.
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The pack includes e4mc, so a separate dedicated server is not necessary for a short session. The official FAQ’s procedure is:
- Launch the Desolate Planet client and load the single-player world.
- Open the in-game pause menu and choose Open to LAN.
- Confirm the LAN-world settings and start sharing.
- Read the e4mc join address printed in chat and send it to the friends who should connect.
- Have those players install the same Minecraft, Forge and Desolate Planet release before they enter the address.
The address is for that running session. If the host closes the world or the game, the temporary route ends. A dedicated server is the appropriate replacement when players need to enter at different times or the owner’s computer should not carry the game and server workload simultaneously.
Keep clients and server versions identical
Every participant should use Minecraft Java 1.20.1, Forge and the same Desolate Planet release as the server. For the current release, that means 1.8.6.0 on the clients and the server pack dated June 17, 2026.
- Do not update only the server or only one player’s profile.
- Do not copy a client folder over the dedicated server pack.
- When updating, stop the server, back up the world, replace the pack according to the project’s release files and test with one client before inviting the group.
- If a player receives a missing-mod, registry or incompatible-version error, compare the exact pack, Minecraft and Forge versions before changing configuration.
A release mismatch is a more likely cause of connection failure than a missing gameplay tweak, particularly immediately after an update.
Hardcore mode, deaths and survival debuffs
Hardcore is part of Desolate Planet’s intended balance, not an optional theme layered on top of an ordinary survival pack. The project FAQ recommends learning to use Sync shells for extra lives. That approach preserves the pack’s progression and risk model better than immediately removing the rule that makes deaths consequential.
If you want to disable hardcore
Disabling hardcore is a configuration change and should be treated as a world-affecting operation.
- Stop the client world or dedicated server.
- Make a complete backup of the target world and the configuration files.
- Locate
config/globalgamerules-common.toml. - Edit the relevant hardcore game-rule setting according to whether you are changing a client world or a server. The project FAQ notes that server changes differ from client changes.
- Save the file, restart the game or server and test with a copy of the world first.
Do not edit a live file while the server is running, and do not skip the backup. If the setting does not take effect, verify that you changed the configuration used by the instance you actually launched; a separate client profile and dedicated server have separate folders.
Weakness, mining fatigue or hunger
The official FAQ attributes weakness, mining fatigue and hunger debuffs to malnourishment. Check food and nutrition status before treating these effects as a broken installation. If the debuffs continue after correcting nutrition, compare the instance with an unmodified backup and check the pack’s quest or configuration state rather than deleting random mods.
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The pack will not load or stalls during startup
- Confirm Java Edition 1.20.1 and Forge, not Bedrock Edition or another Minecraft version.
- Confirm that the launcher allocates at least 6 GB; try 8 GB if the computer has sufficient physical memory.
- Close other memory-intensive applications and retry.
- Verify that the profile is the exact Desolate Planet release you intended to run.
- Only after memory and version checks should you consider repairing or reinstalling the profile.
The dedicated server closes immediately
- Make sure you extracted the server-pack ZIP instead of uploading or running a client folder.
- Run the supplied
run.baton Windows orrun.shon Linux/macOS from the extracted directory. - Check that the machine or host uses the Java and Forge versions required by the 1.20.1 pack; a hosting guide for this pack specifies Java 17.
- Review the console’s first error before changing configuration, and restore the last known-good backup if an update caused the failure.
Friends cannot connect
- For e4mc, confirm the host opened the world to LAN and sent the current address printed in chat.
- For a dedicated server, confirm that the server process is running and that the client uses the same Minecraft, Forge and pack release.
- Do not use a temporary e4mc address as though it were a permanent server address; it applies to the active shared session.
- If only one player fails, compare that player’s installed profile with a working client before changing the server.
The world becomes laggy as more people play
- Check available server RAM and CPU rather than increasing client memory blindly.
- Use the provider’s group-size estimate only as a starting point: one hosting guide suggests 6 GB for a small group and 8 GB for five to ten players.
- Reduce simultaneous exploration and heavy automation while diagnosing, and watch whether lag occurs during new-area generation or all the time.
- Back up before changing server settings or moving to a larger plan.
An update or hardcore change caused problems
- Stop the instance and restore the world and configuration backup.
- Confirm that the replacement pack includes the matching server pack and that every client is on the same release.
- Reapply one configuration change at a time, starting with a test copy rather than the only live world.
A safe operating routine for a long-running world
- Record the exact Desolate Planet, Minecraft and Forge versions in a shared note for the group.
- Back up the world before every pack update, configuration edit or major migration.
- Test updates with one client and a copy of the world before opening the server to everyone.
- Keep the server pack separate from client profiles so files are not accidentally mixed.
- For hosted servers, verify Java, Forge, allocated memory and backup behavior after any plan or panel change.
- Tell players whether the world is temporary e4mc, self-hosted dedicated or managed, so they know when it will be available and who controls restores.
Bottom line
Install Desolate Planet 1.8.6.0 on Minecraft Java 1.20.1 with Forge through CurseForge or Modrinth and allocate 6–8 GB to the client. Use e4mc and Open to LAN for a quick shared session, or download the release’s dated server pack from Additional Files and run run.bat or run.sh for a persistent world. Keep every client on the same release, back up before configuration changes, and treat hardcore and Sync shells as core parts of the pack rather than defects to remove.
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