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For two to four friends who usually play together, player-hosted co-op is the sensible starting point. Choose a dedicated server when people play at different times, the original host cannot stay online, or your group wants a persistent world. Self-hosting gives you control and avoids a separate game-hosting subscription, but you must provide the computer, network access, updates, backups and monitoring. A managed hosted server charges a recurring fee and removes most infrastructure work. The better choice depends on schedule independence, maintenance tolerance, connection quality and total cost—not simply the maximum player count.
What “dedicated server” and “hosted server” mean in Enshrouded
Enshrouded has three practical ways to run a multiplayer world. They are often mixed together when people search for an “Enshrouded hosted server,” so identify the model before comparing prices.
Player-hosted co-op
One player starts the world from the regular game client. Friends can join while that player is in the session, and the world is effectively tied to the host’s play time. This is the fastest option for a small group that normally meets at the same time. It does not provide an always-available world when the host is offline.
Self-hosted dedicated server
The bundled Enshrouded Dedicated Server executable runs on a separate, usually always-on computer. The server process owns the persistent world, so players can connect even when the owner is not playing, provided the machine and network remain available. You control the files, settings, operating system and hardware. You also own every operational task: patching, firewall and router configuration, backups, monitoring, recovery and troubleshooting.
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Managed hosted server
A hosting provider runs the machine and network for you. Administration is normally done through a control panel or equivalent interface, while the provider handles the underlying hardware and datacenter connectivity. You pay a recurring charge and generally do less infrastructure work, but providers differ in location, CPU policy, support, backup retention, file access, cancellation terms and renewal pricing. Keen Games’ FAQ identifies GPORTAL as an in-game rental partner and says players may also rent through other providers.
Keen Games describes the purpose of dedicated servers plainly: they let friends play without requiring the owner to be online all the time. That distinction—availability independent of one player—is the main reason to move beyond ordinary co-op.
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| Situation | Best fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Two to four friends who nearly always play together | Player-hosted co-op | Minimal setup and no separate hosting bill. |
| Friends have different schedules | Managed dedicated server | The world remains reachable without maintaining a home machine. |
| You already own a suitable always-on PC and enjoy administration | Self-hosted dedicated server | Maximum control and no separate game-hosting subscription, in exchange for more work. |
| A larger group or a large, busy base | Dedicated server, self-hosted or managed | The world process is separated from a player client and the slot limit can be controlled. |
| Your ISP uses carrier-grade NAT or blocks inbound port forwarding | Managed hosting | A provider can supply public reachability when your home connection cannot accept incoming connections. |
Use the table as a first filter, then check the practical differences in availability, cost, setup effort, control, latency, backup and support. A 16-slot ceiling does not by itself make a dedicated server worthwhile; a four-person group with incompatible schedules may benefit more than a 12-person group that always meets together.
Availability: can friends play while you are offline?
With player-hosted co-op, no. Friends can join only while the host has started and remains in the session. If that person closes the game, loses the connection or shuts down the computer, the session is no longer available.
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With either kind of dedicated server, yes—assuming the server process is running and reachable. A self-hosted machine must stay powered on, connected and healthy. A managed service keeps the rented instance running according to its plan. This makes dedicated hosting useful for asynchronous groups: one player can build during the afternoon, another can continue the same world in the evening, and nobody has to coordinate around one host’s login.
Persistence has two parts. Keen Games’ 2025 guidance says character progression remains on clients, while world progression is stored on the dedicated server. Server backups therefore protect the shared world, but each player should also protect the local files that contain their character progression.
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Capacity and hardware requirements
Enshrouded supports up to 16 players in online co-op; solo and offline play are also supported. The following figures come from Keen Games’ published dedicated-server guidance and should be treated as planning targets rather than a guarantee for every mod, build or background workload.
| Item | Published guidance | How to apply it |
|---|---|---|
| Memory at idle | About 4.4 GB | Reserve this before counting the operating system and other services. |
| Additional memory per player | Up to 100 MB per player | Sixteen active players could add up to roughly 1.6 GB under that estimate. |
| Total server memory | Should not exceed 6 GB | Do not size a machine with only 6 GB total; the OS and headroom still need space. |
| Disk space | 30 GB free recommended; uncompressed server files about 13 GB | Use an SSD and leave room for updates, saves, logs and backups. |
| Save files | Typically 1–100 MB | Storage needs are modest, but retain multiple recovery points. |
| Save interval | Every 5 minutes | A crash can still lose recent progress; scheduled external backups remain worthwhile. |
| Default query port | 15637 over IPv4 | Allow this port and the required Steam ports through the host firewall and router. |
Recommendation for four to six active players
Keen Games’ 2024 self-host recommendation is a processor with six cores and 12 threads at about 3.2 GHz, 16 GB of RAM, an SSD with 30 GB free and 2 Mbit/s upload capacity per active player. At six active players, that upload guidance equals 12 Mbit/s of available upstream bandwidth before allowing for other household traffic.
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Recommendation for a full 16-player server
For 16 players, Keen Games lists eight cores and 16 threads at about 3.7 GHz, 16 GB of RAM, an SSD with 30 GB free and the same 2 Mbit/s upload per active player. Sixteen players therefore imply 32 Mbit/s of upload capacity under the published rule. Treat that as capacity to reserve, not as the advertised speed of your internet plan; overhead, congestion and other devices reduce what the game can actually use.
What these numbers do not guarantee
They do not guarantee a particular ping, tick rate or loading time. CPU contention from other applications, thermal throttling, Wi-Fi instability, packet loss and the physical distance between players and the server can all matter. An SSD improves storage responsiveness, but it cannot compensate for an overloaded processor or poor routing.
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Self-hosting: setup and responsibilities
1. Install the official server tool
- Open Steam and switch the Library filter to Tools.
- Install Enshrouded Dedicated Server, the bundled server application.
- Choose a machine that can remain on whenever friends may need access. A separate PC, a spare workstation or a suitable virtual machine can work if it meets the published CPU, memory, SSD and upload guidance.
2. Prepare storage and the operating system
Keep at least 30 GB free on an SSD. The approximately 13 GB of uncompressed files is not the whole requirement: updates, logs, temporary files and backup copies need additional space. Apply operating-system security updates, but schedule reboots so they do not interrupt a group session unexpectedly.
3. Configure network access
- Give the server computer a stable address on your home network, such as a DHCP reservation.
- Allow the default IPv4 query port, 15637, in the computer’s firewall.
- Forward that port on the router and allow the required Steam ports used by the dedicated-server setup.
- Test from outside your home network rather than relying only on a local connection.
The exact forwarding interface differs by router. If your ISP places you behind carrier-grade NAT, you may not receive a public IPv4 address and port forwarding may be impossible. In that case, managed hosting is usually simpler than attempting workarounds.
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4. Set access controls
Protect the world with a strong password, set the slot limit to the size of your actual group and decide who can administer the server. Fewer open slots reduce accidental joins and make moderation easier. Store administrative credentials separately from the player password.
5. Back up before changes
Copy the world files to another disk or machine before major game updates, configuration edits and hardware changes. Keep several dated generations rather than overwriting one backup. Because saves are commonly 1–100 MB and created every five minutes, rotating copies is practical even on modest storage. Test restoring a copy while the server is stopped; an untested backup is only a hope.
6. Assign ownership of maintenance
- Decide who applies game and operating-system updates.
- Record the server location, password policy, port settings and backup path.
- Monitor free disk space, memory use and whether the process is running.
- Agree on a restart window and tell players before taking the world offline.
Self-hosting has no separate game-hosting subscription, but it is not free in an absolute sense. Electricity, hardware depreciation, a static or reachable connection and the time spent maintaining the service are part of the total cost.
Managed hosting: what you pay for
A managed provider replaces your infrastructure work with a recurring bill. You select a region and slot count, deploy an instance, configure the world through a panel and contact support when the service has a problem. This is attractive when nobody wants to leave a home computer running or when the group needs access despite a restrictive ISP.
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- Current and renewal price: a low introductory rate may become more expensive at renewal. Check the recurring amount, billing interval and taxes for your region.
- Datacenter region: choose a location close to most players. A distant server can add latency even when the host’s hardware is adequate.
- Slot limits and scaling: confirm whether the advertised slots are guaranteed and whether changing the limit requires a plan change or restart.
- CPU policy: ask whether CPU is dedicated, shared or subject to a performance cap. A nominal core count is not enough to compare plans.
- Backups: verify schedule, retention, storage location and whether you can download a backup yourself.
- File access: confirm that you can export world files and edit the configuration you actually need.
- Updates and configuration support: check how game updates are staged and whether custom settings or future mod support are allowed.
- Network and DDoS policy: understand what protection is included and what traffic limits or exclusions apply.
- Support response: read the stated response target and support hours, not just the existence of a ticket form.
- Migration and cancellation: ensure you can download the world and learn the refund window and cancellation procedure before paying.
Available managed-host options change over time and differ materially by region and plan. Treat provider lists as starting points, not endorsements, and verify all current terms directly before purchase.
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| Factor | Player-hosted co-op | Self-hosted dedicated | Managed hosted dedicated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recurring hosting fee | None | No separate game-hosting fee | Monthly or other recurring charge |
| Hardware responsibility | Host’s gaming PC | You supply and maintain the server machine | Provider supplies the infrastructure |
| Availability when owner is offline | No | Yes, while your server is running | Yes, subject to provider uptime |
| Setup effort | Lowest | Highest: software, ports, firewall and backups | Usually a panel-based deployment |
| File and configuration control | Limited to the game session | Full control | Depends on provider access |
| Network reachability | Depends on the host session | Requires a reachable home connection | Provider datacenter connection |
| Backup and recovery | Host-managed | You design and test it | Depends on stated retention and export tools |
| Technical support | Self-help and community | You are the support desk | Provider support, quality varies |
Self-hosting can be cheaper when you already own an idle machine and reliable internet, but buying hardware solely for one world may take a long time to offset a managed fee. Managed hosting buys convenience and public reachability, not guaranteed performance; read the CPU, backup and support terms.
Latency, reliability and recovery
Latency
Players generally get the best experience when the server is geographically close and connected by a stable, low-loss route. A self-hosted server may be excellent for local friends but less consistent for players connecting through different ISPs. A managed provider offers multiple regions, but the cheapest plan may place the world far from your group.
Reliability
A home server depends on household power, router uptime, ISP maintenance and the host computer’s thermals. A managed service removes those home failure points but introduces provider maintenance and account or datacenter outages. Ask how scheduled maintenance is announced and whether the provider offers status information.
Recovery
The five-minute save cadence limits, but does not eliminate, lost progress after a crash. For self-hosting, stop the process before copying files and keep an off-machine backup. For managed hosting, verify that backups can be restored and downloaded; a control panel that creates backups but does not let you retrieve them limits your options if you leave the provider.
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Friends cannot connect to a self-hosted world
- Confirm the server process is running and listening on the expected port.
- Check the host firewall and router forwarding rule for IPv4 port 15637 and the required Steam ports.
- Test using the public address from a different network.
- Ask the ISP whether the connection uses carrier-grade NAT. If it does, request a public IPv4 option or move the world to managed hosting.
The server runs out of memory or becomes unstable
- Compare actual usage with Keen Games’ approximately 4.4 GB idle figure and up-to-100-MB-per-player estimate.
- Leave room for the operating system and other services; do not treat the 6 GB server-use ceiling as a 6 GB machine requirement.
- Reduce unrelated workloads, verify 16 GB system memory for the published group recommendations and restart during a planned maintenance window.
Players report lag or disconnects
- Measure upload headroom against the guidance of 2 Mbit/s per active player.
- Stop large uploads, cloud synchronization and streaming on the same connection.
- Compare player locations with the server region and check for packet loss, not only raw download speed.
An update breaks the world
Stop the server, preserve the current world and configuration files, then apply the update. If the result is unusable, restore the last known-good backup rather than repeatedly editing the only copy. Managed hosts may provide one-click rollback, but confirm that feature before relying on it.
Decision guide
Choose player-hosted co-op when
- Your group is small and normally plays together.
- No one needs access while the host is away.
- You want to start immediately without networking or maintenance work.
Choose self-hosting when
- You own a suitable always-on PC with an SSD and adequate upload capacity.
- Your ISP provides a reachable public IPv4 connection.
- You want direct file access, custom administration and control over backups.
- Someone accepts responsibility for updates, security, monitoring and recovery.
Choose managed hosting when
- Schedule independence is the main requirement.
- Your home network cannot accept incoming connections.
- You prefer a predictable recurring bill to maintaining infrastructure.
- You need a datacenter region, support channel or backup workflow that you cannot provide yourself.
There is no universal winner. Start with player-hosted co-op if your group’s schedule makes it practical. Move to self-hosting when you have the hardware and want control; rent a managed server when persistent access matters more than eliminating a monthly charge.
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