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To let PC and Xbox players join the same Space Engineers world, run the game’s Windows dedicated server, enable both Console Compatibility and EOS networking, expose the server’s UDP listen port, and use mods published through Mod.io. Console players cannot host the dedicated server themselves; the server must run on a Windows PC or rented Windows game-server host.
Once configured, PC players find the server through the EOS browser rather than the Steam-only list, while Xbox players use the EOS/crossplay list. A server that has only one of the two crossplay settings enabled, uses an unreachable port, or relies on Steam Workshop-only mods will usually be invisible or impossible for console players to join.
What crossplay requires
Space Engineers crossplay is built around Keen Software House’s EOS networking layer. The server must advertise through EOS and declare that it accepts console-compatible connections. Keen’s crossplay guidance states that dedicated servers can enable “EOS networking and Console compatibility.” Both switches are required for a PC-hosted server to appear to Xbox users.
- Windows dedicated server: self-hosted on a Windows PC or rented from a game-server provider.
- Console Compatibility: allows console clients to connect.
- Network Type: EOS: places the server on the EOS discovery path used by crossplay.
- Reachable UDP listen port: the server’s port must be allowed through Windows Firewall and forwarded by the router when the machine is behind NAT.
- Compatible content: mixed PC/console worlds should use mods available through Mod.io, not Steam Workshop-only items.
The dedicated server does not require a graphics card and can run headless. It is separate from starting a normal single-player or console session, and a console cannot launch the dedicated server directly.
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Choose self-hosting or a rental server
Both models can run an EOS crossplay world. The important question is who will provide the Windows machine, network access and day-to-day administration.
| Consideration | Self-hosted Windows PC | Rented game server |
|---|---|---|
| Cost pattern | No recurring game-server rental fee; you provide the PC, electricity and internet connection. | Recurring rental charge; the exact price and resource tier depend on the provider and location. |
| Installation | You install the dedicated-server software and configure Windows. | The provider normally supplies an install button or configuration panel. |
| Port and firewall access | You control router forwarding, Windows Firewall and the public IP. | The host controls the underlying network; you must choose a plan that exposes EOS and console-compatibility settings. |
| Backups and updates | You schedule, verify and retain backups and updates. | Some providers offer automated tools, but retention and restore behavior vary by plan. |
| Uptime | Depends on your PC, power and home connection. | Designed for continuous operation, subject to the host’s maintenance and outage policy. |
| Location and latency | Limited to your connection and physical location. | You can usually select a nearby region, which may reduce latency for the group. |
| Hardware headroom | You can add CPU, RAM and storage as needed. | You select a resource tier; higher simulation load or more players may require an upgrade. |
| Named official partners | Not applicable. | Keen lists GTX Gaming as its official PC host and Nitrado as its official Xbox host in its dedicated-server documentation. Confirm current terms and available controls before ordering. |
For a small group that already has a reliable Windows machine and can configure a router, self-hosting offers the most control. Rental hosting is preferable when you need a public server, continuous uptime or help with restarts and updates. In either case, verify that the control panel exposes Network Type = EOS and Console Compatibility; a host that offers only a Steam-network toggle cannot provide the required crossplay path.
Check the hardware and network prerequisites
Keen’s current dedicated-server documentation lists these published figures:
| Resource | Minimum | Recommended for public hosting |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 3.2 GHz | 4.5 GHz |
| Logical cores | 3 | 3 |
| Memory | 6 GB RAM | 10 GB RAM |
| Bandwidth | 5 Mbps | Not separately stated in the cited recommendation |
| IP address | Not required for a private LAN test | Static IP recommended for a public server |
These are server requirements, not a promise of a particular player count or simulation speed. Large worlds, heavy scripts, physics activity and many concurrent players can need more headroom. Leave additional RAM for Windows and any monitoring or backup tools.
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Install the Windows dedicated server
Steam installation
- On the Windows machine that will remain online, open Steam and select Library → Tools.
- Install Space Engineers Dedicated Server. The server application is separate from the normal game client.
- Launch
SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe. - In the launcher, choose Local/Console, then continue to the server-configuration screen.
- Enter a server name and select a world. Save the configuration before starting the service.
SteamCMD installation
Keen documents Steam app ID 298740 for the dedicated server. Use that ID in your SteamCMD deployment, then launch the installed SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe and complete the same configuration process. Keep the installation directory and save directory on storage that is included in your backup plan.
Hosted-panel installation
A rental provider normally presents an install or instance-creation control. After the server is provisioned, open its configuration editor rather than assuming the default Steam settings are suitable. The labels vary, but you need an explicit console-compatibility control and an EOS network-type control.
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- Open the dedicated server’s configuration editor. In the local manager this is part of the general and networking settings; on a hosted server it is normally a panel configuration page.
- Turn on Console Compatibility.
- Set Network Type to EOS. Do not leave it on Steam if Xbox users must connect.
- Save the configuration and restart the server if the manager requests it. Some panels apply settings only during the next server start.
- Record the exact server name, listen port and password. You will use the name when testing EOS discovery.
EOS and console compatibility are separate settings. Enabling EOS without console compatibility, or console compatibility while leaving the network type on Steam, does not create a working PC-to-Xbox server.
Configure the world, access and save files
Set basic access controls
Choose the server name, world, password, maximum player count and gameplay options in the configuration screen. Use a password while testing so that an unconfigured public listing does not attract players before you have verified backups and moderation.
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Move an existing world
If the world currently runs in a local game, copy its save folder from the Space Engineers save directory into the dedicated server’s save location. The exact path depends on the Windows account and installation method, so use the folder shown by the dedicated-server manager rather than guessing a directory.
Make a complete copy of the world before changing an established server to crossplay. Host tooling warns that a new crossplay save may sometimes be required; retaining the original folder lets you restore the previous setup if a migration does not behave as expected. Test the copied world with the server stopped, then keep the original untouched until players have confirmed that ships, inventories and blueprints are present.
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Open the UDP port and firewall
Discovery depends on the server being reachable from the internet. The Space Engineers wiki documents UDP 27016 as a common default listen port, but use the actual port shown in your server configuration if you changed it.
- In the Windows server configuration, note the listen port.
- Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security and create an inbound rule allowing UDP traffic on that port for the network profiles you use.
- If the server is behind a home router, create a port-forwarding rule for the same UDP port to the server PC’s local IPv4 address.
- Give that PC a DHCP reservation or static local address so the forwarding rule does not break after a reboot.
- If the server is public, use a stable public address or DNS name and a static IP where your provider supports it.
- Restart the server, then verify the rule with a connection test from a different network, such as a mobile hotspot. A test from inside the same LAN can succeed even when internet forwarding is wrong.
Do not forward a different port than the one configured in the server. If you change the listen port later, update both the Windows Firewall rule and the router rule.
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Use mods that work for PC and console players
For a mixed PC/Xbox server, select content hosted on Mod.io. Steam Workshop mods are not supported in the cross-platform configuration, so a world that depends on Workshop-only items may load for PC users but fail to load or become unavailable to console users.
Check every mod before adding it
- Confirm that the mod is published on Mod.io and can be selected by the dedicated-server configuration.
- Read the mod description for console or crossplay limitations.
- Prefer content that does not depend on client-side scripts unavailable on consoles.
- Add a small set first, start the server and test from both a PC and an Xbox account.
- Keep a copy of the world before changing the mod list; removing a block or script that a save depends on can produce missing-content warnings.
Do not assume that a mod’s presence in a PC Steam collection makes it crossplay-compatible. The distribution platform and client-side behavior both matter.
Start the server and test EOS discovery
- Start the dedicated server and wait until its log or manager reports that the world is loaded and the network service is listening.
- On a PC, open the game’s Join Game browser and switch the source from Steam to EOS.
- On Xbox, open the EOS or crossplay server list. The exact menu wording can change with game updates, but the list must be the EOS-compatible one rather than a Steam-only browser.
- Search for the exact server name, inspect the listing details and confirm the player limit, password requirement and mod list.
- Join with the password if one is configured. Test at least one PC client and one Xbox client before inviting the wider group.
PC-only Steam servers and EOS crossplay servers use separate browser paths. A PC player searching only the Steam list can incorrectly conclude that a correctly configured crossplay server is offline.
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Keen documents Dedicated Server Manager, VRage Remote Client and the Remote API for administration. The manager is useful for a first setup because it exposes the player list and promotion controls without editing save files manually.
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Promote an administrator in Dedicated Server Manager
- Connect Dedicated Server Manager to the running server.
- Open Admin Tools → Chat and Players → Online.
- Select the connected player.
- Choose Promote, then confirm the change.
Use the smallest practical administrator group. Remove access when a moderator no longer needs it, and keep the server password separate from administrator permissions.
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Xbox cannot see the server
- Confirm both Console Compatibility and Network Type = EOS are enabled.
- Make sure the Xbox player is browsing the EOS/crossplay list, not a Steam-only list.
- Check that the server has fully started and that the configured name is spelled exactly as expected.
- Verify the UDP listen port in the server settings, then compare it with the Windows Firewall and router-forwarding rules.
- Test from outside the host’s LAN. Hairpin NAT or local caching can make an internal test misleading.
The server appears but joining fails
- Check the password and player-limit settings.
- Compare the client’s required mods with the server’s Mod.io list.
- Remove or replace a mod that uses unsupported client-side scripts.
- Check the server log for a world-load error and restore the pre-migration backup if an existing save was changed during the crossplay conversion.
- Confirm that the server is not running an EOS configuration while the client is being directed to a Steam-only entry.
PC players can connect but Xbox players cannot
This pattern usually indicates a crossplay or network-path problem rather than a game installation problem. Recheck the two EOS settings first, then verify external UDP reachability and remove Workshop-only mods. A PC client may still connect through a local or Steam path even when the public EOS path is unavailable.
The server is unstable or simulation slows down
Watch CPU frequency, logical-core load, memory use and bandwidth while players are active. Reduce the player limit or mod count, remove unnecessary scripts, and leave storage space for world saves and logs. If the machine is below Keen’s recommended 4.5 GHz CPU, 10 GB RAM and static-IP guidance for public hosting, move to stronger hardware or a larger rental tier before adding more players.
Operate the server safely after launch
Back up before every risky change
Stop the server before copying a world. Keep at least one backup from before the EOS conversion, one from before each major mod-list change and a recent rolling backup. Test restoring a copy on a temporary instance; a backup that has never been restored is not a verified recovery plan.
Plan updates and restarts
Schedule maintenance when players are offline. Record the current game version, server configuration and mod list before updating. After an update, test EOS discovery, one PC connection and one Xbox connection before reopening the server publicly.
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Protect the public endpoint
Use a strong, unique server password, keep Windows and the dedicated-server software updated, and expose only the required UDP listen port. Restrict administrator promotion to trusted accounts and review the online-player list regularly.
Crossplay setup checklist
- Windows dedicated server installed through Steam Tools, SteamCMD app ID
298740, or a supported rental panel. - CPU, RAM and bandwidth appropriate for the intended world and player count.
- Console Compatibility enabled.
- Network Type set to EOS.
- World selected, named and backed up before migration.
- UDP listen port identified; UDP 27016 is a common documented default.
- Windows Firewall and router forwarding point to the correct server address.
- Static or reserved local IP configured; a static public IP used where practical for a public server.
- Mods sourced from Mod.io and checked for console limitations.
- PC tested in the EOS browser and Xbox tested in the EOS/crossplay list.
- Administrator access assigned through Dedicated Server Manager or another documented administration tool.
The reliable configuration is a Windows dedicated server with EOS networking, Console Compatibility, an open and correctly forwarded UDP port, and Mod.io-compatible content. Once those four areas are aligned, PC and Xbox players can use the same server and world.
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