
Host a Hytale Dedicated Server
Hytale is a block-based sandbox game that blends creative building with RPG adventure. Explore procedurally generated worlds filled with unique biomes, dungeons, and creatures. Build anything from simple homes to grand castles, craft items, and battle monsters. Create custom content with built-in modding tools, host your own servers, and shape the experience with plugins and mods.
Hardware Requirements
Here's what you need to run a Hytale dedicated server.
Economy
Small server, 1-5 players
Standard
Community server, 5-16 players
Pro
Large server, 16-32 players
Start hosting from your own computer
Run a Hytale server on your desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine — GameCP automates Docker setup, resource allocation, and Hytale configuration instantly. Automatic port forwarding means your friends can connect without touching your router. Start local, scale to a VPS when you're ready.
Setup in 4 Steps
Skip the manual installation, port forwarding, and configuration. Install on your own computer and start hosting instantly.
The Manual Way vs. GameCP
Manual Setup
- ✗Configure 2+ firewall ports and router settings
- ✗Write systemd service files
- ✗SSH into server to edit configs
- ✗Requires a VPS or dedicated server
- ✗30-60 minutes if experienced
With GameCP
- Automatic port forwarding — no router config
- Host from your own PC, VPS, or dedicated server
- Docker container with auto-restart
- Visual config editor in browser
- Under 5 minutes total
Under the Hood
The full manual process to host a Hytale dedicated server on a VPS. Or install GameCP on your own computer and skip all of this.
Configure & Prepare
Set your server settings, then install Docker, and pull the Hytale container image.
# Update system and install Docker sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io sudo systemctl enable --now docker # Create game server directory sudo mkdir -p /opt/gameserver # Server configuration export MOTD="Welcome to my server" export ASSET_PACK="Assets.zip" export AUTOMATIC_UPDATE="1" export PATCHLINE="release" export ENABLE_SOURCE_QUERY_SUPPORT="1" export ENFORCE_PERMISSIONS="0" export MAX_VIEW_RADIUS="12" export DEFAULT_WORLD="default" export DEFAULT_GAMEMODE="ADVENTURE" export ALLOW_OP="0" export AUTH_MODE="AUTHENTICATED" export USE_PERSISTENT_AUTHENTICATION="DISABLED" export ACCEPT_EARLY_PLUGINS="0" export BACKUP_FREQUENCY="30" export ENABLE_BACKUPS="0" export MAXIMUM_BACKUPS="5" export JVM_ARGS="-XX:+UseCompressedOops -XX:+UseCompressedClassPointers -XX:-UseCompactObjectHeaders -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+UseStringDeduplication -Xlog:aot" export LEVERAGE_AHEAD_OF_TIME_CACHE="1" export MEMORY_OVERHEAD="0" export FORCE_NETWORK_FLUSH="0" export NETWORK_COMPRESSION="1" export DISABLE_SENTRY="1" export EVENT_DEBUG="0" export VALIDATE_WORLD_GENERATION="0" export VALIDATE_ASSETS="0" # Pull the container image docker pull ghcr.io/natroutter/egg-hytale:latest
Run the Installation Script
Hytale uses a custom install script to download and configure the server files.
#!/bin/bash
set -e
DOWNLOAD_URL="https://downloader.hytale.com/hytale-downloader.zip"
DOWNLOAD_FILE="hytale-downloader.zip"
ARCH="$(uname -m)"
echo "Platform: ${ARCH}"
echo "Installing base dependencies..."
apt update
apt install -y curl unzip jq
# ARM-only setup for running amd64 downloader
if [ "${ARCH}" = "aarch64" ]; then
echo "ARM64 detected, enabling amd64 emulation with QEMU..."
apt install -y qemu-user-static
dpkg --add-architecture amd64 || true
apt update || true
apt install -y libc6:amd64 || true
fi
cd /opt/gameserver
echo "Starting Hytale downloader installation..."
echo "Downloading hytale-downloader.zip..."
curl -L -o "${DOWNLOAD_FILE}" "${DOWNLOAD_URL}"
if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
echo "Error: Failed to download ${DOWNLOAD_URL}"
exit 1
fi
echo "Extracting ${DOWNLOAD_FILE}..."
unzip -o "${DOWNLOAD_FILE}"
if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
echo "Error: Failed to extract ${DOWNLOAD_FILE}"
exit 1
fi
echo "Cleaning up..."
rm -f "${DOWNLOAD_FILE}" QUICKSTART.md hytale-downloader-windows-amd64.exe
chmod +x ./hytale-downloader-linux-amd64
# ARM wrapper setup
if [ "${ARCH}" = "aarch64" ]; then
echo "Setting up QEMU wrapper for amd64 downloader..."
cp /usr/bin/qemu-x86_64-static ./qemu-x86_64-static
cat > ./hytale-downloader-linux-arm64 << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
set -e
REAL_BIN="/opt/gameserver/hytale-downloader-linux-amd64"
QEMU_LOCAL="/opt/gameserver/qemu-x86_64-static"
if [ -x "$QEMU_LOCAL" ]; then
exec "$QEMU_LOCAL" "$REAL_BIN" "$@"
else
exec /usr/bin/qemu-x86_64-static "$REAL_BIN" "$@"
fi
EOF
chmod +x ./hytale-downloader-linux-arm64
fi
# Install Source Query plugin (direct URL, no GitHub API)
if [ "${ENABLE_SOURCE_QUERY_SUPPORT}" = "1" ]; then
echo "Installing Source Query plugin..."
mkdir -p /opt/gameserver/mods
curl -sSL -o /opt/gameserver/mods/hytale-sourcequery.jar \
"https://github.com/physgun-com/hytale-sourcequery/releases/download/v1.1.0/sourcequery.jar"
if [ -f /opt/gameserver/mods/hytale-sourcequery.jar ]; then
echo "Source Query plugin installed successfully!"
else
echo "Warning: Source Query plugin download may have failed"
fi
fi
echo "Installation complete!"Open Firewall Ports
Hytale requires 2 ports to be open for game traffic and queries.
sudo ufw allow 5520/udp sudo ufw allow 5521/udp
Launch the Server
Start the Hytale server using the configuration from Step 1.
docker run -d \ --name hytale-server \ -p 5520:5520/udp \ -p 5521:5521/udp \ -e MOTD="Welcome to my server" \ -e ASSET_PACK="Assets.zip" \ -e AUTOMATIC_UPDATE="1" \ -e PATCHLINE="release" \ -e ENABLE_SOURCE_QUERY_SUPPORT="1" \ -e ENFORCE_PERMISSIONS="0" \ -e MAX_VIEW_RADIUS="12" \ -e DEFAULT_WORLD="default" \ -e DEFAULT_GAMEMODE="ADVENTURE" \ -e ALLOW_OP="0" \ -e AUTH_MODE="AUTHENTICATED" \ -e USE_PERSISTENT_AUTHENTICATION="DISABLED" \ -e ACCEPT_EARLY_PLUGINS="0" \ -e BACKUP_FREQUENCY="30" \ -e ENABLE_BACKUPS="0" \ -e MAXIMUM_BACKUPS="5" \ -e JVM_ARGS="-XX:+UseCompressedOops -XX:+UseCompressedClassPointers -XX:-UseCompactObjectHeaders -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+UseStringDeduplication -Xlog:aot" \ -e LEVERAGE_AHEAD_OF_TIME_CACHE="1" \ -e MEMORY_OVERHEAD="0" \ -e FORCE_NETWORK_FLUSH="0" \ -e NETWORK_COMPRESSION="1" \ -e DISABLE_SENTRY="1" \ -e EVENT_DEBUG="0" \ -e VALIDATE_WORLD_GENERATION="0" \ -e VALIDATE_ASSETS="0" \ -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \ -w /opt/gameserver \ ghcr.io/natroutter/egg-hytale:latest \ chmod +x ./start.sh && ./start.sh
Alternative startup profiles:
- G1GC Optimized — Tuned G1 garbage collector for servers with 10+ players. Reduces lag spikes and improves tick consistency.
- ZGC Low Latency — Z Garbage Collector for ultra-low pause times. Best for competitive or latency-sensitive servers. Requires Java 21+.
- G1GC + AOT Cache — G1GC tuning with Ahead-of-Time compilation cache for faster server startup. Requires initial warmup run.
GameCP lets you switch between these profiles with one click.
Or skip all of this
GameCP automates every step above: Docker, port forwarding, startup, and config. Install on your own PC and deploy a Hytale server in under 5 minutes.
Deploy with GameCPMore Hosting Guides
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