Host a Palworld Dedicated Server

Fight, farm, build and work alongside mysterious creatures called "Pals" in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game!

Skip the Setup — Deploy Now or read the full guide below

Requirements Setup Guide Installation

Hardware Requirements

Here's what you need to run a Palworld dedicated server.

Economy

Small private server, 1-8 players

CPU0.5 cores

RAM4 GB

Storage15 GB SSD

Standard

Community server, 8-16 players

CPU1 core

RAM8 GB

Storage15 GB SSD

Pro

Large public server, 16-32 players

CPU2 cores

RAM16 GB

Storage15 GB SSD

Start hosting from your own computer

Run a Palworld server on your desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine — GameCP automates Docker setup, resource allocation, and Palworld configuration instantly. Automatic port forwarding means your friends can connect without touching your router. Start local, scale to a VPS when you're ready.

Get Started FreeNo credit card required

Setup in 4 Steps

Skip the manual SteamCMD installation, port forwarding, and systemd configuration. Install on your own computer and start hosting instantly.

Step 01

Create a GameCP Account

GameCP gives you a full control panel with Docker containerization, file management, automatic port forwarding, and automatic updates — all built in.

Step 02

Connect Your Hardware

Install GameCP on your own desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine. One-line install — no SSH expertise needed.

GameCP installs Docker, configures networking, and sets up automatic port forwarding so your friends can connect instantly. Start hosting from your own PC and scale to a VPS later. Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Step 03

Deploy Palworld

Select "Palworld" from the template library and hit deploy. GameCP handles SteamCMD (App ID: 2394010), ports, startup commands, and all configuration automatically.

Uses the steamcmd:debian image. Everything is configured out of the box. ~15 GB storage.

Step 04

Start Playing

Hit start and share your server address. Automatic port forwarding handles the rest — no router config needed.

GameCP provides live SOURCE console access from your browser. Your friends connect using the address GameCP gives you.

The Manual Way vs. GameCP

Manual Setup

✗Install SteamCMD manually
✗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

One-click SteamCMD install
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 Palworld dedicated server on a VPS. Or install GameCP on your own computer and skip all of this.

Step 1

Configure & Prepare

Set your server settings, then install Docker, SteamCMD, and pull the Palworld container image.

Server ConfigurationEdit values to update all commands

Server NameServer name displayed in the server browser

Max PlayersMaximum number of concurrent players

Server DescriptionThe description of the server shown in the server ...

Connection PlatformThe platform players will be able to connect from.

XP RateExperience points multiplier (1.0 = default, 2.0 =...

Capture RatePal capture probability multiplier (higher = easie...

Day SpeedDaytime speed multiplier (higher = shorter days)

Night SpeedNighttime speed multiplier (higher = shorter night...

Player Attack DamagePlayer attack damage multiplier

Pal Attack DamagePal attack damage multiplier

Death PenaltyWhat drops on player death. 0=None, 1=Items only, ...

Egg Hatch Time (hours)Default egg hatching time in hours (72 = 3 days)

Server PasswordPassword required to join the server. Leave empty ...

Admin PasswordPassword for administrator commands. Also used for...

Auto UpdateAutomatically update the server on startup.

terminal

# 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

# Install SteamCMD
sudo mkdir -p /opt/steamcmd
curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | sudo tar zxvf - -C /opt/steamcmd

# Server configuration
export MAX_PLAYERS="16"
export ALLOW_CONNECT_PLATFORM="Steam"
export EXP_RATE="1.000000"
export PAL_CAPTURE_RATE="1.000000"
export DAY_TIME_SPEED_RATE="1.000000"
export NIGHT_TIME_SPEED_RATE="1.000000"
export PLAYER_DAMAGE_RATE_ATTACK="1.000000"
export PAL_DAMAGE_RATE_ATTACK="1.000000"
export DEATH_PENALTY="1"
export PAL_EGG_DEFAULT_HATCHING_TIME="72.000000"
export AUTO_UPDATE="1"

# Pull the container image
docker pull ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/steamcmd:debian

Step 2

Install Server Files via SteamCMD

Download the Palworld dedicated server using Steam App ID 2394010.

terminal

# Download Palworld server files (App ID: 2394010)
/opt/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh \
  +force_install_dir /opt/gameserver \
  +login anonymous \
  +app_update 2394010 validate \
  +quit

Step 3

Open Firewall Ports

Palworld requires 2 ports to be open for game traffic and queries.

terminal

sudo ufw allow 8212/both
sudo ufw allow 8213/both

8212/BOTH(PORT)8213/BOTH(QUERY_PORT)

Step 4

Launch the Server

Start the Palworld server using the configuration from Step 1.

Create the startup script

terminal

# Create the startup script
cat > /opt/gameserver/start.sh << 'EOF'
# Run config parser first
./PalworldServerConfigParser

# Patch REST API settings (not supported by config parser)
INI_FILE="Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini"
if [ -f "" ]; then
echo "Patching REST API settings..."
# Add or update RESTAPIEnabled
if grep -q "RESTAPIEnabled" ""; then
sed -i 's/RESTAPIEnabled=[^,)]*/RESTAPIEnabled=True/' ""
else
sed -i 's/)$/,RESTAPIEnabled=True)/' ""
fi
# Add or update RESTAPIPort
if grep -q "RESTAPIPort" ""; then
sed -i "s/RESTAPIPort=[^,)]*/RESTAPIPort=8213/" ""
else
sed -i "s/)$/,RESTAPIPort=8213)/" ""
fi
echo "REST API configured on port 8213"
fi

# Start RCON relay in background (for console input)
(while read cmd; do
rcon -s -a "localhost:8222" -p "" ""
done) < /dev/stdin &

# Build password argument conditionally
PASSWORD_ARG=""
if [ -n "" ]; then
PASSWORD_ARG="-serverpassword="
fi

# Launch Palworld
./Pal/Binaries/Linux/PalServer-Linux-Shipping Pal \
-publiclobby \
-useperfthreads \
-NoAsyncLoadingThread \
-UseMultithreadForDS \
-port=8212 \
-publicport=8212 \
-queryport=8213 \
-servername="" \
-players=16 \
\
-adminpassword="" \
-rcon
EOF
chmod +x /opt/gameserver/start.sh

Run the container

terminal

docker run -d \
  --name palworld-server \
  -p 8212:8212/both \
  -p 8213:8213/both \
  -e MAX_PLAYERS="16" \
  -e ALLOW_CONNECT_PLATFORM="Steam" \
  -e EXP_RATE="1.000000" \
  -e PAL_CAPTURE_RATE="1.000000" \
  -e DAY_TIME_SPEED_RATE="1.000000" \
  -e NIGHT_TIME_SPEED_RATE="1.000000" \
  -e PLAYER_DAMAGE_RATE_ATTACK="1.000000" \
  -e PAL_DAMAGE_RATE_ATTACK="1.000000" \
  -e DEATH_PENALTY="1" \
  -e PAL_EGG_DEFAULT_HATCHING_TIME="72.000000" \
  -e AUTO_UPDATE="1" \
  -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \
  -w /opt/gameserver \
  ghcr.io/ptero-eggs/steamcmd:debian \
  ./start.sh

Or skip all of this

GameCP automates every step above: Docker, SteamCMD, port forwarding, startup, and config. Install on your own PC and deploy a Palworld server in under 5 minutes.

Deploy with GameCP