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Host your own server.

Run a world on your own computer or a rented server, invite friends, or list it for everyone. It takes a few minutes and one router setting.

How hosting works

Your server runs the world. Players’ games connect straight to it over UDP, on port 7000 unless you choose another. Acre by Acre’s website only keeps the list of servers: it never carries game traffic, so your world runs at the speed of your own connection.

A public server lists itself on the server list and in the game the first time it starts, with no approval step, and checks in every 30 seconds while it runs. A private server doesn’t list itself; friends join it with your address.

1. Start a server

From the game: choose Multiplayer, then Host a game. Your world opens to other players on UDP port 7000. Turn on public listing if you want it in the server list.

As a dedicated server, on a spare PC or a rented server, start the server build with the options you need:

--public                       list this server publicly
--server-name="Maple Creek"    the name players see (3–48 characters)
--description="Friendly co-op world, no griefing."
--port=7000                    UDP port to listen on
--max-clients=16               player limit

A public server makes its own encryption identity (a key and a certificate) the first time it starts and keeps it from then on. Players’ games check that identity every time they connect, so nobody can stand in for your server.

2. Forward UDP port 7000

Your router stops strangers from reaching your computer, which is good, except for the one port your game needs. Each router is a little different, but the steps are the same:

  1. Find your computer’s local address. Open a Command Prompt and run ipconfig. Note the IPv4 address, something like 192.168.1.23.
  2. Keep that address fixed. In your router’s settings, reserve it for your computer (often called a DHCP reservation or static lease), so the forward keeps working after a restart.
  3. Add a port forward. Usually under Port Forwarding, Virtual Server or NAT: protocol UDP, external port 7000, internal address your computer, internal port 7000. Save it.
  4. Let it through Windows Firewall. The first time the server starts, Windows asks whether to allow it. Choose Allow, for private and public networks if you’re asked about both.

CGNAT. Some internet providers share one public address between many homes. You can spot it if your router’s WAN address is not the address that “what is my IP” shows, or if it starts with 100.64 to 100.127. Port forwarding can’t work then. Ask your provider for a public IPv4 address, or host on a rented server.

3. Check it works

  • Within a minute your server shows as Online on the server list. That only means it reached our directory.
  • To be sure players can reach you, ask a friend on a different internet connection to join. A phone hotspot works for a quick test.
  • Players who can see your server but can’t join are almost always stopped by the port forward or the firewall. Check step 2 again.

Listing rules

Public listings are open to everyone, so they come with a few rules. The directory checks some of them by itself, and the Acre by Acre team removes listings that break the rest. Read the full community rules.

  • Honest names. Only the Acre by Acre team’s server is official. Names and descriptions can’t use words like “official”, “verified”, “admin” or “staff”, and can’t contain links, ads or offensive words.
  • Fair limits. Each internet address can list 3 servers at a time and register 5 a day.
  • IPv4. Servers register over IPv4, because that’s how every player can reach them.
  • Tidy list. A server that stops checking in drops out of the public list after a week, and its listing is deleted after 30 days. Its share link keeps working until then.
  • Moderation. We may remove a listing, or stop an address, world or server identity from listing again, if it breaks the rules.

Keeping it running

  • The world saves itself every minute and keeps daily backups. Always stop the server the normal way so it saves first.
  • If your home address changes, your listing follows it on the next check-in.
  • Moved to a new computer and lost your server’s settings? Copy its data folder across and the listing carries on. A server on the same address with the same identity can also take its old listing back after a couple of quiet minutes.
  • When you update the game, update the server too. Players whose versions don’t match are told who needs to update before anything is sent.

What gets shared

Listing a server publishes its name, description, message, player count, version and region on this site. Its internet address is never shown on the website: it goes only to players’ games when they choose to join, because that’s how they connect. Details are in our privacy policy.

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