Romestead Dedicated Server: How to Set Up Multiplayer and Port 8050

Romestead Dedicated Server lets you run a shared world on a separate Windows or Linux machine, without needing one player to keep their game client open as the host. The official server is a separate Steam tool with app ID 4763510, rather than the regular game’s 1805320 ID.

Beartwigs recommends dedicated servers as one way to work around some multiplayer disconnect problems. The default connection port is UDP 8050. Here’s how to download the server, set a world password, open the correct port and connect your friends.

Romestead Dedicated Server: What you need

Use a Windows or Linux machine that can stay online while friends play. On Linux you need the .NET 8 runtime to launch the server. The documented Large world setting requires 8 GB RAM during generation.

Install SteamCMD to download the server files, or use the separate Romestead Dedicated Server tool in Steam if it’s available to your account. Use server app ID 4763510, not the base game’s 1805320.

How to install a Romestead Dedicated Server with SteamCMD

Install SteamCMD, choose an installation folder and download the server build. The following Windows command uses your Steam username, with login prompts handled by SteamCMD:

steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\Romestead +login YOUR_STEAM_USERNAME +app_update 4763510 validate +quit

On Linux, use an absolute installation directory such as /opt/romestead:

steamcmd +force_install_dir /opt/romestead +login YOUR_STEAM_USERNAME +app_update 4763510 validate +quit

SteamCMD may ask for your password and Steam Guard code. Enter these at the prompt rather than adding a password to your command. Repeat app_update 4763510 validate whenever you need to update the server files.

Configure the Romestead Dedicated Server

The server’s config.json lives in its installation folder. A straightforward example creates a standard-sized world, requires a password and allows up to eight players. Change the password before opening the server to the internet.

{
  "AutoStartWorldName": "auto",
  "AutoCreateAndLoadWorld": true,
  "AutoCreateWorldSize": 1,
  "Password": "CHOOSE_A_STRONG_PASSWORD",
  "Port": 8050,
  "MaxPlayers": 8,
  "EnableCheats": false
}

The community-maintained server setup documentation identifies world size 0 as Small, 1 as Standard and 2 as Large. Save the file as valid JSON with normal straight quotes and commas. Restart the server after changing the configuration.

For a Romestead Dedicated Server that already has a valuable world, back up your saved world folder before changing world names, size settings or major server versions.

Open the Romestead server port 8050

By default the game server listens on UDP 8050. Allow that incoming UDP port in the host machine’s firewall. If friends connect from outside your home network, forward that same port from your router to the host PC’s private IP address.

On Windows PowerShell, run this as Administrator to add an inbound rule:

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Romestead UDP 8050" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 8050 -Action Allow

For Ubuntu using UFW, the matching command is sudo ufw allow 8050/udp. If you change the Port value in config.json, allow and forward the new port instead. Don’t open unrelated ports or use a DMZ setting for convenience.

How to start the server and join

Start Server.exe on Windows or use dotnet Server.dll from the installation folder on Linux. If Linux reports that the runtime is missing, install the supported .NET 8 runtime and launch again.

Once the world has loaded, open Romestead on another machine and choose the direct-IP join option. Enter the server’s local IP for players on the same LAN, or its reachable public address for remote friends, plus port 8050 and the password.

A Romestead Dedicated Server can stay active when an individual player disconnects, provided its host machine remains running. If you are using a rented host, follow its instructions for assigning the address and UDP port.

Romestead Dedicated Server save files and commands

The community server guide places world files in the saved_worlds directory. Back up that whole folder regularly. In the server console, use save to save the world and stop to save and shut down cleanly.

Type list to see connected players or say followed by a message to send it to everyone in the world. Use stop for a clean shutdown instead of closing the server process while it is saving.

Romestead Dedicated Server not showing up or failing to connect

Check that the server is running and listening on UDP 8050, the firewall rule is active, and your router forwards to the correct host address. A host using carrier-grade NAT may not be directly reachable from the wider internet without an alternative hosting route.

For Romestead Dedicated Server issues related to the network beta, the developer also recommends trying branch 0.26.3-beta and keeping the server and clients on compatible builds. Our multiplayer connection guide covers the beta and direct-IP troubleshooting.

Once players can connect, check that the configured password works, confirm the world is saving to saved_worlds and make a backup before the next major update.

Official source: Beartwigs, Romestead dedicated server support and connection guidance