The Base Stays Dug
Your tunnels, farms and boss arenas stay put on a server that is always on, so nobody has to keep the host's game running.
Always onlineDrop-in, drop-out
> Core Keeper server // ready_
Core Keeper Server Hosting, always digging.
A dedicated Core Keeper world your whole crew can drop into, with a Game ID to share and 3 backup slots.
- From $12/mo · No contracts
- 99.9% Uptime SLA
- 3 Backup Slots
- Join by Game ID
Always online
Tired of Your Base Vanishing When the Host Logs Off?
A world on one player's PC only exists while they are playing. A dedicated server keeps the dig going.
Join With a Game ID
Once the server starts, the Game ID shows in the panel console and in GameID.txt. Send it to your crew and they enter it under Join Game.
Game IDPanel console
Seed and Players at Checkout
Pick the world name, the maximum players and the world seed when you order. A seed of 0 gives a random world.
World seedPlayer cap
Backups Before You Break Ground
Every plan has 3 backup slots, handy before you wake a boss or try a new seed. The file manager gives you the world files.
3 backup slotsFile manager
Party size
How big is your digging crew?
Choose your loadout
Core Keeper Server Plans
Pay monthly. Cancel any time.
Pick your party size above, or compare every plan below.
Common★ Best for Core Keeper
Basic
$12 / month
8 players
RAM4GB
CPU1 Thread
Storage40GB NVMe
- World seed at checkout
- 3 backup slots
- 24/7 support
Rare
Standard
$24 / month
8 players
RAM8GB
CPU2 Threads
Storage40GB NVMe
- Extra RAM for sprawling bases
- 3 backup slots
- 24/7 support
Server settings
Set Your World Before the First Dig
You choose these at checkout or find them in the panel once the server is running.
- Server display name
- Maximum players
- World seed (0 = random)
- Game ID in the console
- GameID.txt in the file manager
- World files in the file manager
Bring Your Existing World
Core Keeper keeps world data in a DedicatedServer folder. Stop the server, upload your world files through the panel file manager, and start it again. Keep a copy of the originals first.
Fast Cores for a Growing World
Core Keeper generates the world as your crew explores, and part of that work runs on the GPU. Ryzen 9950X cores and NVMe storage give your server fast hardware for the job.
DDoS protection built-in · auto-detection · zero downtime
Keep the Core, the caves and your Game ID safe from attack traffic while you dig.
Briefing
About Core Keeper server hosting
Steam sells Core Keeper as a 1-8 player mining sandbox, with 2-8 player drop-in/drop-out online co-op. The Core Keeper Dedicated Server is a free Steam tool (app ID 1963720) that runs on Windows or Linux, so the world stays open for friends to dig into while you are offline. EZ Game Host plans are sold for 8 players to match, because Pugstorm warns that a higher player count may need more server resources or make the session unstable.
Players join with a Game ID rather than an IP address. The server creates the Game ID when it starts, and you can read it from the console output or from GameID.txt next to the server executable. Without -port, joining goes through Steam's relay and no port forwarding is needed, but only Steam players can connect. With -port, the server accepts direct connections from Steam, Epic, GOG and Microsoft Store players, and you must open that port. Console crossplay is not supported.
Each -world number from 0 to 29 is its own save slot. The seed only applies when a world is first created, so choose it before the first start, and copy the DedicatedServer data folder when the server is stopped to back it up. The sources we checked publish no RAM figure for the dedicated server. The 8 GB on the Steam page is the game client's requirement.
Core Keeper server quick facts
- Server software
- Core Keeper Dedicated Server (Steam app 1963720)
- Players
- Sold as 1-8 players; higher -maxplayers values can make the session unstable
- How players join
- Game ID from the console or GameID.txt
- Game port
- UDP 27015 for direct connection
- Platforms
- Steam players by Game ID; Steam, Epic, GOG and Microsoft Store with -port; no console crossplay
- World slots
- -world 0 to 29
- Official RAM guidance
- None found for the dedicated server
- Save location
- Pugstorm/Core Keeper/DedicatedServer in AppData\LocalLow (Windows) or ~/.config/unity3d (Linux)
Setup
How to set up a Core Keeper dedicated server
You can run the server yourself or let EZ Game Host run it for you. Here is what each path involves.
With EZ Game Host
- Choose Core Keeper and a plan sized for your group.
- Name your server and pick its game options and region at checkout.
- Pay, and the server deploys automatically with 3 backup slots ready.
- Share the server address with friends and manage everything from the panel.
Self-hosting on your own machine
- Download the Core Keeper Dedicated Server with SteamCMD: steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 1963720 +quit.
- Start CoreKeeperServer.exe -batchmode on Windows, or _launch.sh on Linux (it runs the server under Xvfb), with -world, -worldname and -maxplayers.
- Pick the seed and world mode before the first start, since the seed only applies when the world is created.
- Read the Game ID from the console output or GameID.txt and give it to your friends, or add -port and forward it for direct connections.
- Stop the server and copy the DedicatedServer data folder to back it up.
- Re-run the SteamCMD update command when Core Keeper patches, since server and players must be on the same version.
Core Keeper server ports
| Port | Protocol | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| 27015 | UDP | Game port for direct connection (-port); not needed for Game ID joining |
| 27016 | UDP | Query port (game port + 1) |
On EZ Game Host the ports are opened for you, so there is no router setup.
Intel
Frequently Asked Questions
How do my friends join a Core Keeper server?
With the Game ID. After the server starts, the Game ID shows in your panel console and in GameID.txt. Send it to your crew, and they pick Join Game in Core Keeper and enter it.
Where do I find my Game ID?
Open the console in your panel after the server starts and read it from the startup output, or open GameID.txt in the file manager. The server makes the ID when it starts, so check it again if you restart.
What do I choose at checkout?
A server display name of up to 40 characters, your maximum players, and a world seed. A seed of 0 gives you a random world. The seed only applies when a world is first created.
How many players does Core Keeper support?
Steam sells Core Keeper as a 1-8 player game. Our plans are sold for 8 players to match. Pugstorm warns that a higher player count may need more server resources or make the session unstable, so 8 is the number to plan around.
Can I upload my existing world?
Yes, through the file manager in the panel. Stop the server first, upload your world files, then start it again. Keep a copy of the originals somewhere safe before you overwrite anything.
Which plan should I pick?
Basic has 4GB RAM for the 8 players the game is sold for. Standard doubles that to 8GB if your base has grown large. Both plans include 3 backup slots.
What ports does a Core Keeper server use?
For direct connection, UDP 27015 is the game port and UDP 27016 the query port, the game port plus one. If you set your own -port, open that port and the next one. Joining by Game ID through Steam's relay does not need forwarded ports.
How much RAM does a Core Keeper server need?
The sources we checked publish no RAM figure for the dedicated server. Memory use depends on the world and how many players are connected, so watch it during busy sessions. EZ Game Host plans are Basic (4GB) and Standard (8GB), both for 8 players.
Can console players join a Core Keeper server?
No. Console crossplay is not supported on dedicated servers. Steam players can join by Game ID, and with a forwarded -port the server also accepts Epic, GOG and Microsoft Store players.
Select your next game
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> Press start_
Your crew is waiting at the bottom of the mine.
Pick a plan, set your seed, and share the Game ID. Pay monthly and cancel any time.
Secure checkout · Monthly billing · Cancel anytime