Lethal Company dedicated server setup guide

Lethal Company took the co-op horror genre by storm, and it has only grown since its early access launch. Gathering scrap on haunted moons with your friends is great fun, but relying on peer-to-peer hosting means the session dies when the host disconnects. A dedicated server fixes that: your crew can drop in and out at any time, and nobody has to sacrifice their own framerate to keep the lobby alive.

System requirements

• RAM: 2 to 4 GB. The base game is lightweight, but modded servers with larger lobbies need more headroom.
• CPU: 2 cores minimum. The server is not heavily threaded, so single-core performance matters more than core count.
• Storage: 2 GB for the server files. NVMe storage helps with quick level transitions between moons.
• Network: Port 7777 UDP must be open. A stable connection with low latency keeps entity sync smooth.

HostValues servers run on AMD Ryzen 9 7950X processors with NVMe drives and DDoS protection included, which covers all of the above comfortably.

Installing the server

1. Install SteamCMD on your VPS or select Lethal Company in the HostValues game panel.
2. Download the dedicated server files using SteamCMD: app_update 1966720 validate.
3. Open port 7777 UDP in your firewall.
4. Start the server executable. On Linux, use ./LethalCompanyServer.x86_64 inside a screen or tmux session so it persists after you close your terminal.
5. The server generates its configuration files on first launch. Stop it, adjust settings, then start it again.

Server configuration

The main configuration file sits in the server directory. Key settings to adjust:

• MaxPlayers: Default is 4. With the MoreCompany mod you can raise this to 8, 16 or even 32 players per lobby.
• ServerName: The name visible in the server browser. Keep it short and recognizable.
• SaveInterval: How often progress is saved. Lower values protect against crashes but add minor disk writes.

Popular mods

Modding is a huge part of Lethal Company. Install mods on the server using BepInEx as your mod loader. The Thunderstore mod manager (r2modman) makes this painless for both you and your crew.

• MoreCompany: Expands the lobby beyond 4 players. The most popular mod by a wide margin. Lobbies of 8 to 16 are common, and some groups push to 32.
• LethalExpansion: Adds new moons, enemies, and scrap items. Keeps the game fresh after hundreds of hours. Custom moons can change the feel of the game entirely.
• ShipLoot: Shows the total scrap value on the ship. Small quality-of-life improvement that every crew appreciates.
• Skinwalkers: Enemies mimic player voice chat. Terrifying and hilarious in equal measure.
• LateCompany: Lets players join a lobby after the ship has already landed on a moon. Essential for groups with staggered schedules.
• LethalLib: A dependency library that many content mods require. Install it early to avoid missing dependency errors.

All players need matching mods. Distribute your mod list to the crew or use a shared mod profile through r2modman. When updating the server, announce the mod versions to your group so everyone updates at the same time.

Running on Linux

Lethal Company's dedicated server runs natively on Linux. If you encounter issues, Proton or Wine can serve as a fallback. On a HostValues VPS with Ubuntu or Debian, the native binary is the recommended approach. Make sure you install the required 32-bit libraries (lib32gcc-s1, libstdc++6:i386) or the server may fail to start without a clear error message.

Performance tips

• With larger lobbies (8+ players), bump RAM to 4 GB. Entity tracking scales with player count.
• Schedule automatic restarts every 6 to 8 hours. The server can accumulate memory over long sessions.
• Keep the server and mods updated together. Version mismatches cause connection failures.
• Use the RAM calculator to estimate your needs based on player count and mods.
• Monitor log files for error spam. Some mods produce excessive log output that can fill disk space over days. Rotate logs with a cron job or logrotate configuration.

The combination of AMD Ryzen 9 7950X single-thread speed and NVMe storage on HostValues servers means entity-heavy moons with dozens of creatures load and run without frame drops on the server side.

Can I run Lethal Company with more than 4 players?

Yes. Install the MoreCompany mod on both the server and all clients. Lobbies of 8 to 16 players work well. Beyond 16, expect increased RAM and CPU usage. Make sure your server plan has enough resources.

Do all players need the same mods?

For most mods, yes. Mod version mismatches are the number one cause of connection problems. Use a mod manager like r2modman to keep everyone synchronized.

Why does my server lag during eclipses?

Eclipse events spawn many outdoor enemies at once. This spikes CPU usage briefly. A server with strong single-thread performance (like the Ryzen 9 7950X) handles these spikes without noticeable lag.

Is a VPS or a game panel server better?

For a vanilla or lightly modded server, a game panel server is the easiest option. For heavy modding or running multiple instances, a VPS gives you full control over the operating system and file system.

Ready to scavenge some moons? Browse HostValues VPS plans for a server that stays online while your crew is out collecting scrap.