Empyrion: Galactic Survival Server Hosting

Why Host an Empyrion Galaxy on a Dedicated Server

Empyrion games tend to be long. A faction starts on a planet, builds a base, launches small vessels, and weeks later is warping capital vessels between systems. In a hosted co-op game all of that depends on one player's PC being on. A dedicated server keeps the galaxy online for everyone, so a player in another time zone can run a mining trip while the rest are asleep.

Eleon supplies a free standalone dedicated server through SteamCMD, and we run it for you on fast hardware with a fixed address. You keep full control of the configuration file, the scenario and the save, and you get Telnet access for admin tools without opening ports at home.

Empyrion Today: 1.0, Epic and the 1.19 Updates

Empyrion spent five years in Early Access before Eleon released version 1.0 on 5 August 2020. The Dark Faction DLC followed on 6 February 2024, adding a story scenario, new blocks and devices, and on 10 October 2024 the game launched on the Epic Games Store, with both versions updated together.

• v1.16, 25 March 2026: more points of interest and Charged Combat Steel.
• v1.18, 8 July 2026: a rework of status effects.
• v1.19, 4 August 2026: the 11th anniversary update.
• v1.19.5, 23 September 2026: more than 100 Arkenian Republic points of interest and a first version of Trade Lines.
• v1.19.6, 24 September 2026: the latest hotfix at the time of writing.

PvE, PvP and Choosing a Plan

According to Eleon's FAQ, you can make a whole game PvE or PvP, or set individual planets and orbits to one or the other. A popular pattern is safe starter planets with contested systems further out, which lets new players settle before they meet hostile factions.

Eleon does not publish a fixed player cap; the limit is a setting in dedicated.yaml. What drives server load more than player count is how spread out players are. A group that sticks together keeps few playfields active, while a public server with players on many planets and in many orbits at the same time keeps many of them busy. That is why memory rises with each plan: 10GB on 14 slots, 12GB on 24, 14GB on 32, 16GB on 48 and 20GB on 64.

If the memory graph in the panel sits near the limit on your busiest evenings, step up a tier from the client area. The order form goes up to 32GB.

Configuring dedicated.yaml

The server's settings live in dedicated.yaml, and Eleon's patch notes point owners to the comments in that file for what each option does. In our panel you edit it with the Configuration Editor while the server is stopped.

Scenarios, Blueprints and Mods

The Steam Workshop carries tens of thousands of blueprints for capital vessels, small vessels, hover vessels and bases, plus hundreds of single player and multiplayer scenarios. Reforged Eden is the best-known community scenario; it is made by community authors, not by Eleon, and its current version, Reforged Eden 2, is still marked as beta.

1. Subscribe to the scenario on the Workshop and find its folder on your PC.
2. Stop the server and upload the folder to Content/Scenarios with SFTP.
3. Select the scenario in dedicated.yaml and set a new game name.
4. For a large scenario, set SharedDataURL so players fetch its shared data from cloud storage.
5. Start the server and watch the log until the galaxy is ready.

Server mods built on Eleon's mod API sit in Content/Mods, and Eleon ships interface updates with the game. Players on the Epic version could not use Workshop content when Epic support launched in 2024, so check your scenario works for everyone in a mixed group.

Admins, Telnet and Empyrion Admin Helper

Admin rights and ban lists are kept in AdminConfig.yaml, using each player's Steam or Epic ID. For running the server day to day, two tools do most of the work.

• Server Manager: connects over Telnet. Enable Telnet in dedicated.yaml, copy the details from the Telnet Details button, and use it to chat, save and shut down cleanly.
• Empyrion Admin Helper (EAH): a fuller admin suite with its own section on the official forum. It connects with your server's FTP and Telnet details, and our knowledge base walks through the set-up.
• Logs: the Log Viewer shows the dedicated and playfield logs, the first place to look when a playfield will not load.

If you plan to charge for perks or accept donations, read Eleon's server monetisation rules first. Fees and donations are allowed, but removed features may not be sold back, and paid perks need a clear disclaimer that the server is not associated with Eleon.

Saves, Wipes and Updates

Before any restart or update, use Save and Shutdown in Server Manager, so the galaxy writes its latest state. Then run Steam Update in the panel and start the server. Players on the new client cannot join an older server, so updating promptly after a patch keeps everyone together.

For a new season, the Wipe Server button resets what you choose without a reinstall. Our Backup Manager takes snapshots whenever you ask and offsite copies cover the last 7 days, so a wipe or a failed update never has to be final.

What to Compare Before You Rent an Empyrion Server

Empyrion hosting offers can look identical. These points decide how the galaxy runs once players spread out.

1. Memory for many playfieldsPlayers on several planets at once need more memory than the slot count suggests. Check what each plan includes.
2. Access to dedicated.yamlYou should be able to edit the config yourself, including Telnet, the scenario and the game mode.
3. Telnet for admin toolsServer Manager and Empyrion Admin Helper both need Telnet details from your host.
4. Upload access for scenariosSFTP matters when a scenario is hundreds of megabytes.
5. Backups and wipesLook for snapshots you can restore yourself and a simple way to wipe for a new season.
6. Billing termsCompare monthly and longer cycles, and check for setup fees or minimum terms.

Empyrion Server Glossary

Playfield

A planet, moon or orbit area. PvP or PvE can be set for each one.

Capital Vessel (CV)

A large warp-capable ship that works as a mobile base.

Small Vessel (SV)

A ship that flies in atmosphere and in space.

Hover Vessel (HV)

A ground vehicle that cannot fly in space.

Base (BA)

A fixed structure built on a planet.

Blueprint

A saved structure that can be shared on the Workshop and built in a factory.

Scenario

A custom galaxy and content pack installed in Content/Scenarios.

POI

Point of interest, such as a structure placed on a planet or in orbit.

Trade Lines

Trader routes between themed points of interest, added in v1.19.5.

dedicated.yaml

The server's main configuration file.

EAH

Empyrion Admin Helper, a server administration tool.

Empyrion Server Help and Next Steps

Useful guides for setting up and running your galaxy.

• Connect and use Server ManagerTelnet set-up on a Gaming Deluxe server.
• Set up Empyrion Admin HelperConnecting EAH with your FTP details.
• Empyrion official forumPatch notes, the mod API and the EAH section.
• Server monetisation rules, Eleon
• Gaming Deluxe control panelWhat the panel does and how to log in.
• Contact support24/7 help with scenarios, settings and wipes.