Windrose Server Hosting

Why Run Windrose on a Dedicated Server

Windrose can be played solo offline, as a self-hosted game from one player's PC, or on a dedicated server. Self-hosting is fine for a single evening, but the world only exists while the host is in it. When the host logs off, the ship, the fort and the settlement all go with them.

It is also hungry. Kraken Express recommends 24GB of RAM in total for a PC that runs the game and hosts at the same time, which rules out a lot of gaming PCs. A dedicated server runs on separate hardware with its own memory, stays online whether anyone is playing or not, and gives the crew one invite code that always works.

Renting moves that machine into a data centre with steady bandwidth and DDoS filtering, and puts the Windrose Dedicated Server, Steam updates and backups behind buttons in a web panel.

ServerDescription.json: The Server Settings

The Windrose Dedicated Server keeps its common settings in ServerDescription.json, created on first launch. The official guide says to edit it only while the server is off. These are the fields most owners touch.

World Presets and Difficulty Multipliers

Each world has its own WorldDescription.json. WorldPresetType chooses Easy, Medium or Hard; change any single value and the world shows as Custom. The official guide lists these adjustable parameters and notes that names and ranges may change between builds.

Two switches change how a co-op world feels. Coop.SharedQuests, on by default, completes a quest for everyone who has it active. EasyExplore, called Immersive exploration in game, hides map markers for points of interest so the crew has to find them. After editing, the official guide runs R5WorldDescriptionUpdater.exe on the world file; ask us if you would rather we apply the change.

Invite Codes, Direct IP and Relay Regions

By default a Windrose server is reached through Kraken Express's connectivity service. Players choose Play, then Connect to Server, and enter the invite code; ports are negotiated automatically, so nothing needs forwarding. The Invite Code button in our panel shows the current code.

• Invite code (default): easiest for most groups, works through the relay.
• Direct IP: set UseDirectConnection to true; players join with the address and port. Invite codes stop working in this mode.
• Region: UserSelectedRegion sets the relay region. EU covers Europe and North America.

The studio added Direct IP on 19 April 2026 because some internet providers blocked parts of the relay service. If a player can never connect by code, direct IP is the usual fix.

Saves, Backups and Moving a World

Server saves live under R5\Saved\SaveProfiles\Default, with each world in its own folder inside Worlds. Since April 2026 the game makes an automatic backup every time the server launches and keeps the 30 most recent, and AutoLoadLatestBackupIfHasBroken can restore one by itself if a save is damaged.

1. Stop the server and take a Backup Manager snapshot.
2. On your PC, find the world folder under %localappdata%\R5\Saved\SaveProfiles.
3. Upload that folder into the server's Worlds folder with SFTP.
4. Set WorldIslandId to the folder name and start the server.

The same trick runs several worlds on one server: keep them side by side in Worlds and change WorldIslandId to switch. Do not rename world folders, as the ID must match.

Adding Community Mods

Windrose mods are made by the community and most rely on UE4SS, a scripting loader for Unreal Engine games. Every mod page should say whether it runs on the server, on each player's PC, or on both, and whether it needs UE4SS.

1. Stop the server.
2. Install UE4SS from the Mod Loader section of the Mod Manager if your mods need it.
3. Install mods from the CurseForge Mods section, or upload files from another site with the File Manager.
4. Start the server, check the log, and have each player install any client-side parts.

Early Access patches can break mods overnight. Take a backup before every mod change, and remove the newest mod first if the server will not start.

Updates During Early Access

Windrose patches regularly and the server must match the game. Since an April 2026 hotfix the client checks the server version before connecting and shows an error if the server is outdated, which makes the cause obvious. Run Steam Update in the panel and restart.

Ashlands, the first major content update, will bring new factions, story and ship customisation. Big updates are the riskiest moment for any save, so take a snapshot before you update and keep it until the crew is happy.

What to Compare Before Renting a Windrose Server

Windrose is new and still changing quickly. These points matter more than the headline price.

1. RAM against the official guideKraken Express publishes 8GB for 2 players, 12GB for 4 and 16GB for 10. Check what a plan includes against those figures.
2. Easy access to the invite codeYour crew needs the code every time it changes. A panel button beats searching the console log.
3. Config file accessYou will want to edit ServerDescription.json and WorldDescription.json yourself, so look for a file editor and SFTP.
4. Backups you controlEarly Access saves can break. Make sure you can snapshot and restore without a ticket.
5. Quick updatesPatches come often. One-click Steam updates keep the server joinable on patch day.
6. Billing termsLook for monthly billing without a minimum term or setup fee.

Windrose Server Glossary

Invite code

The case-sensitive code players enter under Connect to Server to find a server.

ServerDescription.json

The file with the server's name, code, password, player count and network settings.

WorldDescription.json

A per-world file with the preset and difficulty multipliers.

WorldIslandId

The ID of the world the server loads, matching a folder in Worlds.

Direct IP

Connecting by address and port instead of through the relay service.

Connectivity server

A relay run by the studio that links players and servers without port forwarding.

UE4SS

A community mod loader for Unreal Engine games that many Windrose mods require.

Boarding

Fighting your way onto an enemy ship; its difficulty has its own multiplier.

Ashlands

Windrose's first major content update, in development.

Windrose Server Help

Official documentation and our own guides.

• Dedicated Server Guide, Kraken ExpressSettings, world presets, requirements and save transfers.
• Windrose news on SteamPatch notes and Ashlands updates.
• Installing Windrose mods with UE4SSOur step-by-step guide.
• Gaming Deluxe control panel
• Our server locations
• Contact supportAround the clock, for saves, mods and settings.