Half-Life Deathmatch Server Hosting

Two Valve Classics on One Engine

Half-Life arrived on 19 November 1998, and its multiplayer mode became one of the defining deathmatch games of the era. Maps like Crossfire, the Gauss gun's recoil jump and the crowbar duel are part of shooter history. Deathmatch Classic followed on 1 June 2001: Valve describes it as its tribute to the work of id Software, a faster game of rocket launchers set in futuristic arenas.

Both run on GoldSrc, Valve's engine for Half-Life and its mods, and both are still sold on Steam for Windows, macOS and Linux. Our product covers either game, so the same plan suits a group that wants classic HLDM or one that prefers DMC's pace.

The 25th Anniversary Update and Its Follow-Ups

On 17 November 2023, Valve marked the game's 25th birthday with a substantial update. For deathmatch players the headline was content: four all-new maps, three maps from the old Half-Life: Further Data CD, and new player models including Ivan the Space Biker and Too Much Coffee Man. Steam Networking arrived too, so friends can join each other through Steam's Join Game and Invite features.

• New maps: contamination, pool_party, disposal, rocket_frenzy.
• Restored maps: doublecross, rust_mill, xen_dm.
• Balance: .357 damage up from 40 to 50, satchel controls reworked, spawn points more random.
• Server: the dedicated server application updated with new Windows and Linux binaries (29 November 2023); dedicated servers no longer enable Steam Networking by default (21 November 2023).

Fixes kept coming: a crash with high player counts, team setup on disposal, UI fixes for dedicated servers, and on 2 October 2024 a fix for HLTV crashes and its incompatibility with the new maps.

Choosing a Game and a Size

Choose the game first. Half-Life Deathmatch is the one most people remember, with its mix of hitscan and projectile weapons. Deathmatch Classic suits players who want pure rocket-launcher speed. If your group wants DMC, tell our support team.

Slots are sold one at a time from 10 to 32, so 12 or 20 is fine. Outgrow it and you can add slots from the client area without losing anything.

server.cfg and mapcycle.txt

GoldSrc servers keep their rules in server.cfg and their map order in mapcycle.txt. In server.cfg you set the hostname, the rcon and join passwords, frag and time limits, and whether teamplay is on. In mapcycle.txt you list one map per line, in the order they play.

1. Stop the server from the panel.
2. Open server.cfg in the File Manager and set the hostname and an rcon password.
3. Set the frag and time limits and the teamplay option.
4. Open mapcycle.txt and list your maps, including any of the anniversary maps.
5. Start the server and check the console as the first map loads.

Custom Maps and Content

Half-Life has one of the deepest custom map libraries of any shooter. Copy each map and its resources across with SFTP, list it in mapcycle.txt, then restart. Your players need the same files to join, so share a download link in your group, or keep public servers to stock and anniversary maps.

The anniversary update also introduced new graphics options. Its notes say servers can override the new shader setting with sv_allow_shaders, which is worth knowing if a custom map looks wrong for some players.

Getting Players In, and HLTV

Players can find a public server in the in-game browser or connect directly to the IP and port shown in the panel. Valve's notes say dedicated servers no longer enable Steam Networking by default, so the IP route is the dependable one for a clan server.

HLTV, the GoldSrc spectator and recording system, works with the anniversary maps since Valve's 2 October 2024 fix. It is handy for recording a tournament or letting a few people watch a final.

Keeping a Classic Server Alive

Old games live on regulars. A weekly night at a fixed time, a rotation that mixes Crossfire-era favourites with the new maps, and admins who keep things friendly do more than anything else. Hand each admin their own sub user account, and keep the rcon password to a trusted few.

Seven days of offsite backups sit behind every server, and you can roll back to any of them from the panel. Coming from another host? Bring your cfg files, maps folder and mapcycle.txt, drop them into the new server, and boot it.

What to Compare Before You Rent a Half-Life Deathmatch Server

Classic games make cheap offers tempting. Check these first.

1. Game choiceMake sure the host can run Deathmatch Classic as well as HLDM if you want it.
2. Per-slot pricingPay for the slots you need, not a large fixed bundle.
3. File accessserver.cfg, mapcycle.txt and the maps folder should be yours to edit.
4. PingTest from your own PC. Old netcode loves a low ping.
5. BackupsCheck you can restore without a ticket.
6. Billing termsLook past the monthly figure to setup charges, term lengths and renewal prices.

Half-Life Deathmatch Glossary

HLDM

Half-Life Deathmatch, the multiplayer mode of the 1998 game.

DMC

Deathmatch Classic, Valve's 2001 tribute to id Software's work.

GoldSrc

Valve's engine for Half-Life, its mods and Deathmatch Classic.

mapcycle.txt

The text file listing the maps a server plays in order.

rcon

Remote console access to server commands, protected by a password.

HLTV

The GoldSrc spectator and demo recording system.

Further Data

An old Half-Life extras CD whose maps returned in the 2023 update.

Half-Life Deathmatch Server Help and Next Steps

Official pages and Gaming Deluxe help.

• Half-Life on SteamThe game and its multiplayer mode.
• Deathmatch Classic on SteamValve's DMC.
• Half-Life 25th Anniversary Update notesThe full change list.
• Gaming Deluxe control panelWhat the panel does and how to log in.
• Our server locations
• Contact support24/7 help, including switching to DMC.