Insurgency Classic Server Hosting

Why Players Still Choose the 2014 Insurgency

New World Interactive describes Insurgency as the follow-up to its award-winning Source mod, striking a balance between one-life gameplay and prolonged action. There is no crosshair, weapons behave realistically with free aim and strong suppression effects, and a simple interface keeps the focus on the fight. Over 40 weapons, numerous attachments and a supply system let players trade weight and stamina for gear.

Insurgency: Sandstorm took the series to a new engine, but the original still has players who prefer its Source engine feel, its maps and its lighter system requirements. For them, the servers are the game. A well-run classic server, with a clear focus and steady regulars, becomes the place a community meets.

PvP or Co-op: Two Kinds of Server

A PvP server needs enough players to feel alive, so it suits a community with regular match nights. A co-op server works with just a few friends, because bots make up the opposition. Many owners start in co-op and add PvP nights once the regulars arrive.

Choosing a Size: Slots, Memory and Hardware

Insurgency is sold here on a slider, so any slot count from 10 to 40 can be ordered. The four plans on this page are the sizes most owners choose, each with memory bundled in.

• 10 slots, 5GB: a co-op squad working through Checkpoint together, with bots doing the rest.
• 16 slots, 5GB: small PvP matches of eight a side, or a larger co-op group.
• 24 slots, 8GB: a community public that fills in the evenings.
• 32 slots, 8GB: full multiplayer matches at the 32-player maximum Steam lists for the multiplayer modes.

Slot counts above 32 on the order form are mainly useful for co-op servers, where bots and visible slots are tuned separately; our knowledge base example was written for a 45-slot PvE setup, scaled to the bots it ran. For PvP, there is little reason to go beyond 32.

Processor speed matters more than memory for a Source engine shooter. Every plan runs on 5.0GHz CPUs, with faster options on the order form for bot-heavy co-op, where the server also runs the enemy AI. Choose the location by ping from your players' PCs, since a nearby server does more for hit registration than any upgrade. If you are unsure, start one size smaller: a full server attracts players, an empty large one does not, and you can move up from the client area at any time without losing files.

Co-op Settings: Visible Slots and Bot Counts

Our knowledge base guide for Insurgency PvE servers explains how to make a co-op server show and use the slots you pay for. It takes a few settings working together.

1. In server.cfg, set sv_visiblemaxplayers to your slot count, so the browser shows the right maximum.
2. In the same file, set mp_coop_lobbysize to the number of players per team.
3. Enable a custom playlist and theater, as the guide describes, if you change the standard co-op setup.
4. In insurgency/cfg/default_server_checkpoint.cfg, set ins_bot_count_checkpoint_min, ins_bot_count_checkpoint_max and ins_bot_count_checkpoint_default.
5. Restart the server and test with a few players before you advertise it.

Maps, the SDK and the Workshop

Steam lists 16 maps playable in day and night versions, set in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. Beyond those, the Insurgency SDK and scripting system let the community create maps and content and share them through the Steam Workshop.

For custom maps, upload the files over SFTP and add them to your rotation, or follow the map author's notes for Workshop content. Keep the list short at first: a handful of good maps played often builds a community faster than a long list nobody knows.

Updates, 64-bit and the BattlEye Change

Insurgency's later patches were about stability and security. The August 2017 patch closed a Source engine exploit and fixed co-op bot counts so they scale with players. The May 2018 patch added 64-bit support for Windows and macOS and a 64-bit dedicated server for Windows.

The most recent change came on 12 December 2025, when BattlEye support was removed from both the game client and the Windows dedicated server. Players were told to update their game through Steam; server owners were told to update the dedicated server and that, depending on their setup, extra configuration might be needed. On our servers, press Steam Update in the panel, and contact support if anything in your configuration still refers to BattlEye.

Running an Insurgency Community

• Keep the name clear: say whether the server is PvP or co-op, and name the game as Insurgency, not Sandstorm.
• Schedule restarts: a daily restart at a quiet hour keeps the server fresh.
• Hold regular nights: a fixed weekly time fills PvP servers far better than hoping.
• List it: add the server to GameTracker using our guide.
• Share the cost: Public Pay lets regulars donate towards the renewal.

The game's own squad system, role-based classes and proximity voice chat reward organised play. Encourage it with clear rules and admins who are around at peak times, and the server will feel like the game at its best.

Finally, look after your admins. Give each trusted admin a sub-user login with the rights they need, keep a written list of the server rules and the config changes you have made, and take a backup before anyone edits the mode files. When something does go wrong, the log viewer and a recent backup will usually get the server running again in minutes, and our support team is there around the clock if you need a second pair of eyes.

What to Compare Before Renting an Insurgency Server

Check these before choosing a host for the 2014 game.

1. The right gameMake sure the product is Insurgency (2014), not Sandstorm.
2. Config file accessCo-op servers need server.cfg and the mode configs, not just a form.
3. Flexible slotsPvP and co-op need different sizes; a slider from 10 to 40 covers both.
4. Steam updatesOne-click updates matter after changes like the 2025 BattlEye removal.
5. LocationPick a host with a data centre near your players.
6. Price per slotCompare the size you need on the same term, and look for setup fees.

Insurgency Server Glossary

Insurgency Classic

The common name for the 2014 Insurgency, as opposed to Sandstorm.

Checkpoint

A co-op mode where a squad fights bots for objectives.

Push

A multiplayer mode with three territorial objectives to capture.

sv_visiblemaxplayers

The maximum player count shown to people browsing for servers.

mp_coop_lobbysize

The number of players per team in co-op.

ins_bot_count_checkpoint_default

The default Checkpoint bot count; 0 lets it scale with players.

Insurgency SDK

The tools for making maps and content for the game.

VAC

Valve Anti-Cheat, which Steam lists for the game.

Insurgency Server Help and Next Steps

Guides for the jobs you will do most.

• How to raise the visible slots on an Insurgency PvE serverVisible slots, lobby size and bot counts.
• How to set up automatic Steam updates
• How to add your server to GameTracker
• Insurgency: Sandstorm server hostingThe newer game.
• Contact supportHelp with co-op settings and maps, day or night.