Unreal Tournament 1999 Server Hosting

Why People Still Play the Original Unreal Tournament

Unreal Tournament came out in 1999 and its Steam page still calls it the undisputed Game of the Year of that year. It shipped with four team and solo game types, bots that the Steam page says play as if they are jacked up on steroids, and Novice and Hardcore settings for them. Matches are fast and readable, and a good player can be picked out in seconds.

Its staying power comes from how open it is. Epic shipped it with a command line that the Steam page describes as the dream way for hardcore server masters to manage a game, and the community took that and ran with it. Instagib servers, custom CTF maps, clan ladders and whole mods have grown around it, and many of the people who played it at LAN parties still run servers today.

OldUnreal, Epic and Patch 469

After years without official updates, in 2019 OldUnreal, the group known for its community patches for the first Unreal, reached an agreement with Epic and took over maintenance of the Unreal Tournament code base. Its README describes the work as fixing hundreds of stability, security and performance problems in the client, the server and Unreal Editor, and adding support for modern operating systems.

For a server admin, three things matter. First, 469e is the current release, out since 11 November 2025, and OldUnreal says to install it if you want to play online. Second, the 469e client connects to the community master servers by itself, which is where UT99 servers are listed today. Third, 469f is close: release candidate 6 arrived on 17 October 2026.

• Windows: Windows 7 or later, as an installer or a zip.
• Linux: a tarball needing GNU libc 2.19 or later; in 469f every build lives in the System folder, and System64 and SystemARM64 are gone.
• macOS: an app bundle for Intel or Apple Silicon, Mac OS X 10.9 or later.
• CPU: SSE2 is required on Windows and Linux.

Picking a Game Type and a Server Size

Decide what the server is for before you decide how big it is. A server that always plays one game type, with a map list people know, builds regulars faster than one that tries a bit of everything.

Slots are sold one at a time from 16 to 70 on our order form, so an odd number is fine. Memory stays the same on every plan: 5GB is far more than UT99 will use. If the server grows, upgrade from the client area and keep your files.

The Server Ini, Maps and ServerPackages

Nearly everything about a UT99 server lives in its ini file: the server name, the passwords, the master server list, the game type defaults and the map rotations. Mods add a line or two of their own. That makes the server easy to manage, but it also means one typo can stop it starting, so keep a copy of the working file before every edit.

1. Stop the server in the panel and take a backup.
2. Upload maps to Maps and code packages to System, over SFTP for anything large.
3. Add new maps to the rotation for your game type.
4. List packages that clients must download under ServerPackages, and server-only tools under ServerActors as their readme says.
5. Start the server and watch the console for missing packages.

ServerPackages deserves care. Every entry there is sent to each player who joins, so an old mod you forgot about makes every join slower. Since 469f, downloads straight from the game server are at least 2.5 times faster when both server and client run 469f, but a lean package list still helps.

Anti-Cheat and Server Mods on 469

UT99 anti-cheat has always come from the community, and the 469 patches change which tools still work. OldUnreal's README says ACE v1.1f or below still works on Windows servers but not on Linux ones, where ACE v1.2 or later is needed. The 469f release candidates go further: they disable older versions of ACE, and OldUnreal recommends ACE 1.4b or later so a server can check 469f clients.

Some older anti-cheat tools, such as CSHP4 and AnthChecker, reject v469 clients outright, so a server still running them will turn away most current players. ServerCrashFix is no longer needed at all, because its fixes are part of the patch, and admins who use XC_Engine for its advanced features need v25 or later.

Getting Listed and Getting Players In

Players find a UT99 server through the in-game server browser, which reads community master servers, or by typing the IP and port shown in our panel. If your server does not appear in the browser, the master server lines in the ini are the first thing to check. OldUnreal's 469e notes say a player whose browser is empty can use the Update/Fix Network Settings button under Options, Preferences, Network to restore it.

A private clan server can skip the browser entirely. Set a game password, share the address with your members, and keep the admin password to a small group. Change it when someone leaves the admin team, and use panel sub users instead of sharing your own account.

Moving From Another Host and Keeping Backups

Moving an existing server is mostly a file copy. Download the ini, the Maps folder and any custom packages from the old host, upload them here, and check the paths in the ini match. We keep offsite backups of the last 7 days that you can restore from the panel, and a snapshot of your own before any big change is the quickest way back if something breaks.

What to Compare Before You Rent a UT99 Server

Cheap UT99 hosting is easy to find. These are the details that decide whether it is any good.

1. Ini and file accessUT99 is run from text files, so you need SFTP and a file editor, not only a settings form.
2. Patch helpAsk whether the host can put your server on OldUnreal's 469 builds and help when 469f is final.
3. Per-slot billingA clan of ten should not pay for a 32 slot server.
4. PingTest before you buy. Instant-hit weapons show lag immediately.
5. BackupsMake sure you can restore yourself before an anti-cheat change goes wrong.
6. TermsMonthly billing, no setup fee and no minimum term.

UT99 Server Glossary

469

OldUnreal's family of community patches for Unreal Tournament; 469e is the current release.

ACE

The anti-cheat used on most UT99 servers; 1.4b or later is recommended for 469f clients.

ServerPackages

The ini list of packages the server sends to every joining player.

ServerActors

The ini list of server-side tools loaded when the server starts.

Mutator

An add-on that changes match rules, such as instagib or low gravity.

Master server

The listing service the in-game browser reads; the 469e client connects to the community master servers.

Instagib

A popular mutator in which every hit kills.

Botmatch

A match against computer-controlled bots, with Novice and Hardcore settings described on the Steam page.

XC_Engine

A native server extension; 469 servers need v25 or later for its advanced features.

UT99 Server Help and Next Steps

Useful pages while you set up the server.

• OldUnreal UT99 patches on GitHubInstall steps and notes for server admins.
• 469 release notesEvery release and release candidate.
• Unreal Tournament 2004 server hostingThe sequel, also maintained by OldUnreal.
• Gaming Deluxe control panelLogging in and using the panel.
• Our server locations
• Contact support24/7 help with patches, maps and the ini.