PalworldHow Many Players Can Join a Palworld Server? (32 Max)
A Palworld dedicated server holds up to 32 players, co-op only 4. How RAM scales with players and bases, and which server size fits your group.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 · 5 min read
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A Palworld dedicated server can hold up to 32 players at once, while a normal co-op game hosted from your own PC caps at 4. You set the limit with ServerPlayerMaxNum in PalWorldSettings.ini or the -players=32 launch option. The real limit for most groups is memory: Pocketpair recommends 16 GB for a dedicated server, and bigger worlds need more.
Co-op vs dedicated server: the player limits
| Way to play | Max players | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single player | 1 | |
| Co-op (invite code, hosted by a player) | 4 | World only exists while the host plays |
| Dedicated server | 32 | Runs on its own, world stays online |
If your group is 5 or more, a dedicated server is the only official way to play together. CoopPlayerMaxNum in the settings file only affects co-op, not dedicated servers.
How do you set the player limit?
Two places control it on a self hosted server:
ServerPlayerMaxNum=32inside theOptionSettings=(...)line ofPalWorldSettings.ini.- The
-players=32launch argument, which overrides the file.
If you set 32 in the file and the server still shows a lower number, look at your start script for a -players= value. Setting it above 32 does not give you more slots. 32 is the supported maximum.
Guilds have their own cap: GuildPlayerMaxNum defaults to 20, so on a full server not everyone fits in one guild unless you raise it.
How much RAM do you need per player count?
Pocketpair's requirements page says 16 GB is the standard, 32 GB or more for large setups, and that 8 GB boots but makes out of memory crashes more likely. That is not about player count alone. Memory in Palworld grows with:
- Players online, and how spread out they are. Ten players in ten corners of the map load far more of the world than ten players in one base.
- Bases and working Pals. Each guild can run several bases, each with up to 15 workers by default. A late game server with 8 guilds can have hundreds of Pals working at once.
- Structures and dropped items. Big builds and floors full of dropped loot add up.
- Uptime. The server's memory use creeps up the longer it runs. See Palworld server lag and memory fix.
A rough guide:
| Group | RAM | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 8 friends, a few bases | 12 GB | Room for normal bases and a couple of days of uptime |
| 8 to 16 players, or one big group with many bases | 16 GB | Pocketpair's recommended size |
| 16 to 32 players, late game bases everywhere | 24 GB and up | Headroom so restarts are about the leak, not a crisis |
CPU matters as well. Pocketpair recommends 4 or more cores, and busy servers lean hard on single core speed.
Which GamezServers plan fits your group?
| Plan | RAM | Sized for | Price per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 12 GB | Up to 8 players | 29.99 USD |
| Standard | 16 GB | Up to 16 players | 39.99 USD |
| Pro | 24 GB | Up to 32 players | 59.99 USD |
Our player numbers are what each plan is sized for. The player limit is set from your plan, and Palworld itself stops at 32. If your group fits a smaller plan today but your bases keep growing, you can upgrade later without losing the world. The price is prorated, and new customers get 50% off the first month. You can also split the bill with up to 10 friends at checkout, which on the 16 GB plan makes a lot of sense for a group of 8.
Every plan restarts itself on a schedule with a two minute warning to clear Palworld's memory growth, and early if memory reaches 90%. You set the interval in Settings under Auto restart.
What slows a full server down first?
When a 20 or 30 player server starts to struggle, it is usually not the player count itself. The usual causes:
- Too many working Pals. Someone raised
BaseCampWorkerMaxNumto 50 and every guild filled four bases. - High
PalSpawnNumRate. More wild Pals everywhere players are. - Long uptime. The server has not restarted in a day or two.
- Raids.
bEnableInvaderEnemyspawns extra enemies near bases.
Keep base limits sensible from day one. It is much easier than taking Pals away from players later. Our best Palworld server settings guide has values that hold up on bigger servers.
Can Xbox and PS5 players count toward the 32?
Yes. Since crossplay arrived, Steam, Xbox, PS5 and Mac players share the same server and the same 32 slots. Console players find the server in the community server list. Details in Palworld dedicated server crossplay.
FAQ
Can a Palworld server have more than 32 players?
No. 32 is the supported maximum for an official dedicated server. Setting a higher number does not add slots.
Why can only 4 people join my Palworld game?
You are playing co-op, which is limited to 4. Move the world to a dedicated server to allow up to 32. Our co-op save transfer guide shows how.
Do all 32 players need to be online for the server to work?
No. The server runs with any number of players, including zero. Bases keep working while nobody is on, as long as the server is running.
How much RAM does a 4 player Palworld server need?
12 GB is comfortable for a small group. It can boot on 8 GB, but Pocketpair warns that raises the chance of out of memory crashes as the world grows.
Does Palworld count admins against the player limit?
Yes. Every connected player uses a slot, admin or not. Leave a spare slot or two if you want room for yourself on a full server.
Skip the setup. Your own Palworld server.
Then $29.99/mo. Just trying it? $7.50 for 3 days