How to Host a Dead Matter Dedicated Server (2026 Guide)

To host a Dead Matter dedicated server, download the free server tool with SteamCMD (app 2584780), create Game.ini yourself in DeadMatter\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\, then start DeadMatterServer.exe -log with your game port and query port open (7777 and 27016 by default). The server ships without a config file, so the step people miss is writing that file. Your SteamID64 goes in it as admin, and the server name you set is what players search for in the browser.

Know what you are hosting

Dead Matter is a survival shooter from QI Games: infected, loot towns, a detailed medical system and base claims on a 6 by 6 km slice of the Canadian Rockies. It entered Steam Early Access in September 2023, and the Steam store page now notes that the developers' last update was more than two years ago. Reviews are mostly negative and public servers are thin.

That shapes the case for hosting. You are not hosting to catch a wave of new players. You host because your group owns the game, likes the loop, and wants a server that is not empty or full of people camping the loot towns. The game build is unlikely to change under you, which actually makes a private server easy to keep stable.

What you need

The server itself is free. You do not need to own the game to download it with SteamCMD.

Step 1: Download the server

Install SteamCMD, then:

steamcmd +force_install_dir C:\DeadMatterServer +login anonymous +app_update 2584780 validate +quit

The executable lands in the install folder as DeadMatterServer.exe, with the real binary under DeadMatter\Binaries\Win64\.

Step 2: Create Game.ini

The server does not generate Game.ini on install. Create the folder if needed and a new text file:

C:\DeadMatterServer\DeadMatter\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\Game.ini

A working starting point:

[/Script/Engine.GameSession]
MaxPlayers=16

[/Script/DeadMatter.SurvivalBaseGamestate]
ServerName=Ridgeline Survivors
Password=
MOTD=Welcome. No KOS in town.
+Admins=76561198000000000
+SuperAdmins=76561198000000000
MaxPlayerClaims=3
bFirstPersonOnly=false
bIsHardcore=false
PVP=true

[/Script/DeadMatter.SurvivalBaseGamemode]
WhitelistActive=false

Replace the number with your own 17 digit SteamID64, which you can find at steamid.io from your profile link. Every option in this file is covered in our Dead Matter Game.ini settings guide.

Save the file as plain text. If Notepad adds .txt to the end, the server ignores it, so turn on file extensions in Explorer and check.

Step 3: Set the ports

Dead Matter reads its game port from Engine.ini in the same folder. Create it if it is missing:

[URL]
Port=7777

[OnlineSubsystemSteam]
GameServerQueryPort=27016

You can also pass ports on the command line, which is how many hosts run it:

DeadMatterServer.exe -log -port=7777 -queryport=27016

Pick one method and keep it consistent, then forward both ports as UDP on your router to the server PC. Our port forwarding guide covers the router side. Allow DeadMatterServer.exe through Windows Defender Firewall too.

Step 4: Start it and keep it running

Make a start.bat next to the executable so the server restarts itself after a crash:

@echo off
:start
DeadMatterServer.exe -log
echo Server stopped, restarting in 10 seconds
timeout /t 10
goto start

The -log flag opens a console window so you can see what it is doing. When the log shows LogInit: Display: Starting Game and settles, the server is up.

Memory use creeps up over long sessions on a busy map, so plan a daily restart. Close the window or press Ctrl+C to stop the loop, and always stop the server before editing Game.ini.

Step 5: Join and claim admin

1. Launch Dead Matter and open the server browser.
2. Search for the exact ServerName from Game.ini. A fresh server can take a few minutes to appear.
3. Join, make your character, and press Y to open chat. Admin commands start with /.

If commands do nothing, your SteamID64 is wrong or the file did not load. Our Dead Matter admin guide lists the commands and the usual mistakes.

Common problems on a first start

Or let someone else run the PC

A home Dead Matter server means a Windows PC left on, ports forwarded and a restart loop to babysit. On a Dead Matter server from GamezServers, we install the server tool for you, set the server name and auto update from the panel, and assign the ports, so there is nothing to forward. You edit Game.ini in the file manager, take a one click backup before you change rules, and restart from the panel when the map has been up a while. Your squad can split the monthly cost.

FAQ

Is Dead Matter still worth hosting?

For a group that already owns it and enjoys the survival loop, yes. Just know the game is in early access with no recent updates, so do not expect new content or a busy public scene.

Does Dead Matter have a Linux server?

No native one. The dedicated server is a Windows build. It can run on Linux through a compatibility layer, which is how many hosts run it, but on your own hardware Windows is the simplest path.

How many players can a Dead Matter server hold?

You set it with MaxPlayers in Game.ini. Community servers often use 36. Bigger caps mean more infected and loot active, so size RAM to match.

Why can't I find my server in the browser?

Search the exact name and give it a few minutes. If it still is not there, the query port is not reachable from outside.

Do I need to own Dead Matter to run the server?

No, the server tool is a free download. Everyone who wants to play on it needs the game.