How to Host a Nuclear Option Server for Free (2026)

You can host a Nuclear Option server for free in two ways: create a game from the Multiplayer menu, which lasts only while you stay in, or run Shockfront's free dedicated server (Steam app 3930080) on a spare PC with UDP ports 7777 and 7778 forwarded. The dedicated server keeps the mission rotation running when nobody is hosting.

What are the free ways to host Nuclear Option?

The dedicated server is a free download that does not need a copy of the game on the server machine. Everyone who joins still needs to own Nuclear Option.

How do I host a Nuclear Option game from the menu?

The simplest free option is player hosting, built into the game:

1. Open Multiplayer from the main menu.
2. Choose to create a new game and pick a mission, such as Escalation or a co-op mission.
3. Leave public game ticked to list it in the server browser, or untick it for a private game with your friends.
4. Set the max players and start. Friends find your game in the multiplayer list.

The catch is that the game runs on your PC. As players on the Steam forums point out, there is no host migration: when the host quits, everyone goes back to the menu. Your PC also simulates every aircraft, missile and AI unit while you fly, which costs frame rate in big missions.

How do I run the free Nuclear Option dedicated server?

Shockfront released an official dedicated server with update 0.31. It runs a mission rotation on its own, appears in the in game server list and keeps going after you log off.

1. Install SteamCMD, or if you own the game, find the Nuclear Option dedicated server under Tools in your Steam library.
2. Download the server, app 3930080, with an anonymous login:

steamcmd +force_install_dir /home/steam/NuclearOptionServer +login anonymous +app_update 3930080 validate +quit

3. Start it once with RunServer.sh on Linux or RunServer.bat on Windows. It writes DedicatedServerConfig.json and logs Waiting for Players before loading next map when ready.
4. Edit DedicatedServerConfig.json: server name, password, MaxPlayers and your MissionRotation.
5. Forward UDP 7777 and 7778 to the machine. 7777 is game traffic and 7778 is the Steam query port the server list uses.
6. Find it in the server list by name and join.

Every step with Linux and Windows details is in how to make a Nuclear Option dedicated server, and every config key is in DedicatedServerConfig.json explained.

What PC do I need for a Nuclear Option server?

Less RAM than you might think, but a good CPU. The server idles at about half a gigabyte with no mission loaded, and grows as a mission spawns units. Every missile, vehicle and AI aircraft is simulated on the server, so single core speed matters most.

Shockfront warns that more than 16 players shows a performance warning in the server list. Update 0.34 added artillery, munitions trucks and ammo logistics, which add more AI for the server to run. See Nuclear Option server requirements for the detail.

Since Update 0.33, the dedicated server pauses when no players are connected, so an empty free server barely touches your CPU.

What are the limits of hosting Nuclear Option for free?

• Player hosted games end with the host. Fine for an evening with friends, not for a squadron that drops in at different times.
• Port forwarding. The dedicated server needs UDP 7777 and 7778 open. If your provider uses CGNAT, forwarding will not work at all.
• Updates. After each patch, players on the new build cannot join an old server until you run SteamCMD again and restart. Between April and August 2026 alone there were 0.33, four 0.33 patches, 0.34 and two 0.34 patches, as listed in our Nuclear Option patch notes 2026.
• Admin tools. Kicks, bans, chat and changing the next mission go through remote commands on a local TCP port, which need a separate tool on a self hosted server.
• Your home IP and connection are shared with every player.

When is paid Nuclear Option hosting worth it?

When your squadron wants the war running whenever someone logs in, not just when the host is online. A Nuclear Option server with GamezServers handles the parts that free hosting leaves to you:

Missions are a menu in the panel (PvP, co-op as BDF or PALA, or your own list with Workshop missions), the server updates itself on every restart, and kicks, bans, chat and the next mission are buttons that send the official commands. New customers get 50% off the first month, and you can split the bill with up to 10 friends for a 1 USD fee per share. The Nuclear Option hosting quick start shows the whole setup.

FAQ

Is the Nuclear Option dedicated server free?

Yes. It is a free tool from Shockfront Studios, Steam app 3930080, and downloads with an anonymous SteamCMD login. Players still need to own the game.

Does a Nuclear Option server need port forwarding?

A self hosted dedicated server needs UDP 7777 for game traffic and UDP 7778 for the Steam query port forwarded. A rented server has them open already.

Can I host Nuclear Option without staying in the game?

Only with the dedicated server. A game created from the menu ends for everyone when the host leaves.

How many players can a Nuclear Option server have?

You set MaxPlayers yourself, and Shockfront recommends 16. Above 16 the server list shows players a performance warning.

Can I run a Nuclear Option server on Linux?

Yes. The dedicated server runs natively on Windows and 64 bit Linux, and Linux is a good fit for a spare machine or VPS.