Sons of the Forest Dedicated Server Settings Explained

A Sons of the Forest dedicated server is configured in dedicatedserver.cfg, a JSON file in the server's user data folder. The keys that matter most are MaxPlayers (1 to 8), Password, SaveSlot, SaveMode (Continue or New), GameMode and SaveInterval (600 seconds by default). Default ports are UDP 8766 (game), 27016 (query) and 9700 (BlobSync). Admins go in ownerswhitelist.txt.

Where is dedicatedserver.cfg?

On a Windows self host, Endnight's server keeps its files in:

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\LocalLow\Endnight\SonsOfTheForestDS

That folder holds dedicatedserver.cfg, ownerswhitelist.txt, the Saves folder and logs if logging is on. You can move it with the -userdatapath "c:/path/to/folder" launch option, and any config key can be overridden on the command line, for example -dedicatedserver.MaxPlayers "4". The server reads the file when it starts, so stop it, edit, then start again.

Here is the full default file from Endnight's dedicated server guide:

{
  "IpAddress": "0.0.0.0",
  "GamePort": 8766,
  "QueryPort": 27016,
  "BlobSyncPort": 9700,
  "ServerName": "Sons Of The Forest Server (dedicated)",
  "MaxPlayers": 8,
  "Password": "",
  "LanOnly": false,
  "SaveSlot": 1,
  "SaveMode": "Continue",
  "GameMode": "Normal",
  "SaveInterval": 600,
  "IdleDayCycleSpeed": 0.0,
  "IdleTargetFramerate": 5,
  "ActiveTargetFramerate": 60,
  "LogFilesEnabled": false,
  "TimestampLogFilenames": true,
  "TimestampLogEntries": true,
  "SkipNetworkAccessibilityTest": false,
  "GameSettings": {},
  "CustomGameModeSettings": {}
}

What do the network keys do?

If you host at home, forward all three UDP ports. A server that starts but never appears in the list usually has the query port blocked. SkipNetworkAccessibilityTest set to true is the fix when that self test fails and stops the server from starting even though players can reach it.

What do the server and save keys do?

SaveMode is the dangerous one. New overwrites whatever is on SaveSlot each time the server starts. Use it once to start a fresh island, then switch back to Continue before the next restart, or you lose the world.

SaveSlot must match the folder name of the save you want, which matters when you upload a save from your PC. Copy the whole numbered save folder into the server's Saves folder and set SaveSlot to that number. Our guide to hosting a Sons of the Forest server walks through the transfer.

MaxPlayers cannot go past 8, the game's co-op cap.

What GameMode values are there?

GameMode accepts Normal, Hard, HardSurvival, Peaceful, Creative and Custom. It is only applied when a new save is created. Changing it on an existing island does nothing, so decide before the first start or create a new save slot.

What do the performance keys do?

Leaving IdleDayCycleSpeed at 0 means the island waits for you: seasons do not move and nothing changes while everyone is offline. Most groups like it that way.

How do GameSettings and CustomGameModeSettings work?

GameSettings takes two extra switches:

"GameSettings": {
  "Gameplay.TreeRegrowth": true,
  "Structure.Damage": true
}

Gameplay.TreeRegrowth regrows trees when players sleep. Structure.Damage controls whether buildings can be damaged. Groups who hate losing walls to mutants set it to false.

CustomGameModeSettings holds the detailed rules, and it only applies when GameMode is Custom. Endnight is clear that these are set once, when the save is created, and ignored when the server loads an existing save. A relaxed custom island might look like this:

"GameMode": "Custom",
"CustomGameModeSettings": {
  "GameSetting.Vail.EnemyHealth": "Low",
  "GameSetting.Vail.EnemyDamage": "Low",
  "GameSetting.Vail.EnemyAggression": "Normal",
  "GameSetting.Vail.AnimalSpawnRate": "High",
  "GameSetting.Environment.StartingSeason": "Summer",
  "GameSetting.Environment.SeasonLength": "Long",
  "GameSetting.Survival.ColdPenalties": "Off",
  "GameSetting.Survival.BuildingResistance": "High",
  "GameSetting.Multiplayer.PvpDamage": "Low"
}

Every key starts with GameSetting., as in the example.

How do I make myself admin?

Add your SteamID64 to ownerswhitelist.txt, one per line, and restart. Owners get the admin panel under Pause Menu > Players, where they can promote players to administrators, demote them to guests, kick, ban and unban. Endnight notes owners have the same rights as a player host, so only list people you trust.

# Server owners
76561198000000001

FAQ

How many players can a Sons of the Forest dedicated server have?

Eight. MaxPlayers accepts 1 to 8, which is the game's co-op cap.

Why did my Sons of the Forest server reset the world?

SaveMode was set to New, which creates a new game on the save slot every start. Set it back to Continue.

Can I change the difficulty of an existing save?

Not through GameMode or CustomGameModeSettings. Both are only applied when a save is created, so start a new slot with the mode you want.

What ports does a Sons of the Forest server use?

UDP 8766 for the game, 27016 for the Steam query and 9700 for BlobSync, unless you change them in the config.

How do I stop buildings taking damage?

Add "Structure.Damage": false inside GameSettings and restart the server.

The shortcut

On a GamezServers Sons of the Forest server, the panel already handles the name, password, max players, game mode for new saves, save slot, auto updates and the network test switch, with no ports to forward. The full dedicatedserver.cfg and ownerswhitelist.txt are in the file manager for everything else here, and one click backups mean a mistaken SaveMode does not cost you the island.