How much RAM does a Sons of the Forest dedicated server need?

8 GB is enough for groups of up to 4 players. For 5-8 players or large bases we recommend 12-16 GB, because RAM usage grows with the world: the more you build and the older the save, the more memory the server uses.

Which ports does a Sons of the Forest server use?

Three UDP ports: 8766 as game port, 27016 as query port for the server list, and 9700 as BlobSync port. All three can be changed in dedicatedserver.cfg — at RespawnHost they come preconfigured.

How many players fit on one server?

A maximum of 8 — that's a hard limit of the game. MaxPlayers in dedicatedserver.cfg only accepts values from 1 to 8; more slots are technically impossible.

Can I adjust difficulty and game rules?

Yes. In dedicatedserver.cfg you choose between Normal, Peaceful, Hard, HardSurvival, and Custom. In Custom mode you control individual rules like tree regrowth (Gameplay.TreeRegrowth) or building damage (Structure.Damage).

How do I join my server?

In-game, open Multiplayer → Dedicated Servers and find your server in the browser — or connect directly by IP. With a password set, the server stays private for your group.

No. Sons of the Forest is PC-only (Steam), so everyone plays together on the same version — there is no console crossplay.

Are Kelvin and Virginia available in multiplayer?

Yes, the AI companions Kelvin and Virginia exist in multiplayer worlds too and help you gather, build, and fight.

How do saves and backups work?

The server saves automatically at the SaveInterval (default: every 600 seconds). Saves are stored server-side, accessible via SFTP, and can be backed up and restored through the control panel.

Can I upgrade my server later?

Yes, you can upgrade your server plan anytime through the control panel to get more RAM and CPU power — your save moves with you.

Is the world persistent?

Yes, your world and building progress is saved automatically and the world runs no matter who is online. You continue exactly where you left off.

Where are the servers located?

We offer server locations in Germany and the USA for low latency for you and your friends.

Sons of the forest

Sons of the Forest Server Hosting

Name: Sons of the Forest Server Hosting
Brand: RespawnHost
SKU: sons-of-the-forest-hosting
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (26 reviews)

Instantly online in < 90 seconds
Up to 8 players on one server
Fairness Guarantee: Pay-Per-Use

Rent a server now View all plans

4.7/5 stars on Trustpilot

Start instantly

<90

Seconds

Your server is online & ready in seconds

Online in 90 seconds

From click to running server — no waiting.

Simple & flexible

Easy setup, flexible terms, full control.

Safe & protected

DDoS protection, backups and modern hosting.

Billed by the second

Pay-per-use – only pay while your server runs.

Our most popular plans

Choose your plan

Save up to 20%with a longer term

Slots

4GBRAM

8.00 €/ mo

Recommended for 2 players

Two survivors on the island
Premium server hardware
Premium DDoS protection
Game switching to 26 more games included

Slots

6GBRAM

11.39 €/ mo

Recommended for 3 players

Small camp, up to 3 survivors
Premium server hardware
Premium DDoS protection
Game switching to 32 more games included

Slots

8GBRAM

15.20 €/ mo

Recommended for 4 players

Perfect for up to 4 survivors
Premium server hardware
Premium DDoS protection
Game switching to 47 more games included

What is a Sons of the Forest dedicated server?

A Sons of the Forest dedicated server runs your island world 24/7, independent of any player: up to 8 survivors join whenever they want, and nobody has to keep a host PC running. Endnight Games ships an official dedicated server tool (Steam app 2465200) since the 1.0 release on February 22, 2024. At RespawnHost you rent one pay-per-use from 0.0266 €/h (billed per second, only while the server runs) or as a fixed plan from 8.00 €/month — ready in under 90 seconds.

Up to 8 players in co-op

World runs 24/7 without a host PC

Pay-per-use from 0.0266 €/h

Online in 90 seconds

Everything you need

These features are included in every plan for the optimal Sons of the Forest experience.

Instant Setup

Your server is ready in under 90 seconds. No waiting, start playing right away.

All 8 Slots Included

The official maximum of 8 players is included in every plan — no slot surcharge.

Custom Control Panel

Fully customizable control panel with a config editor for dedicatedserver.cfg.

Per-Second Billing

Only pay while your server is online. Costs are deducted per second.

DDoS Protection

Our permanent DDoS protection guarantees a secure gaming environment.

Quality Support

Our support team helps you with all your questions.

Gaming Infrastructure

Premium hardware for your Sons of the Forest server

Kostenrechner

Calculate your real costs for Sons of the Forest

Play time per day3h

1h24h

Your typical day

0:0024:00

Fixed plan

8.00 €

runs around the clock

RespawnHost

~2.39 €

3h/day billed

Your savings

versus the fixed plan, at 90 h/month

70 %

~5.61 €

The fixed plan only pays off from around 10.0 hours a day. Below that, Pay-per-Use is cheaper.

For reference: €11.00 (4 GB, monthly, BisectHosting, as of July 2026)

Based on the 4 GB package. Actual costs may vary depending on usage.

Hardware & Infrastruktur

Optimized for Sons of the Forest

Processor

AMD Ryzen

RAM

DDR5

Storage

NVMe SSD

DDoS protection

Premium Gaming DDoS Protection

Uplink

25 Gbit/s

Uptime

100.00 %

All systems operational

Live status on Instatus

Transparent Price Calculation

Fair and transparent prices. Pay only for usage.

Pay only when online

No costs when the server is off. Pay only for usage.

Live billing

Costs accrue live. Full cost control.

No hidden costs

No setup fees, no subscription trap.

Sons of the Forest Price Example

Survivor (8 GB RAM) as fixed plan19.15 € / Month

Pay-per-use hourly rate≈ 0.0266 € / Hour

(0.0266 € × 720 Hours = 19.15 €)

Live Billing

As soon as your Sons of the Forest server is online, costs are deducted per second. Server off = no more cost consumption.

Example: 4 GB Package

2 hours online≈ 0.05 €

Server turned off0.00 €

Total costOnly what you play!

The Difference

Why RespawnHost is the best choice for Sons of the Forest.

Feature	RespawnHost.com	Provider A	Provider B	Provider C	Provider D
Pay only when server is online
Server ready in under 90s
All 8 slots in every plan
Unlimited NVMe SSD
Unlimited Cores
Custom Control Panel
Full SFTP Access
Free Databases
Premium Hardware

*1 Sample of four major providers, surveyed in July 2026 based on their public pricing and feature pages. The providers are not named because plans can change at any time — what counts is the state as of the survey date.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sons of the Forest Servers

Sons of the Forest Dedicated Server Hosting: Co-op on the Cannibal Island — No Host PC

In Sons of the Forest you crash-land on an island full of cannibals and mutants — and regular co-op has one catch: the world only exists while the host is online. A dedicated server fixes that. Your world keeps running 24/7, everyone joins whenever they want, and the save lives safely on the server instead of on a friend's PC. Since version 1.0, Endnight ships an official dedicated server tool for exactly this.

Why choose RespawnHost for Sons of the Forest server hosting?

Sons of the Forest is hungrier on the server side than most survival games: the more you build and the older the world gets, the more RAM it uses. That's why our plans start at a full 8 GB RAM on modern AMD Ryzen hardware — enough for a group of four without the simulation choking on large bases.

If your group grows to 5-8 players or the camp turns into a fortress, you scale to 12, 16, or up to 24 GB with one click — your save moves with you. With DDoS protection and automatic updates, the server stays safe and always on the latest version.

Features for Island Survivors

Instant Setup: On the island in under 90 seconds
Persistent world: the save stays on the server — no host PC needed
Full control: edit dedicatedserver.cfg directly in the web interface
DDoS protection: secure gaming environment around the clock
Pay-Per-Use: pay only for the time you play
Automatic updates: always on the latest version

Whether you build in relaxed Peaceful mode or fight for your base every night in Hard Survival — the server scales with your ambitions. Saves are stored server-side, accessible via SFTP, and can be backed up in the panel.

How much does a Sons of the Forest server cost?

With pay-per-use you only pay for actual playtime: a group playing three evenings a week for 3 hours each lands at around 39 hours a month — on the Survivor plan (8 GB, 0.0266 €/h) that's roughly 1.98 €. A classic host charges you the full monthly price for the same usage.

If the island should be reachable around the clock, the fixed plan is the cheaper option: from 8.00 €/month for 8 GB RAM, with term discounts of 2.5% (90 days) to 5% (180 days). You can switch between both models anytime — no subscription trap.

Don't forget to stop your server when you're done — server off means zero cost. Your world will be waiting when you return.

Co-op Host or Dedicated Server — Which Is Better?

In regular multiplayer one player hosts the world on their own PC: if the host goes offline, the island disappears for everyone, and their hardware has to run game and server at the same time. A dedicated server separates the two cleanly.

On a dedicated server the world runs independently of every player: whoever finishes work first simply joins earlier, and the save lives centrally on the server instead of on someone's private machine. That matters in Sons of the Forest, because days, seasons, and everything you build persist in one single shared world.

You join through the in-game server browser (Multiplayer → Dedicated Servers) or directly by IP. Set a password in the config and the server stays private — only your group gets in.

Sons of the Forest Dedicated Server: Ports, dedicatedserver.cfg & Player Limit

The official dedicated server tool (Steam app 2465200) uses three UDP ports and is configured through the JSON file dedicatedserver.cfg. The key values at a glance:

At RespawnHost all of this comes preconfigured: order the server, set a server name and password, start playing. If needed, you edit dedicatedserver.cfg directly in the web interface's config editor — no SteamCMD, no port forwarding.

Ports: UDP 8766 (game), UDP 27016 (query/server list), UDP 9700 (BlobSync)
MaxPlayers: 1 to 8 — Sons of the Forest does not support more than 8 players
GameMode: Normal, Peaceful, Hard, HardSurvival, or Custom with your own rules
Custom game settings: e.g. Gameplay.TreeRegrowth (trees grow back) and Structure.Damage (building damage on/off)
SaveInterval: autosave interval in seconds (default 600 = every 10 minutes)
Password & LanOnly: protect the server with a password or hide it from the public list entirely
Saves: stored server-side and accessible via SFTP — backups in the panel

Sons of the Forest in 2026: A Finished 1.0, Not an Early Access Construction Site

Sons of the Forest hit version 1.0 on February 22, 2024 and is a finished, stable game today. The last major update, Patch 16 from January 2025, added three buildable rafts with a mooring post, a procedural defensive wall system, extended world boundaries, and over 100 bug fixes.

For server owners that's an advantage: no weekly update breakage, no wipes, no broken saves after patches — your world just keeps running. Start with a group in 2026 and you get the complete game, from the beach crash to the endgame bunkers, in one persistent world.

Last updated: July 2026