Hytale Server Requirements: RAM, CPU & Storage

The official Hytale server baseline is simple: Java 25, at least 4 GB of memory, and a 64-bit x64 or arm64 system. Real capacity planning is less simple because player behavior, world activity, entities, view distance, and mods change the workload.

Official dedicated-server minimum

The 4 GB figure means the server can be installed and started under the documented minimum. It is not a recommended capacity for every player count, mod collection, or world.

Do not confuse dedicated-server requirements with Hytale's client requirements. Single-player runs a client and a local server on the same computer, while a headless dedicated host does not render the game. Buying a GPU for a headless server usually does not solve simulation, memory, or network bottlenecks.

What increases CPU usage?

The official server manual identifies high player and entity counts as primary CPU drivers. CPU demand also changes with active simulation and mod behavior. A small number of players concentrated in one settled area can behave differently from the same number exploring and loading separate regions.

When evaluating a CPU, prioritize sustained per-core performance and stable thermals over a large headline core count alone. Observe:

• Tick or simulation delays during peak play.
• CPU usage by individual cores, not only the system-wide average.
• Player and entity count when a slowdown begins.
• Whether a specific mod or newly loaded area triggers the problem.

Change one variable at a time. Restarting, lowering view distance, removing a suspect mod, and reducing active entities are diagnostic tests—not substitutes for measuring the real workload.

What increases RAM usage?

Loaded world area is the main memory driver described by the official manual. View distance and players exploring independently load more chunks. Mods can add content and retain additional data.

The manual recommends a maximum view distance of 12 chunks, or 384 blocks, as a practical performance target. Increasing it can raise memory pressure rapidly without improving gameplay for every server.

Set an explicit Java heap maximum only after reserving memory for Linux or Windows, filesystem cache, monitoring, backup compression, and the update process. An -Xmx value equal to all physical RAM can force the operating system to swap or terminate the server.

Use this planning method instead of an unsupported player-count promise:

1. Start with the official minimum only for a controlled test.
2. Run the intended world, view distance, and mod set.
3. Invite a representative test group.
4. Record peak resident memory, heap behavior, CPU, and save duration.
5. Add headroom for updates, backups, exploration, and peak attendance.

Storage requirements

Plan storage for more than the initial download. A dedicated host needs room for:

• Current server files and Assets.zip.
• The growing universe/ directory.
• Logs and crash reports.
• Mods and configuration.
• A staged update and rollback copy.
• Multiple backup generations.

World storage is not fixed because exploration and saved player data grow over time. Fast SSD storage helps updates, saves, startup, and backup jobs, but capacity and a tested retention policy matter just as much.

Keep at least one backup on another device or service. A copy beside the live world is useful for quick rollback but does not protect against disk failure, ransomware, or deletion of the entire server directory.

Network and firewall requirements

The default Hytale connection is UDP 5520 using QUIC. The server needs:

• An inbound UDP rule on the host firewall.
• The same rule in any cloud firewall or security group.
• UDP port forwarding when hosted behind a home router.
• A stable public route without carrier-grade NAT, or a provider that supplies one.

Bandwidth usage varies with players, loaded activity, and configuration. Test latency and packet loss from the regions your players actually use. A high download speed does not compensate for unstable upload, congestion, or a distant datacenter.

Quick buying checklist

Before choosing hardware or a managed plan, ask:

• Is Java 25 available and can I control the launch arguments?
• Is the advertised RAM dedicated or shared with an aggressive limit?
• Can I inspect CPU and memory use during peak hours?
• Are backups off-machine, versioned, and restorable?
• Is UDP 5520 supported, and can I choose another UDP port?
• Can I install the mods I intend to test?
• Is there room to stage an update without overwriting the only working copy?

If you do not want to administer Java, networking, monitoring, and backups, compare those capabilities—not only RAM labels—in the Hytale server hosting guide.

Official references

• Hytale Server Manual
• Hytale Hardware Requirements