Onset server hosting for your own gamemode
Onset is an open-world multiplayer sandbox where the server decides the game. Write or install Lua packages for roleplay, racing or anything else, and players download them when they join.
- Official Onset dedicated server
- Lua packages, plugins and experimental C#
- Up to 300 players per server
- Voice chat, password and optional VAC
- Players
- Up to 300 (maxplayers)
- PortsThe game port, the query port (game port − 1) and the file download port (game port − 2).
- 7777 UDP · 7776 UDP · 7775 TCP
- Scripting
- Lua packages, server-side C#
- Config
- server_config.json
- Version
- 1.5.5 (March 2022)
- Server
- Windows and Linux (Linux for production)
Options
- Lua packages
- C#
- MariaDB
- Voice chat
- VAC
- Script sandbox
- Web UIs
Game facts from the official Onset developer wiki and Onset news on Steam, checked in October 2026.
- DDoS protection
- 20 game server locations
Onset plans are being prepared
Tell us your gamemode, the players you expect and whether you need a database, and our team will reply with the options. Or open a ticket and we will let you know when the plans are online.
How much does an Onset server need?
The Onset server itself is tiny; your packages, the database and the player count decide the size.
Find your size
| Feature |
Small
Up to 32 players
|
Recommended Community
Up to 100 players
|
Large
Up to 300 players
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory (RAM)Memory for the server, your packages and plugins. A database on the same machine needs its own share. | 1 GB | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. | 1–2 | 2 | 3–4 |
| Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods. | 10 GB | 15 GB | 20 GB |
| Streaming distanceThe pools settings decide how far entities are streamed to players; the wiki puts about 12000.0 at up to 300 players. | Default | Default | ~12000.0 |
| Typical use | Friends testing a gamemode | Roleplay community with a database | Large public server |
-
Small
Up to 32 players
- Memory (RAM)Memory for the server, your packages and plugins. A database on the same machine needs its own share.
- 1 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 1–2
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 10 GB
- Streaming distanceThe pools settings decide how far entities are streamed to players; the wiki puts about 12000.0 at up to 300 players.
- Default
- Typical use
- Friends testing a gamemode
-
Recommended
Community
Up to 100 players
- Memory (RAM)Memory for the server, your packages and plugins. A database on the same machine needs its own share.
- 2 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 15 GB
- Streaming distanceThe pools settings decide how far entities are streamed to players; the wiki puts about 12000.0 at up to 300 players.
- Default
- Typical use
- Roleplay community with a database
-
Large
Up to 300 players
- Memory (RAM)Memory for the server, your packages and plugins. A database on the same machine needs its own share.
- 4 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 3–4
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 20 GB
- Streaming distanceThe pools settings decide how far entities are streamed to players; the wiki puts about 12000.0 at up to 300 players.
- ~12000.0
- Typical use
- Large public server
The Onset wiki lists a single core with SSE2 and 100 MB of RAM as the bare minimum. These starting points add room for packages, plugins and players; they are our estimate.
Packages, plugins and server settings
On Onset the server is the game: everything players see comes from your packages.
Lua packages
Each package is a folder with server, client and shared Lua scripts and files. Players download the client files when they join.
Plugins
Load plugins such as MariaDB from the plugins folder to keep accounts and data in a database.
Server-side C#
Since version 1.5.0, server scripts can also be written in C#, marked experimental by the developers.
Voice chat
Turn on voice, choose the sample rate and make it 3D with voice_spatialization.
Security options
vac turns on Valve Anti-Cheat, sandbox limits risky script functions, and iplimit caps connections per address.
Loading screens and web UIs
Show your own page while players connect with connect_screen_url, and build menus as web UIs inside your packages.
Set up your Onset server
Four steps from an empty server to your gamemode.
-
Choose your gamemode
Bring your own packages or a community gamemode, and pick a size from the table above.
-
Pick a location
Choose the one closest to your players from our 20 game server locations.
-
Edit server_config.json
Set servername, maxplayers, the password and the lists of packages and plugins, and turn on masterlist to appear in the server list.
-
Open the ports and play
Make the game, query and download ports reachable; players then find the server in the list or connect by address.
Other game servers you might like
Multi Theft Auto: San Andreas
Lua-powered roleplay, race and freeroam servers for San Andreas.
Learn moreFrequently asked questions
Is Onset still available?
Yes. In October 2026 Onset is still sold on Steam and the dedicated server installs with SteamCMD. The last game update, 1.5.5, came out in March 2022, so plan with that version.
Which ports does an Onset server use?
UDP 7777 for the game, UDP 7776 for queries (game port minus one) and TCP 7775 for file downloads (game port minus two). Change the game port in server_config.json and the others follow.
How many players can join?
Up to 300 according to the Onset limits page. Set maxplayers in server_config.json; the example config uses 25.
How do packages work?
A package is a folder in packages with a package.json or an index.lua. It lists server scripts, client scripts, shared scripts and files such as HTML and fonts. Add the package name to packages in server_config.json to load it.
Do players download my scripts and files?
Yes. When they join, players download the client scripts, shared scripts and files of your packages and keep them in a cache. Changed files are downloaded again.
Can I use a database?
Yes. Load the MariaDB plugin from the plugins folder by adding it to plugins in server_config.json, and keep accounts and progress in a MariaDB database.
Can I write scripts in C#?
Yes, on the server side. Version 1.5.0 added experimental server-side C# scripting next to Lua.
How do I make the server public or private?
Set masterlist to true to appear in the server list, and set a password to keep it private. Since 1.5.4 the server list uses Steam’s master server, so keep the server up to date.
How do I protect the server against cheaters?
Turn on vac so players with a Valve Anti-Cheat ban cannot join, use iplimit to cap connections per address and turn on sandbox to block risky functions in scripts.
Can I turn on voice chat?
Yes. Set voice to true, pick a voice_sample_rate between 8000 and 48000 and turn on voice_spatialization for 3D voice that fades with distance.
Ready to launch your gamemode?
Tell us your gamemode and player count, and we will help you pick the right Onset server.