Quake Live server hosting for duels and team modes
Run your own Quake Live server for duels, clan arena or capture the flag. Pick your map pool and game types, load Workshop maps and give your admins rights by Steam ID.
- Official Quake Live Dedicated Server
- Duel, clan arena, CTF, freeze tag and more
- Steam Workshop maps that players download on joining
- Map pools, factories and admin lists by Steam ID
- PlayersSet with sv_maxClients in server.cfg.
- 16 by default
- PortsThe game uses UDP 27960. ZMQ RCON needs its own TCP port; ZMQ stats use the game port number on TCP.
- 27960 UDP · RCON and stats on TCP
- Server
- Linux dedicated server (Steam app 349090)
- Workshop
- Items listed in workshop.txt
- Admins
- access.txt with Steam IDs
- Version
- Last update June 2016
Game types
- Duel (1v1)
- FFA
- Clan Arena
- CTF
- Freeze Tag
- TDM
- Race
- Domination
- Attack & Defend
- Red Rover
Game facts from the readme and default configs of the Quake Live Dedicated Server and its Steam app data, checked in October 2026.
- DDoS protection
- 20 game server locations
Quake Live plans are being prepared
Tell us your game types, slot count and how many servers you want, and our team will reply with the options. Or open a ticket and we will let you know when the plans are online.
How big should a Quake Live server be?
One Quake Live server needs little; communities often run several instances side by side.
Find your size
| Feature |
Duels
1v1 with spectators, up to 8 slots
|
Recommended Team modes
Up to 16 slots
|
Several servers
Two to four instances
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore. | 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 | 2–4 |
| Disk spaceRoom for the server files, Workshop maps and logs. | 5 GB | 5 GB | 10 GB |
| Slots (sv_maxClients)Players plus spectators; the default config uses 16. | 8 | 16 (default) | Per server |
| Typical use | Duel ladders and practice | Clan arena, CTF or freeze tag | A community with several game types |
-
Duels
1v1 with spectators, up to 8 slots
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 1 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 1
- Disk spaceRoom for the server files, Workshop maps and logs.
- 5 GB
- Slots (sv_maxClients)Players plus spectators; the default config uses 16.
- 8
- Typical use
- Duel ladders and practice
-
Recommended
Team modes
Up to 16 slots
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 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 server files, Workshop maps and logs.
- 5 GB
- Slots (sv_maxClients)Players plus spectators; the default config uses 16.
- 16 (default)
- Typical use
- Clan arena, CTF or freeze tag
-
Several servers
Two to four instances
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 4 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2–4
- Disk spaceRoom for the server files, Workshop maps and logs.
- 10 GB
- Slots (sv_maxClients)Players plus spectators; the default config uses 16.
- Per server
- Typical use
- A community with several game types
The server readme publishes no figures and notes that a standard server can run many instances; these starting points are conservative.
Game types, Workshop and admin tools
Quake Live servers are set up with plain text files next to server.cfg.
Map pool and factories
mappool.txt lists map and factory pairs; factories in the scripts folder define the rules of each game type.
Workshop items
Add item IDs to workshop.txt. The server downloads them at start and players get them from the Workshop when they join.
Admins and moderators
access.txt gives Steam IDs the admin or mod role; they then use commands such as ban, unban and demote in game.
ZMQ RCON and stats
Remote console and match statistics run over ZeroMQ on TCP, each switched on with its own password.
Private slots and passwords
Set g_password for a closed server, or keep a few slots free with sv_privateClients and sv_privatePassword.
Set up your Quake Live server
Four steps from the map pool to the first duel.
-
Choose game types
Pick duel, clan arena, CTF or a mix, then choose the size from the table above.
-
Pick a location
Choose the one closest to your players from our 20 game server locations; ping decides arena fights.
-
Edit the text files
Set the name and slots in server.cfg, the maps in mappool.txt, Workshop items in workshop.txt and admins in access.txt.
-
Connect
Find the server in the in-game browser, or type connect with the address and port in the console.
Other game servers you might like
Frequently asked questions
Does Quake Live have an official dedicated server?
Yes. The Quake Live Dedicated Server is a free Steam tool (app 349090) that runs on Linux. It installs with an anonymous SteamCMD login.
How many players can join?
The default config sets sv_maxClients to 16. Duels need only two players plus spectators; team modes fill 8 to 16 slots.
Which game types can I run?
Free for all, duel, race, team deathmatch, clan arena, capture the flag, one flag, harvester, freeze tag, domination, attack and defend, and red rover. Each one is a factory you can pair with maps in mappool.txt.
Which ports does the server use?
UDP 27960 for the game. If you switch on ZMQ RCON, give it a separate TCP port; ZMQ stats use the game port number on TCP. A second server on the same address moves to the next port numbers.
How do I add Workshop maps?
Put the Workshop item IDs in workshop.txt and the maps in mappool.txt. The server downloads the items when it starts, and players get them from the Steam Workshop when they join; the old direct download is gone.
How do I make someone an admin?
Add a line with the player’s 64-bit Steam ID and the role to access.txt, for example 7656…|admin. Admins and mods can then ban, unban and demote players in game.
How does remote administration work?
Quake Live uses ZeroMQ for RCON. Set zmq_rcon_enable 1, a zmq_rcon_password and a TCP port, then connect with a ZMQ RCON client such as the sample script that ships with the server.
Is Quake Live still updated?
The game and the dedicated server last changed in June 2016, so the setup is stable. Players need the Quake Live client from Steam to join.
Can I keep slots for my clan?
Yes. sv_privateClients reserves a number of slots that only open with sv_privatePassword. For a fully closed server, set g_password instead.
Ready for your own Quake Live server?
Tell us your game types and how many servers you want, and we will help you pick the right setup.