Insurgency: Sandstorm server hosting for co-op and versus
Run Insurgency: Sandstorm the way your community likes it: co-op Checkpoint against bots or versus modes with up to 14 players per side. Add mod.io mods, set your own map cycle and admins, and let players earn XP with a GameStats token.
- Official dedicated server (SteamCMD app 581330)
- Co-op Checkpoint and versus modes up to 14 v 14
- mod.io mods, map cycle and admin list
- XP and stats with a GameStats token
- PlayersSet MaxPlayers in the map travel line of the start command.
- Up to 14 v 14 in versus
- Ports
- 27102 UDP · 27131 UDP (query)
- ConfigAdmins.txt, MapCycle.txt and Mods.txt live in Insurgency/Config/Server.
- Game.ini · Engine.ini · MapCycle.txt
- Mods
- mod.io
- XP and stats
- Steam token plus GameStats token
- Anti-cheat
- Easy Anti-Cheat
Game modes
- Checkpoint
- Hardcore Checkpoint
- Outpost
- Push
- Firefight
- Frontline
- Domination
- Ambush
Game facts from the Steam store page and update notes, SteamCMD data and the LinuxGSM server documentation, checked in October 2026.
- DDoS protection
- 20 game server locations
Insurgency: Sandstorm plans are being prepared
Tell us your modes, player count and mods, 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 an Insurgency: Sandstorm server be?
Versus servers carry up to 28 players; co-op servers also run the bots. Single-core speed matters most, and mods add memory.
Find your size
| Feature |
Co-op
Up to 8 players and bots
|
Recommended Versus
Up to 20 players
|
Full versus
Up to 28 players
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore. | 4 GB | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. | 2–3 | 3 | 3–4 |
| Disk spaceRoom for the game files, mod.io mods and logs. | 50 GB | 50 GB | 60 GB |
| BotsCo-op modes fill the enemy team with bots, which costs CPU time on the server. | Many bots | Few or none | None |
| Typical use | Co-op Checkpoint with friends | Community versus matches | Full 14 versus 14 battles |
-
Co-op
Up to 8 players and bots
- 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.
- 2–3
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, mod.io mods and logs.
- 50 GB
- BotsCo-op modes fill the enemy team with bots, which costs CPU time on the server.
- Many bots
- Typical use
- Co-op Checkpoint with friends
-
Recommended
Versus
Up to 20 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 6 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 3
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, mod.io mods and logs.
- 50 GB
- BotsCo-op modes fill the enemy team with bots, which costs CPU time on the server.
- Few or none
- Typical use
- Community versus matches
-
Full versus
Up to 28 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 8 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, mod.io mods and logs.
- 60 GB
- BotsCo-op modes fill the enemy team with bots, which costs CPU time on the server.
- None
- Typical use
- Full 14 versus 14 battles
New World Interactive publishes no server hardware figures; these starting points follow common practice for Unreal Engine shooters of this size.
Modes, mods and stats
Choose co-op or versus, add mods from mod.io and decide whether your server awards XP.
Co-op modes
Checkpoint, Hardcore Checkpoint, Outpost and Survival against bots.
Versus modes
Push, Firefight, Frontline, Domination, Ambush and Defusal for up to 14 players per side.
mod.io
Put a mod.io access token in Engine.ini, start with -Mods and list the mod IDs in Mods.txt.
MapCycle.txt
List the scenarios, with lighting and mode, that your server rotates through.
XP with GameStats
With a Steam game server token and a GameStats token, players earn XP and stats on your server. A server password turns XP off.
Admins and RCON
Admins.txt lists admins by Steam ID; RCON uses the Source RCON protocol with its own password and port.
Set up your Insurgency: Sandstorm server
Four steps from an empty server to the first objective.
-
Choose co-op or versus
Pick the modes your community plays, then a size from the table above.
-
Pick a location
Choose the one closest to your players from our 20 game server locations.
-
Add tokens, cycle and admins
Add your Steam token and GameStats token, write MapCycle.txt and list admins in Admins.txt.
-
Join the server
Find the server in the in-game server browser by its name.
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Frequently asked questions
How many players can join an Insurgency: Sandstorm server?
The game supports up to 14 versus 14. Set MaxPlayers in the map travel line of the start command, for example MaxPlayers=28; co-op servers usually run fewer players and more bots.
Which ports does the server use?
27102 UDP for the game and 27131 UDP for queries by default. RCON needs its own port when you turn it on.
How do players earn XP on my server?
Start the server with a Steam game server login token for the game and a GameStats token from New World Interactive’s GameStats site. XP only works on servers without a password.
How do I add mods?
Create a mod.io access token, put it in Engine.ini and start the server with -Mods. List the mod IDs in Mods.txt; players download the mods when they join.
How do I set the map rotation?
Write the scenarios into MapCycle.txt in Insurgency/Config/Server and point the server at it with -MapCycle. Without a map cycle, the server rotates through every versus scenario.
How do I add admins?
Put each admin’s 17-digit SteamID64 on its own line in Admins.txt in Insurgency/Config/Server, then restart.
Can I manage the server with RCON?
Yes. Turn RCON on with a password and a listen port; it uses the Source RCON protocol, so common clients such as mcrcon work. Change the default password and port.
Can console players join my server?
Update 1.17 in December 2024 added crossplay between PC, PlayStation and Xbox. New World Interactive has not documented console access to PC community servers, so plan your server for PC players.
Is the game still updated?
Yes. Update 1.21, Operation: Breachpoint, arrived in May 2026, with a patch in July. Update the server with SteamCMD app 581330 after each release.
Ready to hold the objective?
Tell us your modes, players and mods, and we will help you pick the right Insurgency: Sandstorm server.