The Best Dead Matter Server Hosting

Hosting a Dead Matter server

Dead Matter is an open-world zombie survival game from QI Games (Quantum Integrity Software), a Calgary studio, set in the Kananaskis area of the Canadian Rockies after a viral outbreak. It entered Steam Early Access in September 2023 with online co-op and PvP, and the current build uses a 6km by 6km slice of the planned map. The developers' most recent Steam news post was in June 2024, so check the game's current state before committing to a long rental.

Hosted servers run the free Dead Matter dedicated server from SteamCMD. The main settings, including MaxPlayers, live in Game.ini and Engine.ini in the server's Saved/Config/WindowsServer folder.

What to compare

• Short billing terms. With development quiet since mid-2024, monthly billing is safer than a long prepaid term.
• File access to Game.ini and Engine.ini. These hold the player limit and most server settings. Look for direct file access.
• CPU and memory for the map. Players spread out across the map keep more of the world active at once. Compare the hardware behind each plan, not just the slot number.
• Backups. Base claims, tents and stashes are the progress players care about. Automatic backups and easy restores protect them from crashes and bad updates.
• Branch support. Dead Matter has had several Steam branches. If your group plays a test branch, check the host can switch the server to it.
• DDoS protection. Public PvP servers attract attacks, so treat it as a baseline.
• Location. Gunfights and vehicle travel suffer with high ping, so pick a datacentre near most of your players.

See the current Dead Matter hosting deals for offers from listed providers. For a whole machine, see dedicated servers.

Dead Matter server hosting FAQ

How many players can join a Dead Matter server?

The limit is set by MaxPlayers in Game.ini, and hosts sell plans by slot count. The developers aim for 128-player servers in the full version, but that is a goal for the finished game.

Is Dead Matter still being developed?

It is still in Early Access on Steam. The last developer news post there was in June 2024, so check recent activity before renting for months ahead.

Can I run mods on a Dead Matter server?

Not officially yet. The Steam page lists mod support as planned for the full release.

Can I host a Dead Matter server for free?

Yes, if you run it yourself. The dedicated server is a free SteamCMD download (app 2584780), and it uses ports 27015 for the game and 27016 for Steam queries by default. It is only online while your machine is on, which is why most groups rent one.