The Best FOUNDRY Server Hosting

Hosting a FOUNDRY server

FOUNDRY is a first-person factory-building game from Channel 3 Entertainment, published by Paradox Interactive. You mine a procedurally generated voxel world, then build conveyor lines, assemblers and power networks across it, alone or in online co-op. It has been in Early Access on Steam since May 2024 and is still being updated toward a full release.

Channel 3 publishes a free dedicated server for Windows, available from the Tools section of your Steam library or through SteamCMD. It is configured with an app.cfg file placed next to FoundryDedicatedServer.exe, where you set the world name, map seed, password, player limit and autosave interval, and it uses port 3724 for the game and 27015 for the Steam server browser by default. The pause_server_when_empty setting decides whether the factory keeps running when nobody is connected, so check you can change it on any plan.

What to compare

• CPU for a big factory. Every machine, belt and item on a conveyor is simulated by the server. As the factory grows, processor speed decides whether it keeps up.
• RAM for a growing world. Voxel terrain you have mined and built on, plus a sprawling base, raise memory use over time. Pick a plan you can upgrade.
• A Windows server. The official server is a Windows program, so check how the host runs it before you buy.
• Config file access. Player limit, world name, seed, the pause-when-empty switch and the autosave interval live in app.cfg. You want to edit it directly rather than rely on a few panel fields.
• Save uploads and backups. Look for access to the save folder so you can bring in an existing world and download backups. Automatic backups protect a factory that took weeks to build.
• Updates. Early Access patches arrive regularly and server and game versions need to match. A host that updates quickly, and lets you back up first, keeps players from being locked out.
• Location. Co-op building feels better on a nearby datacentre.

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

FOUNDRY server hosting FAQ

How many players can join a FOUNDRY server?

The limit is set with server_max_players in app.cfg. FOUNDRY is built around small co-op groups, and a large factory with many players needs a strong CPU.

Is FOUNDRY still in Early Access?

Yes. It entered Early Access in May 2024 and is still being updated, so expect patches that need the server updated too.

Does the factory keep running when nobody is online?

Only if you want it to. The pause_server_when_empty option in app.cfg controls whether the server pauses when the last player leaves.

Can I host a FOUNDRY server for free?

Yes, if you run it yourself. The FOUNDRY dedicated server is a free Windows tool on Steam and SteamCMD. It is only online while that machine is on, so groups who play at different times usually rent one.