Hytale server: host it yourself or rent one?

Hypixel Studios’ Hytale has been in early access since 13 January 2026, and from day one you could run your own servers for it. Should you host one yourself or rent one? The short answer: hosting it yourself works fine if you have a computer that’s always on and you can open a port. If you want your friends to be able to play while your PC is off, renting is easier. Here’s what you need and how it works.

What do you need to host it yourself?

According to the official Hytale Server Manual, the server runs on any device with:

• at least 4 GB of memory;
• Java 25;
• Windows, macOS or Linux, on an x64 or arm64 processor.

Hytale uses the QUIC protocol over UDP, on port 5520 by default. If you host at home, you need to forward that UDP port on your router to your computer. TCP isn’t needed.

Your server also needs to log in to Hytale. After the first start, type /auth login device in the console. You’ll get a link and a code, which you enter at accounts.hytale.com/device with your Hytale account. After that, your server can accept players.

Hosting yourself: pros and cons

The big advantage is that it costs nothing extra if you already have a suitable computer, and you’re in full control. The downsides:

• your computer has to stay on whenever people are playing;
• your home upload speed decides how smooth it is for your friends;
• you need to open a port, and some networks make that awkward. The manual itself notes that certain NAT set-ups can cause problems;
• after every Hytale update your server has to follow straight away. According to the manual, client and server currently need exactly the same protocol version, or players on the new version can’t connect.

Renting from CakeHosting: how it works

With a rented server, we take care of the machine, the port and the connection. Here’s what you still do yourself:

1. Order and start. After your order, your server appears in the game panel. Press Start.
2. Link your Hytale account. On the first start, the server downloads Hytale’s server files. For that, and for the server itself, you log in with your Hytale account using a code in the console, as described above.
3. Play. Your friends connect with the address and port from the game panel.

Every time it starts, your server checks for a new version of Hytale and downloads it if needed. After a Hytale update, a restart is all it takes to keep up. Hytale is new in our line-up: if the first start doesn’t go as described here, open a support ticket and we’ll take a look with you.

How much memory do you need?

The manual gives 4 GB as the minimum and explains that view distance has the biggest effect on memory use. The further players can see, and the more they explore separately, the more the server has to keep loaded. Hypixel Studios recommends capping the maximum view distance at 12 chunks, or 384 blocks. Large numbers of players and creatures mostly cost processing power.

Starting out with a few friends? Our smallest plan is a fine start. If you explore a lot at once or more players join, choose a bigger plan.

Mods, whitelist and settings

• Mods go into the mods folder as a .zip or .jar, for example from CurseForge.
• Whitelist and permissions live in whitelist.json and permissions.json.
• Server settings live in config.json. Edit these files while the server is stopped, because the server writes to them during play.

According to the manual, your world and your players’ data live in the universe folder. So make sure it’s in your backups; it’s also what you need if you ever want to move your world to another server.

Checklist for your first game night

• Start the server once in advance and link your Hytale account, so you’re not waiting around on the night itself.
• Set a sensible view distance in config.json.
• Add your friends to the whitelist if you want to keep the server private.
• Share the address including the port, because a domain name without a port doesn’t work yet.
• Make a first backup as soon as your world is there.

How is it different from Minecraft?

• UDP instead of TCP. Hytale connects over QUIC on UDP.
• Logging in with a code. You link your server to a Hytale account with a device code.
• No SRV records yet. Players type the address with the port included.
• Multiple servers without a proxy. According to the manual, Hytale can move players between servers itself, so you don’t need a separate proxy such as BungeeCord.

Early access: keep it in mind

Hytale is still in development. Updates arrive regularly, mods can break for a while after an update and the game still has bugs. So make a backup before every big update. See Create and restore a backup.