Killing Floor 2: A Guide to Hosting Your Own Server

Welcome, Dev! If you’re a fan of Killing Floor 2 and looking to host your own server, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll be walking you through everything you need to know to get your own server up and running. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or new to the game, we’ll make sure you have all the information you need to get started.

1. Why Host Your Own Server?

Before we dive into the details of hosting a Killing Floor 2 server, let’s first discuss why you might want to host your own server in the first place. There are several benefits to hosting your own server, such as:

Benefit
Description
Control
Hosting your own server gives you complete control over the game settings, including difficulty, map rotation, and more.
Community
If you’re part of a gaming community or have a group of friends you regularly play with, hosting your own server makes it easy to get everyone together in one place.
Customization
Hosting your own server also allows you to customize the game experience to your liking. You can add custom maps, mods, and other features that aren’t available on official servers.

2. Getting Started

Before you can start hosting your own Killing Floor 2 server, there are a few things you’ll need:

  • A dedicated server or a computer that meets the minimum system requirements
  • A copy of Killing Floor 2
  • A decent internet connection

Once you have these things, you’re ready to start setting up your server.

System Requirements

The minimum system requirements for hosting a Killing Floor 2 server are as follows:

Component
Minimum Requirements
Operating System
Windows 7 (64-bit) or later, or Linux Ubuntu 14.04 (64-bit) or later
Processor
Core 2 Duo E8200 2.66GHz or Phenom II X2 545
Memory
3 GB RAM
Graphics
GeForce GTS 250 or Radeon HD 4830
Network
Broadband Internet connection

Note that these are just the minimum requirements, and you may need a more powerful system depending on the size of your server and the number of players you expect to have.

Setting Up Your Server

To set up your Killing Floor 2 server, follow these steps:

  1. Download and install the Killing Floor 2 Dedicated Server software from the Steam Tools section.
  2. Open the game’s installation folder and navigate to the /KFGame/Binaries/Win64 directory.
  3. Run the KFServer.bat file. This will launch the server console.

Once the console is up and running, you’ll need to configure some settings to get your server ready to play on.

3. Configuring Your Server

Configuring your server is where you’ll spend most of your time as a server host. This is where you’ll set up the game settings, such as difficulty, map rotation, and more. Here’s a rundown of some of the most important settings:

Map Rotation

One of the first things you’ll want to set up is the map rotation. This determines which maps will be played on your server and in what order. To set up your map rotation, create a file called KFMapList.ini in the /KFGame/Config directory.

To add maps to your rotation, simply list them in the file in the order you want them played. For example:

[KFMapSummary KFMapSummary1]MapName=KF-BioticsLabGameLength=0Difficulty=0

This will add the Biotics Lab map to your rotation. Repeat this process for each map you want to add.

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Difficulty

The difficulty setting determines how challenging the game will be. There are several difficulty levels to choose from, ranging from Normal to Hell on Earth. To set your difficulty level, add the following line to your server’s KFGame.ini file:

[KFGame.KFGameInfo]Difficulty=2

The number represents the difficulty level, with 0 being the easiest and 4 being the hardest.

Max Players

The maximum number of players that can join your server at once is determined by the MaxPlayers setting. To set your maximum player count, add the following line to your KFGame.ini file:

[KFGame.KFGameInfo]MaxPlayers=6

This will set your server to allow up to 6 players at once. You can adjust this number to your liking.

Other Settings

There are many other server settings you can configure to customize your game experience. These include things like perk bonuses, wave length, and more. You can find a complete list of server settings in the KFGame.ini file, located in the /KFGame/Config directory.

4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How do I connect to my own server?

A: In the game’s main menu, click the “Multiplayer” tab, then click “Server Browser”. In the server browser, click the “Favorites” tab and click “Add Server”. Enter your server’s IP address and port number, then click “Add to Favorites”. Your server should now appear in the favorites list. Click on it to connect.

Q: How do I add custom maps to my server?

A: To add custom maps, simply download the map files and place them in the /KFGame/BrewedPC/Maps directory. You can then add them to your map rotation using the KFMapList.ini file.

Q: How do I install mods on my server?

A: To install mods on your server, simply place the mod files in the /KFGame/BrewedPC/Mods directory. You can then activate the mod in your server’s KFGame.ini file by adding a line like this:

[KFMod.KFGameReplicationInfo]ServerPackages=MyMod

Replace “MyMod” with the name of your mod’s folder.

Q: Can I run multiple instances of the server on the same machine?

A: Yes, you can run multiple instances of the server on the same machine. Simply copy the Killing Floor 2 Dedicated Server software to a separate folder and run the KFServer.bat file from within that folder.

Q: How do I update my server?

A: To update your server, simply run the SteamCMD tool and enter the following command:

app_update 232130 validate

This will update your server to the latest version.

Conclusion

That’s it for our guide on how to host a Killing Floor 2 server. We hope you found this information helpful and that you’re now ready to start hosting your own server. Remember, hosting a server takes time and effort, but the rewards are well worth it. If you have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Killing Floor 2 community for help.