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Windrose supports dedicated servers for cooperative play as of its April 14, 2026 Early Access launch. Kraken Express confirmed dedicated server software is available at launch, alongside self-hosted co-op and solo offline play. Dedicated servers keep a persistent world active when no player is logged in, which is the main reason to use one rather than self-hosting from your own machine.

This article covers the high-level hosting options, the third-party providers confirmed at launch, and pointers to setup guides. Step-by-step installation instructions vary by provider and are published on the providers' own documentation pages.

Why Run a Dedicated Server

Hosting Options

Self-hosted on Your PC

Running a dedicated server on your own machine is free but ties the world's uptime to your PC being on and connected. Expect to need significantly more than the minimum 16 GB of RAM to host up to 8 players comfortably. Port-forwarding on your home router is typically required. Kraken Express has published a Steam Community guide for Windrose dedicated servers (steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3706337486) with the official walkthrough.

Third-Party Hosting Providers

Multiple commercial hosts offer Windrose-specific server rental plans from the Early Access launch. Plans vary by region, slot count, and features like DDoS protection and FTP access. Pricing below reflects launch-week numbers and may change.

Core Features to Look For

• 8-player slot support matching Windrose's maximum co-op cap

• FTP/SFTP access for backup downloads and save-file manipulation

• Automatic backups for recovering from world corruption or griefing

• Nearby datacenter for low ping to your group's members

• Control panel with start/stop/update controls so patching the server when a new patch drops is one click

• Restart schedules for memory cleanup on long-running servers

• DDoS protection especially if you publicize your server externally

Recommended Hardware for Self-Hosting

Note that the game's 16 GB minimum system requirement assumes you are only running the client, not a server on the same machine. Hosting adds server-side RAM overhead plus asset streaming for the host player. If you plan to host, consider running the server on a separate machine or renting from a third-party provider.

Setup Pointers

1. Read the official guide: The Steam Community dedicated server guide (sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3706337486) is the first stop.

2. Pick a region: Match the server datacenter to your group's average location to minimize ping.

3. Forward ports (self-host only): The required ports are listed in the official guide. Verify with your router's admin panel.

4. Configure world difficulty: Choose between Calm Waters, High Seas, Storm's Edge, or Captain's Choice at server world creation. The setting is permanent for that world.

5. Set up backups: Either through your host's control panel or with a scheduled FTP dump for self-hosting.

6. Invite your crew: Share the server address or invite code. The dedicated server does not need the host to be logged in to remain active.

Known Launch Issues

The April 14, 2026 Early Access launch shipped with minor server-related issues addressed in hotfix 0.10.0.1.6. Notable items:

• Nitrado server link text in the game UI was corrected

• Server info text fields were hidden by default in the Escape menu, with reveal buttons added (to protect invite codes and addresses from screenshots)

• Localization fixes applied across server-related text

Kraken Express iterates quickly on connectivity and server issues. Check the Steam news feed for patch notes if you encounter problems.

See Also

• Multiplayer — core co-op mechanics and session flow

• System Requirements — hardware baseline for playing the game itself

• Early Access — launch status, pricing, and roadmap context