Windrose Dedicated Server vs Hosting Co-op Yourself: Which to Use
In Windrose you can host a co-op world from your own game, or run a dedicated server that stays online without any player's client. The practical differences are uptime (a player-hosted world only exists while the host is online), hardware (the host's PC does double duty), and where the save lives.
The Steam page states the game supports up to 8 players with both self-hosted and dedicated servers available, and recommends parties of up to 4. Early-access details move quickly, so the points below were checked against the Steam listing and the developers' official dedicated server guide (updated 18 May 2026) rather than from memory.
- Player-hosted co-op: free and instant, but the world is only up while the host is playing, and the host's PC runs both the game and the server.
- Dedicated server: the world stays online for the crew at any time, on its own machine, with settings in
ServerDescription.json. - Steam lists up to 8 players, with 4 recommended for best late-game performance. Some early articles reported a lower cap for player-hosted games, so check in-game if it matters.
- A world can move in either direction by copying its world-ID folder and setting
WorldIslandId. Back up before you copy.
On this page
- Windrose dedicated server vs player-hosted co-op at a glance
- When player-hosted co-op is enough
- When a dedicated server is worth it
- Quick decision guide
- Where saves live, and what that means for backups
- How to move a world between co-op and a dedicated server
- Running the server somewhere other than your PC
- Frequently asked questions
- References
Windrose dedicated server vs player-hosted co-op at a glance
| Player-hosted co-op | Dedicated server | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | The host's game client | A separate server process (Steam tool app 4129620, or Docker) |
| World available when | The host is online | Whenever the server is running |
| Joining | Host's invite code | Invite code from ServerDescription.json, or direct IP if enabled |
| Player count | Up to 8 per the Steam page; 4 recommended | MaxPlayerCount in ServerDescription.json; same Steam guidance |
| Hardware load | Host runs game and server on one PC | Server runs on its own machine |
| Config | In-game options | JSON files: server and per-world settings |
| Cost | Free | Your own machine or a hosting plan |
When player-hosted co-op is enough
If you and one to three friends play on the same evenings, hosting from your game is the lowest-friction option. You can host a world you already started solo, and friends join with the code. There is nothing to install and no ports to think about.
The cost shows up in three places. First, the world is tied to the host: when the host leaves, the session ends for everyone, so nobody can play unless the host does. Second, hardware: the official guide's self-hosting figure is at least 16 GB of RAM for the client plus roughly 8 GB more for the hosted server (24 GB recommended). Third, performance: the host's machine renders the game and simulates the world, so large naval fights and big crews are where a lower-end host PC struggles first.
When a dedicated server is worth it
A dedicated server makes sense when your group plays at different times, when the person who started the world is not always free, or when the group grows past what one gaming PC handles comfortably. The world sits on the server, no single player owns it, and anyone with the code can log in.
Official sizing in the FAQ is 2 cores of a 3.2 GHz Sapphire Rapids-class Xeon with 8 GB RAM for 2 players, 12 GB for 4 players, and 16 GB for 10 players, each with a 35 GB SSD. The guide covers Windows, and a Docker image is available. See the dedicated server guide for installation and joining details.
Quick decision guide
- Two to four friends, same evenings: player-hosted co-op is usually enough.
- Different time zones or schedules: a dedicated server, so the world is not tied to one person being online.
- Host's PC struggles in big sea battles: moving the server to its own machine takes that load off the game client.
- You want fixed server rules in a file: the dedicated server's JSON files give you a repeatable config that you can back up and share.
Both modes need matching versions. With player-hosted co-op, everyone updates the game through Steam and the host's build is the server. With a dedicated server, the server is a separate Steam tool and must be updated on its own after every game patch, or players on the new build will be refused.
Where saves live, and what that means for backups
The save location is the real difference when you plan to move between modes. From the official guide:
- Player-hosted (your client):
%localappdata%\R5\Saved\SaveProfiles\<your Steam ID>\. Inside it,RocksDBholds old saves from before update 0.10.0.5.120,RocksDB_v2is the live runtime folder (the guide says not to touch it), andRocksDB_v2_Backupsholds backups created since that update. - Dedicated server:
Windrose Dedicated Server\R5\Saved\SaveProfiles\Default\. Only theWorldsfolder is used.
A server also has AutoLoadLatestBackupIfHasBroken in ServerDescription.json, which restores a broken save from backup on launch when set to true. That is a safety net, not a replacement for your own copies.
How to move a world between co-op and a dedicated server
The official guide describes the transfer as copying one world's ID folder. Shut down both the game and the server first, and back up the world before anything else.
- Back up
Copy the world folder you are moving to somewhere safe.
- Client to server
Copy the world's ID folder into the server's
Worldsfolder, then setWorldIslandIdinServerDescription.jsonto that folder name. - Server to client
Do the reverse. If the game later asks about save conflicts, the guide says to choose your local saves.
- Start and verify
Launch the server (or the game), confirm the world loads with your progress, and keep the backup until you are sure.
Running the server somewhere other than your PC
Hosting a dedicated server at home means keeping a Windows machine on, opening or forwarding ports if you use direct IP, and updating it after every patch. A hosted server moves that work off your plate. Hosting with ChicagoServers? The Windrose server hosting page lists what is included, such as free server backups and SFTP file access. The configuration rules described in the settings guide still apply either way.
Frequently asked questions
How many players can join a Windrose dedicated server?
The Steam page says the game supports up to 8 players with dedicated servers available, and recommends parties of up to 4. The count is set by MaxPlayerCount in ServerDescription.json.
Can friends play in my Windrose world when I am offline?
Not in player-hosted co-op, because the world runs on the host's game. On a dedicated server the world stays online whether or not the person who created it is logged in.
Can I move my solo or co-op world to a dedicated server?
Yes. The official guide says to shut down the client and server, copy the world's ID folder into the server's Worlds folder, and set WorldIslandId to the folder name. Back up first.
Does a Windrose dedicated server need a strong PC?
The official sizing is 8 GB RAM for 2 players, 12 GB for 4 and 16 GB for 10, with 2 cores at 3.2 GHz and a 35 GB SSD. Self-hosting from your own gaming PC needs about 8 GB more than the game alone.