Hytale Server Manual: What Server Owners Need to Know in 2026
In the months leading up to Hytale’s Early Access launch, server administrators across the world have been preparing for what may become one of the most influential sandbox multiplayer ecosystems since Minecraft. Hypixel Studios has finally released a comprehensive technical breakdown of how Hytale servers operate, revealing a surprisingly modern architecture built around QUIC networking, multiserver routing, and a plugin‑friendly environment.
This article distills the official Hytale Server Manual into a clear, practical guide for server owners and this highlights the hosting providers already gearing up to support the game.1
All factual references to the Hytale Server Manual are cited from the retrieved source1.
📘 Overview of the Hytale Server Manual
The official Hytale Server Manual provides a deep dive into setup, configuration, authentication, networking, modding, and multiserver architecture for dedicated servers1. Below is a structured summary of the most important sections for server operators.
🖥️ Server Requirements & Setup
Hytale servers run on Java 25 and require at least 4GB of memory, supporting both x64 and ARM64 systems1.
Key Requirements
- Java 25 (Adoptium recommended)1
- Minimum 4GB RAM
- CPU usage scales with player/entity count
- RAM usage scales with world size & view distance
You can obtain server files either by:
- Copying them from the Hytale launcher installation
- Using the Hytale Downloader CLI, which is recommended for production servers1
🚀 Running a Hytale Server
Firstly as stated above, install Java 25, you can use Adoptium to accomplish this.
You can Verify the java version you are using/the installation by running in a cmd/powershell window with this command:
java --versionServers are launched using:
java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets PathToAssets.zipAuthentication
Hytale uses OAuth device authentication, requiring server owners to authorize each server instance via a browser link and code1.
Important notes:
- Limit of 100 servers per game license
- Server Provider accounts will support large‑scale automated authentication later1
🌐 Networking, Ports & Firewall Configuration
Hytale uses QUIC over UDP, not TCP1.
Default Port
- 5520 UDP
Firewall Examples
- Windows:
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Hytale Server" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 5520 -Action Allow - Linux (iptables):
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 5520 -j ACCEPT
QUIC handles NAT traversal well, but symmetric NAT may cause issues—VPS hosting is recommended in such cases1.
🗂️ File Structure & Worlds
Hytale worlds live inside the universe/worlds/ directory, each with its own config.json containing worldgen settings, gameplay flags, and plugin requirements1.
Each world:
- Runs on its own main thread
- Uses a shared thread pool for parallel tasks
🔧 Mods, Plugins & Performance Tips
Installing Mods
Drop .zip or .jar files into the mods/ folder1.
Recommended Plugins
Hypixel highlights plugins maintained by Nitrado and Apex Hosting, including:
- WebServer
- Query
- PerformanceSaver
- PrometheusExporter1
Performance Tip
Limit view distance to 12 chunks for optimal RAM usage—Hytale’s default is equivalent to 24 Minecraft chunks, which is extremely heavy1.
🌍 Multiserver Architecture
Hytale includes native multiserver routing, eliminating the need for BungeeCord‑style proxies.
Supported Features
- Player referral (server‑to‑server transfer)
- Connection redirect (during handshake)
- Disconnect fallback (auto‑reconnect to lobby)1
A full QUIC‑based proxy can also be built using Netty QUIC and the official packet definitions.
🔮 Future Features Coming After Early Access
Hypixel outlines several upcoming systems:
- Server & Minigame Discovery (with verified player counts)
- Parties system
- Integrated payment gateway
- SRV record support (under evaluation)
- First‑party API endpoints for player data, telemetry, payments, and more1
🏆 Top 10 Hytale Hosting Providers (2026)
Below is a comparison table of 10 hosting companies offering or preparing Hytale hosting.
Five of these are the providers you specified.
Hytale Hosting Providers Comparison Table
| Hosting Provider | Price (Starting) | Locations | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citadel Servers | $9.99/mo | US, UK, EU, AU, SG, JP | Strong DDoS protection, advanced panel, mod support | UI may feel dense for beginners |
| AA Game Hosting | $9.99/mo | US, UK, EU, AU, SG | Fast setup, good support, simple panel | Fewer global locations |
| Ascend Servers | $9.99/mo | US, CA, EU, AU, SG | Clean UI, strong performance, good pricing | Limited Asia regions |
| ValheimHosting | $9.99/mo | US, CA, EU, AU, SG | High‑performance hardware, easy modding | Not Hytale‑focused historically |
| Sandbox Hosting | $9.99/mo | US, CA, EU, AU, SG | Affordable, beginner‑friendly | Fewer premium features |
| KillServers | $8/mo | US, CA, EU, AU, SG | Good performance, solid uptime | Smaller brand |
| Nitrado | $10/mo | US, UK, EU, AS | Official plugin partner, huge network | Higher pricing |
| Apex Hosting | $9.99/mo | US, EU, AU, SG | Excellent support, plugin ecosystem | Premium pricing |
| Shockbyte | $5/mo | US, EU, AU, SG | Very low pricing, large brand | Mixed support reviews |
| GTXGaming | $8/mo | US, UK, EU, AU, SG, | Feature‑rich panel, backups, scaling | Panel can feel overwhelming |
References (1)
1Hytale Server Manual – Hypixel Studios. https://support.hytale.com/hc/en-us/articles/45326769420827-Hytale-Server-Manual
