Hytale Server Requirements: RAM, CPU & Hardware Guide (2026)

TL;DR: Hytale server requirements start at 4 GB RAM and Java 25 for bare minimum operation, but most servers need 6-16 GB depending on player count and settings. View distance is the biggest resource lever. Doubling it quadruples the load, so adjust there first if performance suffers. Network traffic flows through UDP port 5520 using QUIC, and proper Java memory allocation with -Xmx keeps garbage collection from dragging things down.

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After years of anticipation, Hytale is finally here. The game that broke trailer view records back in 2018 launched into Early Access on January 13, 2026, and communities are already spinning up dedicated servers to build, explore, and adventure together.

Hytale server requirements cover the hardware, software, and network specs needed to run a dedicated server: RAM, CPU, storage, Java version, and port configuration. Running your own server means your world stays online whether you're playing or not, and you get full control over settings, mods, and who joins.

Since Hytale just launched, optimization is still ongoing. The official minimum sits at 4 GB RAM with Java 25, but real-world requirements depend heavily on how many players you're hosting and your view distance settings. This guide breaks down the official minimums from Hypixel Studios, practical recommendations by server size, why view distance matters more than you'd expect, network setup, and Java memory tips to keep things running smooth.

Want to skip the technical setup? Host Havoc offers Hytale server hosting with servers ready to go in minutes.

Official Minimum Requirements

The official Hytale Server Manual lists these baseline specs:

These minimums get a server running, but real resource usage depends on what's actually happening in your world. The official docs make a good point: a server with two players sprinting across unloaded terrain eats more resources than one with four players hanging out at spawn. Monitor your actual usage rather than assuming the minimums tell the whole story.

Recommended Hytale Server Specs by Player Count

The 4 GB minimum works for testing or a solo world, but once friends start joining, you'll want more headroom. These recommendations assume typical gameplay and leave room for the occasional chaos:

Running mods or cranking up view distance? Budget extra on top of these numbers.

For CPU, clock speed beats core count. Hytale server tasks run primarily on single threads, so a quad-core at 4.5 GHz handles the workload better than an eight-core at 3.0 GHz. When shopping for hardware, prioritize single-thread performance.

Storage speed matters too, especially during world generation. SSDs are the baseline. Mechanical drives create noticeable hitching. NVMe drives give the best experience for servers with lots of exploration or frequent chunk loading.

Why View Distance Is the Biggest Factor

Here's something that catches new server owners off guard: view distance has more impact on performance than almost any other setting.

View distance controls how much world loads around each player, measured in blocks. The relationship isn't linear. It is exponential. Double your view distance and you quadruple the loaded world area. A server rendering 192 blocks loads a certain amount of terrain; bump that to 384 blocks and suddenly you're loading four times as much data, tracking four times as many entities, and burning through proportionally more RAM and CPU.

The official recommendation caps view distance at 12 chunks (384 blocks) for most servers. That provides a solid visual range without melting your hardware.

If you're coming from Minecraft, here's a useful comparison: Hytale's default 384-block view distance equals roughly 24 Minecraft chunks. If you're used to running MC servers at 10-12 chunks, expect Hytale to be noticeably hungrier. Plan your resources accordingly.

When your server starts struggling, view distance is the first lever to pull. Dropping from 384 to 192 blocks cuts resource usage by about 75%, and honestly, most players won't notice the difference during normal gameplay. Responsive performance beats pretty horizons.

Network Requirements

Hytale uses UDP port 5520 by default, running the QUIC protocol instead of traditional TCP. QUIC handles packet loss better and keeps latency low, which matters for real-time multiplayer.

If your server sits behind a router (most do), you'll need to forward UDP port 5520 to the machine running Hytale. Skip TCP. Hytale doesn't use it.

Bandwidth scales with view distance:

Most home internet connections clear these numbers easily. Unless you're on a particularly slow connection, bandwidth probably won't be your bottleneck. Your view distance and player count will hit limits first.

Java Memory Configuration Tips

Hytale runs on Java 25, and getting memory allocation right prevents a lot of headaches. The -Xmx parameter tells Java how much RAM it can use.

A typical launch command looks like this:

java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip

The -Xms flag sets starting memory, -Xmx sets the ceiling. Matching them avoids the performance hiccups that happen when Java repeatedly resizes its memory pool mid-operation.

One mistake to avoid: allocating all your system RAM to Hytale. If your machine has 16 GB, don't give all 16 GB to the server. Your operating system, background processes, and disk caching need room to breathe. Leave 2-4 GB for system overhead.

Here's a troubleshooting tip: if CPU usage spikes while player count stays steady, your server probably needs more RAM. When Java runs low on memory, it burns extra cycles on garbage collection trying to free up space. Bumping your -Xmx allocation often fixes mysterious lag.

Start with a conservative allocation and scale up based on what you actually see. A server running comfortably at 6 GB costs nothing extra. A server constantly hitting its 8 GB ceiling creates lag and crashes.

The Easier Option: Host Havoc Hytale Hosting

Between hardware specs, Java installation, port forwarding, and resource monitoring, self-hosting involves a decent learning curve. If you'd rather skip straight to playing, managed hosting handles all of it.

Host Havoc Hytale servers come with NVMe storage, DDoS protection, and instant setup. Plans start at $12/month for 4 GB RAM, with seamless scaling as your community grows. The control panel manages Java config, updates, and server settings. No command line required.

No Java installation. No router configuration. No watching resource monitors. Just a server that works.

Get started with Hytale hosting and focus on what matters: building your world.

What You Need to Know

The game just launched, so expect requirements to shift as Hypixel Studios optimizes. Keep an eye on actual performance rather than theoretical numbers, and don't be afraid to tweak settings based on what your server actually needs.

For those who'd rather play than admin, Host Havoc takes care of the infrastructure side. Your community is waiting. Go build something.