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Posted on August 8, 2024 in General

7 Days to Die - Why Use a Dedicated Server: Unlocking the Ultimate Multiplayer Experience

by Morgan K.

In 7 Days to Die, where survival depends on every move, multiplayer gameplay transforms the experience into a thrilling cooperative journey. 

Hosting these multiplayer sessions on personal machines can be plagued by common issues such as lag, crashes, and server downtime. For players seeking seamless gameplay and optimal performance, using a dedicated server is the perfect solution.

Host Havoc's 7 Days to Die servers are built to ensure a smoother multiplayer experience by providing 24/7 availability, improved performance, and enhanced stability.

What is a Dedicated Server for 7 Days to Die?

A dedicated server is a standalone machine that runs your game independently of your personal computer or gaming setup. 

This allows the server to remain online continuously, without depending on the player's system resources. 

Unlike local hosting, which often suffers from performance limitations tied to the host’s internet and hardware, a dedicated server provides a more stable and lag-free environment.

Key differences between local hosting and a dedicated server:

  • Local Hosting: Relies on the host’s PC, leading to potential issues like lag, frequent disconnections, and crashes when managing large groups of players.
  • Dedicated Server: Operates independently, providing a 24/7 game environment that eliminates performance bottlenecks, allowing players to join at any time without interruptions.

For players who enjoy multiplayer survival or plan on building expansive in-game worlds, a dedicated server offers far greater performance and reliability.

Hosting Type Comparison: Local vs. Dedicated Server

Feature

Local Hosting 

Dedicated Server 

 Availability

Limited to when host is online

24/7, always accessible

 Player Capacity

Limited by host machine

Supports large multiplayer groups

 Performance

Lag and crashes with many players

Stable, optimized for heavy loads

 Customization

Limited, tied to local hardware

Full flexibility with mods and settings

 Internet Dependence

Depends on host’s internet quality

Independent of host setup

 

Learn more about setting up a dedicated server with Host Havoc.

Key Benefits of Using a Dedicated Server for 7 Days to Die

24/7 Server Availability 

A dedicated server ensures your game world is always active. Players can log in, continue building, or defend the base without waiting for the host to come online. 

Dedicated servers are ideal for multiplayer groups with varying schedules or long-term projects.

  • Fun Fact: The game continues to run even when all players log off, allowing your defenses and production systems to keep working in the background.

Improved Stability and Performance 

Dedicated servers provide superior stability by operating independently of a player’s gaming setup. 

This eliminates the risk of crashes or lag caused by hardware limitations. Professional hosting providers, like Host Havoc, offer high-performance hardware, DDoS protection, and optimized data centers to ensure smooth gameplay.

  • Example: Imagine being in the middle of a horde night, and your local connection drops. Dedicated servers prevent these types of disruptions by providing uninterrupted performance.

Reduced Lag and Improved Connectivity 

Hosting your game on a dedicated server helps minimize latency, especially when playing with a geographically dispersed group of players. 

Choosing a server location close to your team can drastically improve in-game connectivity, resulting in smoother gameplay.

  • Pro Tip: To avoid lag spikes during key moments (like fending off zombie hordes), select a server location that’s geographically closest to most players.
  • Explore our global server locations.

Customization and Control 

A dedicated server gives you full control over your gameplay experience, from tweaking difficulty settings, adjusting zombie spawn rates, to integrating mods like Darkness Falls. 

With dedicated servers, you can customize everything to match your group's play style.

  • Host Havoc offers full mod support and FTP access, making it easy for players to customize their game.

When Should You Consider Hosting Your Own Server for 7 Days to Die?

For Larger Player Groups

If you're running multiplayer sessions with more than 4-5 players, host a dedicated server. When managing large groups, local hosting often struggles with performance issues, causing lag and connection drops. 

A dedicated server offers scalability—it can handle a higher number of players without degrading performance, making it ideal for larger gaming communities.

  • Why This Matters: The more players in your game, the more strain on your local machine's CPU and bandwidth, resulting in desyncs, crashes, and longer load times. By moving to a dedicated server, you eliminate these bottlenecks.

Pro Tip: Dedicated servers can support up to 20+ players, depending on the hosting plan, ensuring smooth gameplay even in heavily populated worlds.

If You Want a Persistent World

One of the best features of a dedicated server is the ability to keep the game world running 24/7. 

Persistent servers are ideal for groups that want the game to progress even when the primary host is offline. Your friends can log in anytime to continue building, gathering resources, or defending the base.

  • Example: Say you're working on a major base expansion. A dedicated server allows your progress to continue while you're away, letting others contribute to the build or gather resources. This ensures you don't lose time, making the experience more collaborative and efficient.

For a Lag-Free Experience

Dedicated servers are a lifesaver for players with weaker internet connections or outdated hardware. By offloading the game hosting to a high-performance server, you avoid the common pitfalls of local hosting, such as frequent disconnections or lag spikes during critical gameplay moments.

  • Real-World Scenario: Imagine a horde night, and right when the zombies swarm, your local host’s internet connection lags or drops. Dedicated servers prevent this by offering low-latency, high-speed connections, providing a seamless gameplay experience no matter the internet quality of individual players.

Best Practices for Managing Your Dedicated Server

Tip Recommendation
 Backups Regular automatic backups protect your server data from crashes or accidental loss.
 Performance Monitoring Use the control panel to monitor CPU and RAM usage, especially during high-traffic periods.
 Mod Management Use FTP to add or remove mods easily; test compatibility to avoid conflicts with other mods.
 Player Management Assign admins to enforce rules and manage settings during gameplay, ensuring a smooth experience.
 Location Selection Select a server location near most players to reduce lag, improving connectivity for a better experience.

 

Host Havoc - The Easy Way to Host Your 7 Days to Die Game Server

Why Choose Host Havoc?

Host Havoc is one of the most reliable hosting providers in the gaming community. 

For 7 Days to Die, their dedicated servers deliver high performance, ensuring seamless multiplayer experiences even in resource-heavy environments. 

With global server locations and 100% uptime, Host Havoc ensures that your game world stays online 24/7, providing uninterrupted access for you and your players.

Host Havoc Features for 7 Days to Die Hosting

Feature

Description

 24/7 Uptime

Server stays online round-the-clock, accessible anytime

 DDoS Protection

Built-in defense against attacks, ensuring continuous gameplay

 Global Server Locations

Choose a server close to your region to minimize lag

 Instant Setup

Launch your server within minutes of signup

 Full Customization

Adjust server settings, add mods, and enjoy advanced configuration options with FTP access

 24/7 Support

Access to dedicated customer support anytime you need it

 

  • Feature Highlight: DDoS protection is built into every server to defend against attacks that can cause downtime or lag spikes, giving you peace of mind when hosting larger multiplayer sessions.

Features

Host Havoc offers a range of flexible pricing plans based on the number of players and server slots you need. When you're hosting a small group of friends or a large gaming community, their scalable plans allow you to upgrade as your needs grow.

  • Instant Setup: Once you purchase a server plan, Host Havoc provides instant setup so you can launch your server within minutes.
  • Full Customization: Through Host Havoc’s intuitive control panel, users have full control over server settings, including mods, custom commands, and difficulty tweaks.

Pricing Plans at Host Havoc

Plan Tier

Small Group 

Mid-Size Group 

Large Community 

 Player Slots

4-8 players

10-20 players

20-40+ players

 RAM

4 GB

6 GB

8 GB+

 Monthly Cost

$11.99

$19.99

$24.99

 Mod Support

Full mod support

Full mod support

Full mod support

 Backups

Included

Included

Included

 

Pro Tip: The platform supports full FTP access for advanced users, allowing for even deeper control over game configurations and mods.

Host Havoc vs. Other Hosting Providers

Feature

Host Havoc 

Competitor 

Competitor 

 Uptime Guarantee

100%

99.9%

99.99%

 Support

24/7 Support

24/7 Support

24/7 Support

 DDoS Protection

Included

Included

Included

 Server Locations

9 Global Data Centers

5 Global Data Centers

7 Global Data Centers

 Cost

Starting at $11.99

Starting at $9.99

Starting at $12.50

 

How to Get Started

Starting with Host Havoc is simple:

  1. Select Your Plan: Choose the number of slots based on your group’s size. For larger multiplayer groups, consider upgrading to a higher-tier plan to accommodate more players.
  2. Customize Your Server: Use the control panel to adjust settings, install mods, and tweak gameplay configurations.
  3. Launch Your Server: With instant setup, your 7 Days to Die server will be online in minutes, allowing you to dive into the game with your friends without any downtime.
  4. Start hosting your 7DtD server today.

Looking for a 7 Days to Die server?

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