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Getting started with your Grounded 2 server

This guide takes you from your order to your first connection: the Steam account the server needs, choosing a plan, getting around the Game Panel and connecting through the Lantern launcher.

Grounded 2 doesn't ship an official dedicated server. YorkHost runs the game with Lantern, an open-source, community-built framework with no ties to Obsidian or Xbox: the Steam version of Grounded 2 runs headless on our machines, in a Windows environment prepared and managed by YorkHost, and your world stays online 24/7, even when nobody is playing.

Requirement: a Steam account dedicated to the server​

Do this first

Your server downloads Grounded 2 from Steam. To do so, it needs a Steam account that owns the game, which you provide. Without this account, the game can't be installed and the server won't start.

In short:

  1. Create a second Steam account, separate from the one you play with. Never use your main account: the server and your own game would keep kicking each other off.
  2. Buy Grounded 2 on that account (around €30, indicative Steam price, not included in your YorkHost subscription), or gift it from your main account.
  3. Enter its account name and password in the panel's Startup tab (STEAM_USER and STEAM_PASS variables).
  4. Enter the Steam Guard code emailed to you during the first install (STEAM_AUTH variable), then run the install again.

When the server is delivered, no Steam account is set yet: the install finishes without the game and the Console shows [YH] ACTION REQUISE : … ("action required", in French). That's expected: this message tells you what's left to do at each step, until [YH] Installation terminee. Grounded 2 est installe, vous pouvez demarrer le serveur. ("install complete, you can start the server").

The full step-by-step procedure, with security advice: Dedicated Steam account and Steam Guard.

Choosing a plan​

YorkHost offers Grounded 2 server hosting on AMD Ryzen or Intel CPUs, NVMe storage and a 10 Gbps network, with Anti-DDoS protection and 7/7 support on Discord. The game is capped at 4 players per world: the three plans differ by resources, not by player slots.

PlanvCoresRAMStoragePlayersIndicative priceBest for
Mite38 GB60 GB NVMe4 players€9.99/monthGreat for getting started with friends
Soldier412 GB80 GB NVMe4 players€13.99/monthThe best balance for long playthroughs
Broodmother616 GB100 GB NVMe4 players + mods€18.99/monthBig worlds and mods
Up-to-date pricing

The reference prices and specifications are the ones shown on the Grounded 2 page of the YorkHost website at the time of ordering. The copy of Grounded 2 bought on the dedicated Steam account is not included in the subscription.

Accessing the Game Panel​

Your server is managed from the Game Panel (Wisp):

  1. Log in to your Game Panel:
  2. Select your Grounded 2 server
  3. You land on the Console: this is where you start, stop and restart the server, and follow the install and startup in real time

The most useful tabs for Grounded 2:

TabUse
ConsoleStart / stop the server, follow the install and read the logs
FilesServer file manager
StartupStartup variables, including the dedicated Steam account credentials (STEAM_USER, STEAM_PASS, STEAM_AUTH)
BackupsServer backups
SchedulesScheduled tasks, for example an automatic restart

To transfer files, SFTP access is more convenient than the web file manager. The credentials are in Settings → SFTP Details: see SFTP extension for VSCode or use a client such as FileZilla or WinSCP.

Longer first start

During the first install, the server has to download Grounded 2 from Steam with your dedicated account, then prepare its environment. This can take several minutes: let the console run without restarting until it's done.

Finding the IP address and port​

The connection address is shown in the Game Panel, on your server's page, in the IP:PORT format. It's the only thing you need to share with your friends.

Lantern's default gameplay port is 7777, but at YorkHost the port is assigned by the panel and may be different. Always use the one shown in the panel. Lantern also uses a few consecutive ports (server status, admin tools): opening them is handled on our side (see Are all ports open?). Don't change ports manually in the configuration files.

Connecting to the server​

The server doesn't show up in the in-game session list: that's expected. Every player needs Grounded 2 on Steam (PC) and connects with the Lantern launcher, on Windows, by entering the server's IP:PORT. The Xbox, PC Game Pass and PS5 versions can't join this type of server.

Step by step: Joining the server.

Play with your main account

To play, each player uses their own regular Steam account. The dedicated account is for the server only: never launch Grounded 2 with it on your PC.

Going further​

Need help?

Our team is available 7 days a week on Discord or through your client area.