The Isle Server Hosting - Evrima Servers, Managed

The Isle dedicated server requirements

The Isle's server is an Unreal Engine build, and its load scales with slots and AI, not just with whoever is online. Growth times in Evrima are measured in hours, so a server that drops or lags does not just annoy players, it costs them their dino. Sizing generously is the difference between a server people settle on and one they pass through.

Server	RAM	CPU	Notes
Private, up to ~25 slots	8 GB	2-4 fast cores	Friend groups, events
Public, ~50 slots	12 GB	4 fast cores	A real community server
Public, 100+ slots, AI	16 GB	4-6 fast cores	Established communities

Like most UE servers, The Isle rewards single-thread speed over core count, so we place it on our higher clock nodes.

The Isle server setup

On a managed plan the install is done for you, on the correct branch, which matters more in The Isle than in any other game we run (see the next section). What you choose in the panel: server name, password, slot count, and the gameplay toggles; the server then registers in the in-game browser and your players find it by name. Game and query ports are opened for you and shown in the panel for direct connections.

Evrima vs Legacy - the one thing to get right

The Isle exists as two entirely separate games. Evrima is the actively developed branch where the playerbase lives. Legacy is the old build, frozen years ago - and it is still what a fresh Steam install of the client defaults to. The two cannot see each other: a Legacy client will never find an Evrima server in the browser, and the other way round.

Every server we run is Evrima and is updated when the branch updates. If your players cannot see the server, the first check is always their client branch: Steam library → The Isle → Properties → Betas → select evrima. This single step resolves most "server not showing up" reports before they become tickets.

The Isle server settings

• Slots shape the whole server. 50 feels alive without queues; 100+ is a different, busier game and needs the hardware to match.
• Password makes the server private for a group or event while it stays joinable by direct connect.
• AI spawns add prey and ambience at a real CPU cost, which is why the bigger plans exist.
• Admin list - Evrima admin rights are granted per Steam ID, so your staff keep their powers across restarts.

Settings are edited in the panel and applied on restart, and every change is backed by an automatic pre-change backup.

Running a community server

The Isle communities live or die on consistency: stable uptime, updates applied promptly after patch day, and admins who can act. Our job is the first two - the server updates with the branch, restarts are scheduled and announced, and backups run automatically so a bad patch day is a rollback rather than a wipe. The third is yours: the console and per-Steam-ID admin list give your staff what they need without anyone touching a config file.

Server not showing up in the list

1. Client on the wrong branch. By far the most common cause - see Evrima vs Legacy above.
2. Version mismatch after patch day. Client and server must be on the same Evrima build. Our servers update automatically; players just restart Steam.
3. The browser is slow, the server is fine. The in-game list can take a while to populate; direct connect by IP works immediately and is the quick test.
4. Mid-restart. During an update window the server is briefly absent from the list; the panel shows its live status.

FAQ

Do I need a dedicated server to play The Isle with friends?

Yes - The Isle has no self-hosted lobby mode; multiplayer happens on dedicated servers. A private passworded server is how a group plays on its own rules, and a public one is how a community forms around your name.

Which branch do your servers run, Evrima or Legacy?

Evrima, the actively developed branch where the playerbase is. Players must switch their client to the evrima beta in Steam to see it - a fresh install defaults to Legacy, which cannot join Evrima servers.

How much RAM does a The Isle server need?

8 GB covers a private server around 25 slots. Public servers want 12 GB at 50 slots and 16 GB at 100+, especially with AI enabled, because load scales with slots and AI rather than only with players online.

Will my server survive game updates?

Updates are applied for you when the Evrima branch updates, with an automatic backup taken first, so a rough patch is a rollback rather than a loss.

Can my admins moderate without server access?

Yes. Admin rights in Evrima are granted per Steam ID, so your staff use in-game admin powers while the server itself stays yours.