Hytale Crossplay Server Setup and Hosting Requirements
When Hypixel Studios announced the engine redevelopment, the core motivation was clear: unify the player base across PC, consoles, and mobile devices. Now, in the 2026 Early Access phase, the engine's capability to bridge these platforms natively is one of its strongest features. However, bridging PC players using a keyboard and mouse with mobile users on touch touchscreens isn't just a matter of flipping a switch—it requires careful server administration.
If you are looking to run a true crossplay Hytale server, this guide outlines the specific hardware needs, configuration nuances, and gameplay balancing you must consider to create a seamless experience.
How Hytale Crossplay Works
Unlike Minecraft, which notoriously split its player base between Java (PC) and Bedrock (Consoles/Mobile), Hytale runs a single, unified client engine. Regardless of the device a player uses, they are connecting using the same protocol and receiving the same core asset logic.
For a server administrator, this means you do not need complex third-party translation plugins like GeyserMC. Crossplay is a native feature of the official Hytale server binary. However, the server must dynamically adjust the data it sends based on the client’s capabilities. A mobile device simply cannot load as many chunks or process as many complex lighting effects as a high-end PC.
Configuring Crossplay in config.json
To enable cross-platform connections, you must verify the network configurations in your server’s `config.json` file. By default, early access servers expect PC connections, but you can explicitly allow multi-platform handshakes.
"network": {
"allow_crossplatform_connections": true,
"enforce_strict_client_validation": false
}Setting `allow_crossplatform_connections` to true ensures the server negotiates the connection protocol depending on the device type. The `enforce_strict_client_validation` should be false during the early access phase unless you are strictly running a competitive PC-only environment.
Hardware Overhead for Crossplay Servers
Running a crossplay server introduces significant overhead to your server's CPU and RAM. The server isn't just running the game logic; it is actively filtering what data to send to different clients.
- Client-Side Adjustments: If a PC player constructs a massive, complex redstone-equivalent machine that creates dense particle effects, the server must calculate this logic, but it simultaneously has to throttle the particle instructions sent to a connected mobile client so the phone doesn't crash.
- Bandwidth Scaling: Consoles and mobile connections typically experience more packet loss than wired PCs. The server uses additional CPU cycles to manage QUIC packet resends for these specific clients.
Because of this overhead, hosting a 50-player crossplay server requires hardware equivalent to a 75-player PC-only server. You will absolutely need an enterprise-grade CPU, like an AMD Ryzen 9 or equivalent provided by top-tier hosts like Supercraft, along with plentiful NVMe storage to handle the increased read/write operations of dynamic chunk streaming.
Balancing Gameplay: PC vs. Mobile
The biggest challenge in hosting a crossplay server isn't technical—it's game design. PC players inherently have an advantage in PvP combat and rapid building due to mouse and keyboard controls. If your server is a strict PvP factions server, mixing input methods will lead to frustration.
Input-Based Matchmaking / Separation
The Hytale Server API allows administrators to query the input device of a connecting player (Touch, Controller, or Mouse/Keyboard). You can use Lua scripting to enforce fairness:
- Assigning players to different PvP arenas based on input method.
- Providing slight aim-assist metrics for controller users against M/K users, if your server design permits it.
- Creating separate leaderboards for mobile vs PC players.
Modding on Crossplay Servers
Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of Hytale's crossplay is its handling of mods. As stated by the developers, clients download mods directly from the server. This extends to mobile and console clients as well.
If you add a new dinosaur mount via a CurseForge plugin on your server, a mobile player will automatically download the lightweight mobile-optimized texture variant of that dinosaur when they join. However, server operators must be extremely cautious not to overload mobile clients with excessively large mods (like 4K texture overhauls), as this will cause mobile clients to timeout during connection.
Conclusion: The Ultimate Crossplay Experience
Hosting a crossplay universe in Hytale allows you to build a diverse, massive community free from the hardware limitations of the past. As long as you provide the server with enough computing power to handle the dynamic asset streaming, your players will enjoy a deeply connected world.
Don't let lag ruin your cross-platform community. Choose a hosting provider equipped to handle the heavy demands of modern crossplay. Get started with Supercraft Hytale Dedicated Servers and unite your PC, console, and mobile players seamlessly.