Bellwright Server Hosting Guide: Multiplayer Setup and Options

Bellwright is a medieval open-world survival RPG where players build settlements, recruit villagers, and lead a rebellion against a tyrannical regime. The game entered early access in April 2024 and has received over 40 patches and updates since, including the massive Maiden Voyage expansion in December 2025. Here is everything you need to know about hosting a Bellwright multiplayer experience.

Current Multiplayer Status

Bellwright supports cooperative multiplayer for up to four players. The host creates a world and invites friends through in-game Steam invitations. Guests join the host’s session and can contribute to building, crafting, combat, and settlement management.

How Co-op Works

One player acts as the host and runs the game world from their PC. Up to three additional players can join through Steam friend invitations. The world is only accessible when the host is online and running the game.

This peer-to-peer model is common in early access survival games. It works well for small groups but has limitations: the host must keep their game running for others to play, upload bandwidth from residential internet connections can cause lag for remote players, and the world goes offline when the host disconnects.

Dedicated Server Status

As of the Maiden Voyage update in December 2025, Bellwright does not have an official dedicated server tool. The developers at Donkey Crew have acknowledged community requests for dedicated server support and are exploring the option, particularly as modding capabilities expand.

There is no SteamCMD App ID for a Bellwright dedicated server at this time. The community has been vocal about wanting this feature, and multiple threads on the Steam discussion forums track the topic.

Third-Party Hosting Providers

Despite the lack of an official dedicated server application, several third-party hosting providers advertise Bellwright server hosting. These services typically use custom tooling to keep a Bellwright world running 24/7, even when the original host is not online.

Third-party hosted servers can potentially support more than the default four-player limit depending on hardware and configuration, though Bellwright was designed around small-group co-op, and performance at higher player counts may vary.

Features commonly offered by third-party hosts include:

• Persistent worlds that stay online around the clock
• Automatic backup scheduling with downloadable save files
• Server locations across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific
• Mod support when available
• Web-based control panels for configuration

What the Maiden Voyage Update Changed

The December 2025 Maiden Voyage update was Bellwright’s largest content drop and has implications for multiplayer.

New Map: Halmare Isles

A second playable map spanning over 10 square kilometers was added. The Halmare Isles feature new story quests, progression lines, animals, and buildings. Multiplayer groups now have a new region to explore together.

Loyalty and Faction System

The new loyalty mechanics change how NPCs interact with your settlement. In co-op, this adds another layer of group strategy as players manage relationships with different factions.

Trade and Caravans

A logistics system lets players establish trade routes between outposts. In multiplayer, different players can manage different outposts and coordinate caravans, creating a natural division of labor.

Improved Walls and Fortifications

A new wall-building system with foliage-clearing mechanics makes base defense more satisfying. Players can now task workers with removing vegetation before construction begins, streamlining the building process in co-op sessions.

Optimizing Your Co-op Experience

Until official dedicated servers arrive, here are steps to get the best multiplayer experience.

Host Requirements

The player hosting the session should have strong hardware and a stable internet connection. Recommended host specs:

• CPU: 4 cores at 3.5 GHz or higher
• RAM: 16 GB (the game uses 8-12 GB during play)
• Storage: SSD with at least 20 GB free
• Upload Speed: 10 Mbps or higher for smooth gameplay with three guests

Reducing Lag

Close unnecessary background applications on the host machine. Bellwright’s world simulation runs entirely on the host’s hardware, so CPU and RAM availability directly affect the experience for all connected players.

Use a wired ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi on the host machine. This reduces latency variability that causes rubber-banding for connected players.

Saving and Backups

Bellwright auto-saves periodically, but manual saves before major building projects or dangerous expeditions protect against crashes. Back up your save files regularly by copying the save directory to an external location.

Looking Ahead

Dedicated server support remains one of the most requested features on the Bellwright Steam forums and official Discord. If the developers release an official server tool, it would enable persistent worlds, larger player counts, and community-run servers similar to other survival games in the genre.

The Bellwright development team communicates primarily through their official Discord server, where beta opt-in announcements and update previews are shared before Steam releases.

Visit Reactor’s games page to see our full lineup of supported game servers. As Bellwright’s multiplayer capabilities expand, we will evaluate adding it to our hosting platform to give medieval settlement builders a reliable, always-online home for their communities.