How to Set Up a Stardew Valley Multiplayer Server

Overview

Stardew Valley supports co-op multiplayer with up to 8 players. While the game does not have an official dedicated server, you can run a headless multiplayer farm using a VPS.

Requirements

• A Breeze with at least 1 GB RAM
• A copy of Stardew Valley

Method 1: Always-On Host

The simplest approach is to run Stardew Valley in a virtual framebuffer on your server, keeping the farm always online for other players to join.

Install Dependencies

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y xvfb pulseaudio

Install Stardew Valley via SteamCMD

# Note: Requires a Steam account that owns the game
steamcmd +force_install_dir /opt/stardew \
  +login YOUR_STEAM_USERNAME \
  +app_update 413150 validate \
  +quit

Run with Virtual Display

xvfb-run -a /opt/stardew/StardewValley

Method 2: Using SMAPI Mods

Install SMAPI (Stardew Modding API) for better server control:

1. Download SMAPI from smapi.io
2. Install into your Stardew Valley directory
3. Use the Always On Server mod for dedicated server features

Configuration

Configure your farm in the in-game settings before going headless:

• Set cabin count for expected players
• Configure server password
• Set profit margins and game difficulty

Firewall

sudo ufw allow 24642/udp

Limitations

• No official dedicated server binary
• Requires running the game client in a virtual display
• Host must have a Steam account with the game
• Performance may vary on low-resource VPS instances