This guide covers everything you need to set up and configure your Abiotic Factor dedicated server on Legion Hosting, including first start, GPanel startup variables, sandbox settings, world configuration, connecting to your server, and save management. For help with crashes and connection problems, see Abiotic Factor Troubleshooting.

What Is Abiotic Factor

Abiotic Factor is a cooperative survival game set inside a massive underground science facility. Up to six players work together as scientists trapped in a research complex overrun by anomalous creatures and environmental hazards. The game blends survival mechanics -- hunger, thirst, fatigue, crafting, and base building -- with physics-based combat and exploration across multiple interconnected facility sectors. Players research new technologies, build defenses, and uncover the mysteries of what went wrong in the facility.

Key features of the dedicated server include:

• Persistent world that runs 24/7 so players can join and leave freely
• Extensive sandbox settings for difficulty, enemy behavior, resource rates, and player stats
• Multiple save worlds with independent configurations
• Admin password protection and server browser visibility

First Start

When you first receive your Abiotic Factor server from Legion Hosting, it needs to complete an initial installation before it can be played on.

1. Log in to GPanel and select your Abiotic Factor server from the server list.
2. Click the Console tab and press Start.
3. The server will download and install the Abiotic Factor dedicated server files via Steam (App ID 2857200). This initial download can take several minutes.
4. Once the download completes, the server will start automatically. Wait until you see log output indicating the server is listening for connections.
5. The first boot may take longer than subsequent starts while the server generates initial world data and configuration files.

GPanel Startup Variables

Core server settings are configured as startup variables in GPanel. These values are passed to the server executable as command-line parameters when it launches.

1. In GPanel, select your Abiotic Factor server.
2. Click the Startup tab.
3. Set the variables listed below. Changes take effect the next time you start or restart the server.

Server Configuration

Beyond the startup variables, Abiotic Factor uses command-line parameters passed to the server executable. The most important parameters are:

Sandbox Settings (World Configuration)

Sandbox settings control gameplay difficulty, enemy behavior, player stats, and world rules. These are configured in the SandboxSettings.ini file.

Locating the File

The sandbox settings file is located at:

AbioticFactor/Saved/SaveGames/Server/Worlds/<YourWorldName>/SandboxSettings.ini

You can access this file through the GPanel Files tab or via SFTP.

Difficulty Settings

Enemy Settings

Player Settings

World Settings

Miscellaneous Settings

Example SandboxSettings.ini

[SandboxSettings]
GameDifficulty=1
HardcoreMode=False
EnemySpawnRate=1.0
EnemyHealthMultiplier=1.0
EnemyPlayerDamageMultiplier=1.0
PlayerXPGainMultiplier=1.5
HungerSpeedMultiplier=0.8
ThirstSpeedMultiplier=0.8
FatigueSpeedMultiplier=0.8
DamageToAlliesMultiplier=0.0
ItemStackSizeMultiplier=2.0
LootRespawnEnabled=True
DayNightCycleState=0
DayNightCycleSpeedMultiplier=1.0
FoodSpoilSpeedMultiplier=0.5
DeathPenalties=1

Game Modes and Difficulty

Abiotic Factor offers three difficulty levels that fundamentally change the survival experience:

• Normal (0): Balanced experience suitable for most groups. Enemies are present but manageable, resource scarcity is moderate, and death penalties are forgiving. Recommended for first-time players.
• Hard (1): Increased enemy aggression and detection speed. Resources are scarcer and enemies hit harder. The default setting for dedicated servers.
• Apocalyptic (2): Maximum challenge. Enemies are extremely aggressive, highly accurate, and deal significant damage. Resources are very scarce. Recommended only for experienced groups.

Additionally, Hardcore Mode can be layered on top of any difficulty (though it forces Apocalyptic). In Hardcore, each player has only one life -- if you die, your character is permanently deleted and you must start fresh.

How to Connect

Players can connect to your Abiotic Factor server through the Steam server browser or by direct connect.

Via Steam Server Browser

1. Launch Abiotic Factor.
2. From the main menu, select Play Online and then Server Browser.
3. Search for your server by name (the name you set in the SERVER_NAME startup variable).
4. Click on your server and press Join. Enter the password if one is set.

Via Direct Connect

1. Find your server IP and port from the GPanel Console tab. For help, see How to Find Your Server IP and Port.
2. In Abiotic Factor, open the server browser and look for a Direct Connect option.
3. Enter your server IP and game port (default 7777) in the format IP:PORT.
4. Press Connect and enter the server password if required.

Via Steam

1. In Steam, go to View > Game Servers (or Servers).
2. Click the Favorites tab and then Add a Server.
3. Enter your server's IP and query port (default 27015).
4. Once the server appears in your favorites, double-click it to connect through Abiotic Factor.

Save Management and World Persistence

Abiotic Factor dedicated servers save world data automatically. Understanding how saves work will help you manage backups and avoid data loss.

Save Location

World save data is stored in:

AbioticFactor/Saved/SaveGames/Server/Worlds/<WorldName>/

Each world has its own directory containing the save data and configuration files (including SandboxSettings.ini).

Automatic Saves

The server saves the world state periodically during gameplay. World data is also saved when the server shuts down cleanly. Always use the Stop button in GPanel rather than force-killing the process to ensure a clean save.

Manual Backups

To create a manual backup:

1. Stop the server from GPanel.
2. Navigate to the world save directory via the Files tab or SFTP.
3. Download the entire world folder to your local computer.
4. To restore a backup, stop the server, upload the backed-up world folder to the same location, and start the server.

Starting a New World

To start a fresh world without losing your existing save:

1. Stop the server.
2. Rename or move the existing world folder (e.g., rename it to World_backup).
3. Start the server. It will generate a new world from scratch.

Admin Configuration

Server admins can be configured in two ways:

Via Steam ID (Admin.ini)

For persistent admin access without sharing passwords, add Steam IDs to the Admin.ini file:

1. Stop the server.
2. Navigate to the server's configuration directory via GPanel Files or SFTP.
3. Create or edit the Admin.ini file.
4. Add one Steam64 ID per line:

   76561198012345678
   76561198087654321

5. Save the file and start the server. Players with listed Steam IDs will automatically have admin privileges.

Related Articles

• Abiotic Factor Troubleshooting
• How to Find Your Server IP and Port
• How to Upload Files via SFTP
• Getting Started with Your New Server

Need Help?

If you are still having issues with your Abiotic Factor server, please open a support ticket and our team will be happy to assist you.