This guide walks you through installing a SteamCMD game server on your Windows Server VPS, covering everything from creating directories to downloading server files and configuring your game server.

📌 Prerequisites

  • A Windows Server VPS with administrative access.

  • A valid Steam account.

  • Remote Desktop Connection (RDP) software to access your VPS.

  • Basic familiarity with Windows Explorer, Command Prompt, and text editors (e.g., Notepad).

Step 1: Preparing Your Environment

  1. Create a Workspace:

    • Log in to your Windows Server VPS via Remote Desktop.

    • Open File Explorer and create a new folder in the root of your C: drive named SteamCMD.

    • Inside the SteamCMD folder, create another folder named YourGameServer.

      • For example: C:\SteamCMD\YourGameServer

  2. Download SteamCMD for Windows:

    • Open your web browser and navigate to the SteamCMD official page.

    • Download the Windows version of SteamCMD (a .zip file).

  3. Extract SteamCMD Files:

    • Extract the downloaded .zip file into the SteamCMD folder.

    • Ensure that steamcmd.exe is located directly inside C:\SteamCMD\.

✅ Environment prepared and directories created!

Step 2: Downloading Your Game Server Files Using SteamCMD

  1. Open Command Prompt:

    • Press Win + R, type cmd, and hit Enter.

  2. Navigate to the SteamCMD Directory:

    cd C:\SteamCMD

  3. Run SteamCMD:

    • In the command prompt, type:

      steamcmd.exe

    • This launches SteamCMD in a new command window.

  4. Set the Installation Directory:

    • At the SteamCMD prompt, type:

      force_install_dir C:\SteamCMD\YourGameServer\

    • This sets your game server installation path.

  5. Log In to SteamCMD:

    • Type the following command and press Enter:

      login your_steam_username

    • Enter your password and Steam Guard code if prompted.

  6. Download the Game Server Files:

    • Determine the AppID for your desired game server (consult the game’s documentation or SteamDB).

    • For example, to download a server with AppID 2329680, type:

      app_update 2329680 validate

    • Wait for the download and installation to complete.

  7. Exit SteamCMD:

    • Type:

      quit

    • This will exit SteamCMD and return you to the Command Prompt.

✅ Game server files downloaded successfully into C:\SteamCMD\YourGameServer!

Step 3: Configuring Your Game Server

  1. Locate the Server Executable:

    • Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\SteamCMD\YourGameServer\.

    • Find the server executable (for example, it might be named YourServer.exe or similar).

  2. Create a Shortcut for Easy Access:

    • Right-click the server executable and select Create Shortcut.

    • Move the shortcut to your desktop for convenience.

  3. Modify Shortcut Properties:

    • Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.

    • In the Target field, add any necessary startup parameters after the path.

      • For example:

        "C:\SteamCMD\YourGameServer\YourServer.exe" -server -log

    • Click Apply and then OK.

✅ Server executable configured with custom startup parameters!

Step 4: Running and Testing Your Game Server

  1. Launch the Server:

    • Double-click your shortcut to run the server.

    • A console window should open. Wait until you see a message indicating that the server is running (e.g., "Server Initialized" or similar).

  2. Verify Server Operation:

    • Monitor the console for any error messages.

    • Ensure that logs confirm the server is ready for connections.

  3. Connect to Your Server:

    • Obtain your VPS’s public IP address.

    • Launch your game client on another machine.

    • Connect to your server by entering the VPS IP address in the game’s multiplayer section.

✅ Your SteamCMD game server is up and running on your Windows VPS!

🎉 Conclusion

You've successfully installed and configured a SteamCMD game server on your Windows Server VPS. With your server files downloaded, the installation directory set, and the server executable configured, you're now ready to host games and provide an immersive experience for your players.

For additional assistance or troubleshooting, consult your game’s documentation or contact your VPS support team.

Happy gaming!