Palworld Dedicated Server for ARM64

Production-ready Palworld dedicated server in Docker, with SteamCMD updates, ARM64 support through FEX, automatic backups, health monitoring, idle restart, and optional Discord notifications.

What is included

• ARM64 images for Apple Silicon, Raspberry Pi-class systems, and ARM cloud instances.
• SteamCMD installation, validation, and update handling.
• Environment-variable configuration for all settings generated in PalWorldSettings.ini and the project's generated Engine.ini performance section.
• Automatic backups with retention by day, week, and month.
• Health checks, metrics, an optional dashboard, and configurable idle restart.
• Optional REST API, RCON, and localized Discord notifications in Korean, English, or Japanese.

Quick start

Docker Compose (recommended)

Create the environment file first:

cp .env.palworld.example .env.palworld

# Set ADMIN_PASSWORD in .env.palworld.
docker compose --env-file .env.palworld up -d

.env.palworld is consumed by the container. Do not commit this copied file; it contains passwords, webhook URLs, and other private values.

The default Compose port bindings are:

Service	Host binding	Protocol	Purpose
Palworld	8211	UDP	Game traffic
Steam query	27018	UDP	Server browser/query traffic
REST API	127.0.0.1:8212	TCP	Palworld administration API

RCON uses port 25575 inside the server container. The provided Compose file does not publish it; publish it only to a trusted local interface or private network when RCON access is needed. If you change REST_API_PORT or SERVER_PORT, Compose uses the new values for its port mappings. The query port is likewise controlled by QUERY_PORT.

The persistent directories created by Compose are:

Host directory	Container path	Contents
./palworld_data	/home/steam/palworld_server/Pal/Saved	World and player data
./palworld_backups	/home/steam/backups	Automatic backups
./palworld_logs	/home/steam/logs	Server and manager logs

Docker run

For a server-only container, provide at least ADMIN_PASSWORD and a persistent server volume:

docker run -d \
  --name palworld-server \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  -p 8211:8211/udp \
  -p 27018:27018/udp \
  -p 127.0.0.1:8212:8212/tcp \
  -e ADMIN_PASSWORD=replace-with-a-strong-password \
  -v palworld-data:/home/steam/palworld_server \
  -v palworld-backups:/home/steam/backups \
  supersunho/palworld-server:latest

The REST API and any published RCON port are administrative interfaces. Keep them on localhost or a private network unless they are protected by a firewall, VPN, or authenticated reverse proxy.

Configuration

The configuration workflow

1. Copy .env.palworld.example to .env.palworld.

2. Set a strong, non-empty ADMIN_PASSWORD and change any desired values.

3. Validate the files and start or recreate the container:

   bash scripts/validate_env_files.sh .env.palworld
   docker compose --env-file .env.palworld up -d --force-recreate

4. Confirm the generated files and logs after startup.

The manager reads config/default.yaml, substitutes environment variables, and generates the active Palworld files at:

/home/steam/palworld_server/Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini
/home/steam/palworld_server/Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/Engine.ini

config/DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini and config/DefaultEngine.ini are source templates and reference files. Editing those files alone does not change an already-running server. Restart or recreate the container after changing .env.palworld so the settings generator runs again.

The detailed tables below use the defaults in this project’s .env.palworld.example and config/default.yaml. They are not guaranteed to match the defaults in Palworld’s original sample INI and may change as Palworld or this project is updated. The complete environment file is available here: .env.palworld.example.

Value conventions

• Boolean values are written as true or false. The loader also accepts yes/no, on/off, and 1/0, case-insensitively.
• Integer and decimal values are converted to numbers before the INI is generated. Use a decimal for rates and multipliers, such as 1.0.
• For most rate and damage multipliers, 1.0 is the normal game value. A value above 1.0 generally increases a rate or amount; a value below 1.0 generally decreases it. Depletion rates are the exception: a larger value consumes hunger or stamina faster.
• This project does not clamp every Palworld value. “Non-negative multiplier” describes the safe practical range where no hard game limit is documented; exact limits can vary by Palworld version.
• Values such as CROSSPLAY_PLATFORMS and DENY_TECHNOLOGY_LIST are passed as strings. Preserve the syntax expected by the game.

Palworld game settings

Every variable in the following sections is written to the generated PalWorldSettings.ini unless explicitly noted otherwise. The tables list the environment variable, project default, practical/documented range, and effect.

Server and connection

Variable	Default	Allowed value / range	Effect
SERVER_NAME	Palworld Server	Text	Name shown in the server browser and connection UI.
SERVER_DESCRIPTION	A Palworld dedicated server	Text	Description shown in the server browser.
SERVER_PASSWORD	empty	Text; empty disables the join password	Password required to join.
ADMIN_PASSWORD	required	Non-empty text	Grants admin commands and is also used by RCON. Keep it secret.
MAX_PLAYERS	32	1–32	Manager/Compose-side maximum player validation.
SERVER_PLAYER_MAX_NUM	32	Positive integer; practical limit depends on the game build	Value written to ServerPlayerMaxNum.
COOP_PLAYER_MAX_NUM	4	Positive integer	Co-op player limit used by the game.
SERVER_PORT	8211	1024–65535	Game server UDP listening port and Compose mapping.
PUBLIC_IP	empty	Public IPv4, hostname, or empty	Explicit address advertised to clients.
PUBLIC_PORT	8211	1–65535	Publicly advertised game port; does not change the local listening port.
REGION	empty	Text	Optional region metadata.
USE_AUTH	true	Boolean	Enables server authentication.
BAN_LIST_URL	official URL	URL	Remote ban-list URL used by the game.
CROSSPLAY_PLATFORMS	(Steam,Xbox,PS5,Mac)	Parenthesized comma-separated list	Platforms allowed to connect. Keep the surrounding parentheses.
REST_API_ENABLED	true	Boolean	Enables Palworld’s REST API. Keep the API private unless protected.
REST_API_PORT	8212	1024–65535	REST API listening port.
REST_API_HOST	localhost	Hostname/IP	Manager-side REST API connection address.
RCON_ENABLED	true	Boolean	Enables RCON in the generated game settings.
RCON_PORT	25575	1–65535	RCON listening port.
RCON_HOST	localhost	Hostname/IP	Manager-side RCON connection address.

QUERY_PORT (27018 by default) is the Steam server-query UDP port used by Compose and the server startup command. It is not a PalWorldSettings.ini option. SERVER_PORT, REST_API_PORT, and QUERY_PORT are validated by the manager/health-check path; Compose also uses them when it creates port mappings.

Difficulty, modes, and randomization

Variable	Default	Allowed value / range	Effect
DIFFICULTY	None	None, Normal, Difficult	Selects the game difficulty preset.
DEATH_PENALTY	All	None, Item, ItemAndEquipment, All	None: no drops; Item: items except equipment; ItemAndEquipment: items and equipment; All: items, equipment, and team Pals.
HARDCORE	false	Boolean	Enables Hardcore mode and its death behavior.
IS_MULTIPLAY	true	Boolean	Enables multiplayer behavior.
IS_PVP	false	Boolean	Enables PvP. Combine with the explicit PvP damage switches when needed.
RANDOMIZER_TYPE	None	None, Region, All	Pal spawn randomization: disabled, by region, or fully randomized.
RANDOMIZER_SEED	empty	Text	Seed used by the randomizer.
IS_RANDOMIZER_PAL_LEVEL_RANDOM	false	Boolean	Randomizes wild Pal levels when randomization is enabled.

Time, experience, Pal, and player rates

Unless noted otherwise, these are decimal multipliers with a default of 1.0.

Variable	Default	Effect
DAY_TIME_SPEED_RATE	1.0	Daytime world-clock progression; higher values make daytime pass faster.
NIGHT_TIME_SPEED_RATE	1.0	Nighttime world-clock progression; higher values make nighttime pass faster.
EXP_RATE	1.0	Player and Pal experience gain.
WORK_SPEED_RATE	1.0	Pal work and production speed.
PAL_CAPTURE_RATE	1.0	Capture success multiplier.
PAL_SPAWN_NUM_RATE	1.0	Number of wild Pals spawned; higher values increase CPU and replication load.
PAL_DAMAGE_RATE_ATTACK	1.0	Damage dealt by Pals.
PAL_DAMAGE_RATE_DEFENSE	1.0	Damage received by Pals.
PAL_AUTO_HP_REGENE_RATE	1.0	Pal natural HP regeneration.
PAL_AUTO_HP_REGENE_RATE_IN_SLEEP	1.0	Pal HP regeneration while sleeping in the Palbox.
PAL_STAMINA_DECREACE_RATE	1.0	Pal stamina depletion; the spelling follows the game’s INI key.
PAL_STOMACH_DECREACE_RATE	1.0	Pal hunger depletion; the spelling follows the game’s INI key.
PAL_EGG_DEFAULT_HATCHING_TIME	72.0	Huge Egg incubation time in hours; other egg types use the game’s corresponding incubation behavior.
PLAYER_DAMAGE_RATE_ATTACK	1.0	Damage dealt by players.
PLAYER_DAMAGE_RATE_DEFENSE	1.0	Damage received by players.
PLAYER_AUTO_HP_REGENE_RATE	1.0	Player natural HP regeneration.
PLAYER_AUTO_HP_REGENE_RATE_IN_SLEEP	1.0	Player HP regeneration while sleeping.
PLAYER_STAMINA_DECREACE_RATE	1.0	Player stamina depletion.
PLAYER_STOMACH_DECREACE_RATE	1.0	Player hunger depletion.

Combat, building, bases, guilds, items, and drops

Variable	Default	Allowed value / range	Effect
ENABLE_PLAYER_TO_PLAYER_DAMAGE	false	Boolean	Allows direct player damage.
ENABLE_FRIENDLY_FIRE	false	Boolean	Allows damage to friendly players.
ENABLE_INVADER_ENEMY	true	Boolean	Enables invader enemies.
ACTIVE_UNKO	false	Boolean	Enables the game’s UNKO drop feature.
ENABLE_AIM_ASSIST_PAD	true	Boolean	Enables controller aim assist.
ENABLE_AIM_ASSIST_KEYBOARD	false	Boolean	Enables keyboard aim assist.
BUILD_OBJECT_HP_RATE	1.0	Non-negative multiplier	Structure HP multiplier.
BUILD_OBJECT_DAMAGE_RATE	1.0	Non-negative multiplier	Damage dealt to structures.
BUILD_OBJECT_DETERIORATION_DAMAGE_RATE	1.0	Non-negative multiplier	Structure deterioration/decay speed.
COLLECTION_DROP_RATE	1.0	Non-negative multiplier	Quantity obtained from gatherable resources.
COLLECTION_OBJECT_HP_RATE	1.0	Non-negative multiplier	HP of gatherable objects.
COLLECTION_OBJECT_RESPAWN_SPEED_RATE	1.0	Non-negative multiplier	Gatherable respawn interval; smaller values respawn faster.
ENEMY_DROP_ITEM_RATE	1.0	Non-negative multiplier	Quantity of items dropped by enemies.
BUILD_AREA_LIMIT	false	Boolean	Restricts building in areas near structures such as fast-travel points.
MAX_BUILDING_LIMIT_NUM	0	Non-negative integer; 0 means unlimited	Per-player building count cap.
BASE_CAMP_MAX_NUM	128	Non-negative integer	Total base-camp count across the server.
BASE_CAMP_MAX_NUM_IN_GUILD	4	Documented default 4, maximum 10	Maximum bases per guild; increasing it raises processing load.
BASE_CAMP_WORKER_MAX_NUM	15	Documented maximum 50	Maximum Pals working at each base; increasing it raises processing load. Some Palworld versions have a game-side bug where this has no effect.
GUILD_PLAYER_MAX_NUM	20	Positive integer	Maximum guild members.
AUTO_RESET_GUILD_NO_ONLINE_PLAYERS	false	Boolean	Deletes guild structures and base Pals when no guild members log in.
AUTO_RESET_GUILD_TIME_NO_ONLINE_PLAYERS	72.0	Non-negative hours	Offline duration before automatic guild reset; ignored when the switch is false.
DROP_ITEM_MAX_NUM	3000	Non-negative integer	Maximum ordinary dropped items in the world.
DROP_ITEM_MAX_NUM_UNKO	100	Non-negative integer	Maximum UNKO drops in the world.
PHYSICS_ACTIVE_DROP_ITEM_MAX_NUM	-1	Integer; -1 follows game default behavior	Maximum active physics drops.
DROP_ITEM_ALIVE_MAX_HOURS	1.0	Non-negative hours	Time before dropped items despawn.
ITEM_WEIGHT_RATE	1.0	Non-negative multiplier	Item weight multiplier.
EQUIPMENT_DURABILITY_DAMAGE_RATE	1.0	Non-negative multiplier	Equipment durability loss multiplier.

Travel, persistence, communication, and Global Palbox

Variable	Default	Allowed value / range	Effect
CAN_PICKUP_OTHER_GUILD_DEATH_PENALTY_DROP	false	Boolean	Allows another guild to pick up death-penalty drops.
ALLOW_CLIENT_MOD	true	Boolean	Allows clients with mods to join. Use only when the server’s trust model permits it.
ENABLE_NON_LOGIN_PENALTY	true	Boolean	Enables the non-login penalty mechanic.
ENABLE_FAST_TRAVEL	true	Boolean	Enables fast travel.
ENABLE_FAST_TRAVEL_ONLY_BASE_CAMP	false	Boolean	Restricts fast travel to base-camp travel points.
IS_START_LOCATION_SELECT_BY_MAP	true	Boolean	Allows selecting the starting location on the map.
EXIST_PLAYER_AFTER_LOGOUT	false	Boolean	Leaves a sleeping player at the logout location instead of removing them.
ENABLE_DEFENSE_OTHER_GUILD_PLAYER	false	Boolean	Enables defense against players from another guild.
INVISIBLE_OTHER_GUILD_BASE_CAMP_AREA_FX	false	Boolean	Controls visibility of other-guild base-area boundary effects.
AUTO_SAVE_SPAN	30.0	Non-negative seconds	Interval between automatic saves.
IS_USE_BACKUP_SAVE_DATA	true	Boolean	Enables the game’s backup save data; increases disk usage.
SHOW_PLAYER_LIST	false	Boolean	Shows the player list in the ESC menu.
CHAT_POST_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE	30	Non-negative integer	Maximum chat messages per player per minute.
PAL_LOST	false	Boolean	Permanently loses Pals on death.
CHARACTER_RECREATE_IN_HARDCORE	false	Boolean	Allows character recreation after death in Hardcore mode.
ALLOW_GLOBAL_PALBOX_EXPORT	true	Boolean	Allows saving to the Global Palbox.
ALLOW_GLOBAL_PALBOX_IMPORT	false	Boolean	Allows loading from the Global Palbox.
LOG_FORMAT_TYPE	Text	Text or Json	Palworld server log format.
ENABLE_PREDATOR_BOSS_PAL	true	Boolean	Enables Predator boss Pals.
SUPPLY_DROP_SPAN	180	Non-negative minutes	Meteorite/supply-drop interval.

Advanced game-balance and server management

Variable	Default	Allowed value / range	Effect
SERVER_REPLICATE_PAWN_CULL_DISTANCE	15000.0	Documented 5000–15000 cm	Distance at which Pal/actor replication is culled; larger values increase replication load.
ITEM_CONTAINER_FORCE_MARK_DIRTY_INTERVAL	1.0	Non-negative seconds	How often an open item container is force-synchronized.
ITEM_CORRUPTION_MULTIPLIER	1.0	Non-negative multiplier	Item corruption speed.
MONSTER_FARM_ACTION_SPEED_RATE	1.0	Non-negative multiplier	Production speed from grazing/monster farms.
PLAYER_DATA_STORAGE_UPDATE_CHECK_INTERVAL	1.0	Non-negative seconds	Interval between checks for updates to Pal storage data.
DENY_TECHNOLOGY_LIST	empty	Technology ID list/string	Disables named technologies; follow the game’s list syntax.
GUILD_REJOIN_COOLDOWN_MINUTES	0	Non-negative minutes	Guild rejoin cooldown.
AUTO_TRANSFER_MASTER_CHECK_INTERVAL	3600	Non-negative seconds	Interval for checking whether guild leadership should transfer.
AUTO_TRANSFER_MASTER_THRESHOLD_DAYS	14	Non-negative days	Inactivity period before guild-master transfer.
MAX_GUILDS_PER_FRAME	10	Positive integer	Maximum guilds processed per server frame; higher values can increase frame work.
BUILDING_NAME_DISPLAY_CACHE_TTL	60	Non-negative seconds	Cache lifetime for building-name display data.
ENABLE_BUILDING_PLAYER_UID_DISPLAY	false	Boolean	Shows the creator’s player ID on structures.
SHOW_JOIN_LEFT_MESSAGE	true	Boolean	Shows join/leave messages in the dedicated server.
ALLOW_ENHANCE_STAT_HEALTH	true	Boolean	Allows enhancement of Health stat.
ALLOW_ENHANCE_STAT_ATTACK	true	Boolean	Allows enhancement of Attack stat.
ALLOW_ENHANCE_STAT_STAMINA	true	Boolean	Allows enhancement of Stamina stat.
ALLOW_ENHANCE_STAT_WEIGHT	true	Boolean	Allows enhancement of Weight stat.
ALLOW_ENHANCE_STAT_WORK_SPEED	true	Boolean	Allows enhancement of Work Speed stat.
DISPLAY_PVP_ITEM_ON_MAP_BASE_CAMP	false	Boolean	Shows PvP-only item counts at bases on the world map.
DISPLAY_PVP_ITEM_ON_MAP_PLAYER	false	Boolean	Shows player locations and PvP-only item counts on the map.
ENABLE_VOICE_CHAT	false	Boolean	Enables in-game voice chat.
VOICE_CHAT_MAX_DISTANCE	3000	Non-negative distance units	Distance at which voice volume is no longer attenuated.
VOICE_CHAT_ZERO_DISTANCE	15000	Non-negative distance units	Distance at which voice volume reaches zero.
ENABLE_ADDITIONAL_PVP_DROP_ITEM	false	Boolean	Enables an extra item drop when a player is killed in PvP.
ADDITIONAL_PVP_DROP_ITEM_ID	PlayerDropItem	Item ID string	Item dropped when the preceding switch is enabled.
ADDITIONAL_PVP_DROP_ITEM_NUM	1	Positive integer	Quantity of the additional PvP drop.
BLOCK_RESPAWN_TIME	5	Non-negative seconds	Cooldown before respawning after death.
RESPAWN_PENALTY_DURATION_THRESHOLD	0	Non-negative seconds	Survival-time threshold for applying the respawn penalty scale after a later death.
RESPAWN_PENALTY_TIME_SCALE	2.0	Non-negative multiplier	Multiplier applied to the respawn cooldown.

Generated Engine.ini performance settings

The repository’s config/DefaultEngine.ini contains the base Unreal content paths. The generator preserves that content and appends the performance values below to the active Engine.ini. These are the 13 ENGINE_* variables in .env.palworld.example.

Variable	Default	Allowed value / range	Effect
ENGINE_LAN_TICK_RATE	120	Positive integer	Maximum network update tick rate for LAN connections.
ENGINE_NET_TICK_RATE	120	Positive integer	Maximum network update tick rate for online connections.
ENGINE_INTERNET_SPEED	104857600	Positive integer; bytes/second in this project	Configured Internet client bandwidth limit, not guaranteed throughput.
ENGINE_LAN_SPEED	104857600	Positive integer; bytes/second in this project	Configured LAN client bandwidth limit.
ENGINE_MAX_CLIENT_RATE	104857600	Positive integer; bytes/second in this project	Maximum client transfer rate.
ENGINE_MAX_INTERNET_CLIENT_RATE	104857600	Positive integer; bytes/second in this project	Maximum Internet client transfer rate.
ENGINE_SMOOTH_FRAME_RATE	true	Boolean	Enables Unreal frame-rate smoothing.
ENGINE_USE_FIXED_FRAME_RATE	false	Boolean	Uses the fixed frame-rate value when enabled.
ENGINE_MIN_FRAME_RATE	60.0	Non-negative FPS	Minimum desired frame rate.
ENGINE_FIXED_FRAME_RATE	120.0	Positive FPS	Fixed frame rate used when fixed-rate mode is enabled.
ENGINE_CLIENT_TICKS	120	Positive integer	Client network ticks per second.
ENGINE_FRAME_RATE_LOWER	30.0	Non-negative FPS; below upper bound	Lower edge of the smoothing range.
ENGINE_FRAME_RATE_UPPER	120.0	Positive FPS; above lower bound	Upper edge of the smoothing range.

Higher tick rates and bandwidth ceilings can improve responsiveness on a well-provisioned host, but they also consume more CPU and network capacity. Tune them with MAX_PLAYERS, PAL_SPAWN_NUM_RATE, and SERVER_REPLICATE_PAWN_CULL_DISTANCE. Keep the smoothing lower bound below the upper bound; both values are written into Unreal’s SmoothedFrameRateRange structure.

Container and management settings

The variables in this section configure the image’s manager layer, not PalWorldSettings.ini.

Startup and identity

Variable	Default	Allowed value / range	Effect
PUID	1000	Positive integer; 0 is not accepted for remapping	UID used by the container’s steam user. Match the owner of bind-mounted files when needed.
PGID	1000	Positive integer; 0 is not accepted for remapping	GID used by the container’s steam user.
USE_PERFORMANCE_THREADS	true	Boolean	Enables the server’s performance-thread startup option.
DISABLE_ASYNC_LOADING	true	Boolean	Disables asynchronous loading according to the image’s startup configuration.
USE_MULTITHREAD_FOR_DS	true	Boolean	Enables the dedicated-server multithreading startup option.
WORKER_THREADS_COUNT	0	Non-negative integer; 0 lets the server choose	Number of worker threads passed at startup.
ADDITIONAL_SERVER_OPTIONS	empty	Space-separated option string	Extra command-line arguments for the server process. Verify arguments against the current Palworld version.
ENABLE_PUBLIC_LOBBY	false	Boolean	Enables the public-lobby startup option.
LOG_FORMAT	text	text or json	Format emitted by the manager/application logs.

Monitoring and idle restart

Variable	Default	Allowed value / range	Effect
MONITORING_MODE	logs	logs, prometheus, or both	Selects log monitoring, Prometheus metrics, or both.
METRICS_INTERVAL	60	Positive seconds	Metrics collection interval.
ENABLE_DASHBOARD	true	Boolean	Enables the manager dashboard.
DASHBOARD_PORT	8080	1–65535	Manager dashboard port.
LOG_LEVEL	INFO	DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, or ERROR	Manager log verbosity.
LOG_FORMAT_STYLE	simple	Supported logging style	Manager log presentation style.
IDLE_RESTART_ENABLED	true	Boolean	Restarts the server after the configured no-player period.
IDLE_RESTART_MINUTES	30	Positive minutes	No-player period before an idle restart.

Idle restart is useful for small or personal servers, but it interrupts any background activity that occurs while no players are connected. Set DISCORD_EVENT_IDLE_RESTART=true if you want a notification when it happens.

Backups

Variable	Default	Allowed value / range	Effect
BACKUP_ENABLED	true	Boolean	Enables automatic backups.
BACKUP_INTERVAL	3600	Positive seconds	Time between backups.
BACKUP_RETENTION_DAYS	7	Non-negative days	Daily backup retention period.
BACKUP_RETENTION_WEEKS	4	Non-negative weeks	Weekly backup retention period.
BACKUP_RETENTION_MONTHS	6	Non-negative months	Monthly backup retention period.
BACKUP_COMPRESS	true	Boolean	Compresses backup archives.
BACKUP_MAX_COUNT	100	Non-negative integer	Maximum number of backup archives retained by the manager.
BACKUP_CLEANUP_INTERVAL	86400	Positive seconds	How often expired backups are removed.

Backups are stored under /home/steam/backups by default. They are not a substitute for an off-host backup: copy important archives to another disk or object-storage provider. Back up the world before changing death penalties, Hardcore/PAL loss, randomization, Global Palbox, or guild-reset settings.

Discord notifications and language

Variable	Default	Allowed value / range	Effect
DISCORD_ENABLED	false	Boolean	Enables Discord notifications.
DISCORD_WEBHOOK_URL	empty	Discord webhook URL	Destination webhook; required when notifications are enabled.
DISCORD_MENTION_ROLE	empty	Role ID or mention string	Optional role to mention in notifications.
DISCORD_EVENT_START	true	Boolean	Notify when the server starts.
DISCORD_EVENT_STOP	true	Boolean	Notify when the server stops.
DISCORD_EVENT_JOIN	true	Boolean	Notify when a player joins.
DISCORD_EVENT_LEAVE	true	Boolean	Notify when a player leaves.
DISCORD_EVENT_BACKUP	true	Boolean	Notify when a backup completes.
DISCORD_EVENT_ERRORS	true	Boolean	Notify on manager errors.
DISCORD_EVENT_IDLE_RESTART	true	Boolean	Notify before or after an idle restart.
LANGUAGE	ko	ko, en, or ja	Language used by Discord notifications.

Paths and SteamCMD

Variable	Default	Allowed value / range	Effect
SERVER_DIR	/home/steam/palworld_server	Container path	Root directory for the dedicated server.
BACKUP_DIR	/home/steam/backups	Container path	Backup destination.
LOG_DIR	/home/steam/logs	Container path	Manager and server log destination.
STEAMCMD_DIR	/home/steam/steamcmd	Container path	SteamCMD installation directory.
STEAMCMD_APP_ID	2394010	Steam App ID integer	App ID used by SteamCMD to install/update Palworld.
STEAMCMD_VALIDATE	true	Boolean	Validates installed files during SteamCMD operations.
CHECK_VERSION_UPDATE	true	Boolean	Checks periodically for a newer Palworld server version and reports it without automatically restarting an active server.
UPDATE_ON_START	true	Boolean	Checks for an update during container startup.

DISCORD_EVENT_UPDATE (true by default) controls whether update detections are sent to Discord. When an update is found during runtime, the manager can also notify players through RCON; it does not restart the server automatically.

Operations and security

REST API and RCON

The manager can use the Palworld REST API and RCON for monitoring and administration. Example local calls are:

curl http://localhost:8212/v1/api/info
curl http://localhost:8212/v1/api/players
curl http://localhost:8212/v1/api/settings

rcon-cli --host localhost --port 25575 \
  --password "$ADMIN_PASSWORD" ShowPlayers
rcon-cli --host localhost --port 25575 \
  --password "$ADMIN_PASSWORD" "Broadcast Hello!"

Do not expose these interfaces directly to the public internet. Use a strong ADMIN_PASSWORD, bind ports to localhost/private interfaces, and use a firewall or VPN for remote administration.

World settings that may not apply immediately

Palworld’s active settings file is the copy under Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/, not the repository template. In addition, some world settings can be overridden by WorldOption.sav. If a changed value does not take effect, stop the server, back up the world, and check whether the world-option save needs to be removed or regenerated for the Palworld version in use.

Health checks and logs

Check the container health status and recent logs with:

docker ps
docker inspect --format '{{.State.Health.Status}}' palworld-server
docker logs --tail 100 palworld-server

The bundled health check can also be invoked directly in the container:

docker exec palworld-server python /app/scripts/healthcheck.py

ARM64 performance

On ARM64, the image uses FEX to run the x86_64 Palworld server. The container enables the relevant FEX settings automatically, including JIT caching, lazy memory deletion, and static register allocation. FEX generally has lower overhead than QEMU for this workload, but actual performance depends on the host CPU, memory, storage, and Palworld version.

Plan resources around the actual workload rather than the player count alone: Pal spawn rate, replication distance, base worker count, tick rates, and build activity can all affect CPU and memory use.

Concurrent players	Suggested CPU	Suggested RAM	Suggested storage
1–8	2 cores	2 GB	10 GB
9–16	4 cores	4 GB	15 GB
17–24	6 cores	6 GB	20 GB
25–32	8 cores	8 GB	25 GB

These are starting points, not guarantees. Monitor the server under real player load and leave headroom for the host OS, backups, and monitoring services.

Common ARM64 cloud options include AWS Graviton (c7g, m7g), Oracle Cloud Ampere A1, Hetzner CAX, and Scaleway ARM64 instances.

Advanced usage

Build the image

git clone https://github.com/supersunho/docker-palworld-server.git
cd docker-palworld-server

# Native build
docker build -t palworld-server .

# Explicit ARM64 build
docker buildx build --platform linux/arm64 -t palworld-server .

Use a custom YAML configuration

The normal interface is .env.palworld. For development or advanced image customization, a replacement YAML file can be mounted at the path read by the application:

docker run -d \
  -v ./my-config.yaml:/app/config/default.yaml:ro \
  -v palworld-data:/home/steam/palworld_server \
  supersunho/palworld-server:latest

Keep the YAML structure compatible with the repository’s config/default.yaml. A custom file can bypass the documented environment defaults, so review it after image updates.

Development shell

docker run -it --rm \
  -v "$(pwd):/app" \
  -p 8211:8211/udp \
  supersunho/palworld-server:latest bash

References and support

Palworld and Unreal documentation

• Palworld Server Guide — Configuration parameters
• Palworld Server Guide — Configure the server
• Unreal Engine — Configuration Files
• Unreal Engine — Avoiding Hitches in Networking

License

MIT License. See the repository for the complete license text.