How to Set Up a Map Rotation on Your Insurgency Sandstorm Server
Control which maps and game modes your server cycles through by editing MapCycle.txt — including the exact format for scenarios and lighting.
Where MapCycle.txt Lives
Your map rotation is defined in:
Insurgency/Config/Server/MapCycle.txt
One map entry per line. The server cycles through the list from top to bottom and loops back to the start when it reaches the end.
Entry Format
Each line uses Unreal Engine URL syntax:
MapName?Scenario=Scenario_MapName_Mode?Lighting=Day
- MapName — the internal map name (not the display name shown in the game's UI)
- Scenario — the specific game mode scenario for that map
- Lighting —
DayorNight(not all maps support night)
All three parts are case-sensitive. A typo in the map name or scenario will cause the server to silently skip that entry or get stuck in a loop — there's no error message in the server browser.
Example MapCycle.txt
Precinct?Scenario=Scenario_Precinct_Checkpoint_Security?Lighting=Day
Farmhouse?Scenario=Scenario_Farmhouse_Checkpoint_Security?Lighting=Day
Refinery?Scenario=Scenario_Refinery_Push_Security?Lighting=Day
Crossing?Scenario=Scenario_Crossing_Skirmish?Lighting=Day
Ministry?Scenario=Scenario_Ministry_Checkpoint_Security?Lighting=Night
Outskirts?Scenario=Scenario_Outskirts_Push_Security?Lighting=Day
Popular Map and Scenario Reference
| Map Name | Scenario | Mode |
|---|---|---|
Precinct |
Scenario_Precinct_Checkpoint_Security |
Checkpoint |
Farmhouse |
Scenario_Farmhouse_Checkpoint_Security |
Checkpoint |
Refinery |
Scenario_Refinery_Push_Security |
Push |
Crossing |
Scenario_Crossing_Skirmish |
Skirmish |
Ministry |
Scenario_Ministry_Checkpoint_Security |
Checkpoint |
Outskirts |
Scenario_Outskirts_Push_Security |
Push |
Canyon |
Scenario_Canyon_Checkpoint_Security |
Checkpoint |
Hideout |
Scenario_Hideout_Push_Security |
Push |
Checkpoint and Push are the most popular modes for public servers. Skirmish works well for smaller player counts.
Specifying the Map Cycle File via Startup Parameter
If you want to use a custom-named map cycle file (useful if you're managing multiple presets), you can pass it as a startup parameter:
+MapCycle=MapCycle_Competitive
This tells the server to load Insurgency/Config/Server/MapCycle_Competitive.txt instead of the default. If you only run one server configuration, the default MapCycle.txt is fine.
Adding Mutators to the Rotation
You can attach mutators to individual map entries:
Farmhouse?Scenario=Scenario_Farmhouse_Checkpoint_Security?Lighting=Day?Mutators=HardcoreMode
See How to Configure Game Rules and Mutators for the full list of available mutators.
Tips
- Keep 5–8 maps in your rotation for a good variety without making the cycle feel endless.
- Test your cycle after any changes by watching the server transition through two or three maps to confirm entries aren't being skipped.
- If the server keeps reloading the same map, there's almost always a typo on the next entry in the list.