How to Update Your V Rising Server
Keeping your V Rising server up to date is straightforward, but major updates and DLC releases sometimes require extra steps before you restart.
The Standard Update Process
V Rising server updates are delivered via SteamCMD, the same tool that installed the server software. Your control panel handles this automatically — you don't need to run SteamCMD manually.
To update:
- Stop the server from your control panel
- Click the update button (labeled "Update", "Check for Updates", or similar depending on your panel)
- Wait for SteamCMD to download and apply the update — this usually takes 1–5 minutes depending on update size
- Start the server
That's it for most routine patches. Stunlock Studios ships balance updates and bug fixes regularly, and these generally don't require any changes on your end beyond applying the update.
Before Updating: Read the Patch Notes
Always check the V Rising Steam page or the official V Rising community channels before applying a major update. Patch notes tell you:
- Whether a world wipe is recommended or required
- Whether save format changes might affect your existing world
- Whether new settings have been added to
ServerGameSettings.json
Minor patches typically need no preparation. Major updates — especially DLC releases — require more care.
Major Updates and DLC Releases
V Rising has had significant paid expansions (Secrets of Gloomrot, Invaders of Vardoran / version 1.0) that introduced new game systems and changed the server software substantially. These are the updates that can catch you off guard.
Before a major update:
- Take a full backup of your
Saves/directory - Review the official patch notes for any migration or wipe guidance
- Notify your players
After a major update:
- Check
ServerGameSettings.json— major updates often add new settings fields. New settings default to reasonable values, but you may want to customize them - Check
ServerHostSettings.jsonfor any new fields as well - If the update changes the save format, the server may warn you in the logs or generate a fresh world automatically
Checking for Missing Settings
After a major update, compare your ServerGameSettings.json against the default file that ships with the new version. The easiest way is to look for any fields that appear in the default but not in yours — those are new settings added by the update, and they'll be using default values until you explicitly set them.
If you're unsure what the default values are, a fresh install of the server (in a test environment) will generate clean default config files you can use as a reference.
If the Server Won't Start After an Update
Check the server logs first. Common causes:
- JSON syntax error in a config file (rare after an update unless you recently edited the file)
- Save format incompatibility — the server may print a specific error about the save version
- Missing required setting — new updates occasionally add required fields
If the save is incompatible, your options are to restore a backup from before the update, or wipe and start fresh.