SimulationCo-opMultiplayer

The Bus server hosting

Name: The Bus Server Hosting
Brand: GamezServers
Availability: InStock

Run a Berlin bus company with friends that never closes for the night

Host a dedicated server for The Bus and drive Berlin routes with friends. Set the password, player cap and admin password, load mods, and keep the city running.

Deploy now, starting at $3.75 Compare plans

Staying longer? Subscribe and get 50% off your first month

DDoS protected
24/7 support
Live the moment you pay

Split the billUp to 10 friends, own cards
Custom plansAny RAM up to 32 GB
Prepaid or monthly3 days to 1 year
Live in 60 secondsNo setup, no waiting
Cancel any timeNo contracts, ever

Pick your The Bus plan

Every plan is live the moment you pay. Upgrade or cancel from your dashboard any time.

Starter

6 GB

50% off your first month$7.49USD first month

Then $14.99/mo. $0.50 a day.

Splitting with 3 friends? $4.77 each/mo

6 GB RAM
2 vCPU cores
DDoS protection included
24/7 support

Deploy Starter

Standard

8 GB

50% off your first month$9.99USD first month

Then $19.99/mo. $0.67 a day.

Splitting with 3 friends? $6.02 each/mo

8 GB RAM
2 vCPU cores
DDoS protection included
24/7 support

Deploy Standard

Pro

12 GB

50% off your first month$14.99USD first month

Then $29.99/mo. $1.00 a day.

Splitting with 3 friends? $8.52 each/mo

12 GB RAM
3 vCPU cores
DDoS protection included
24/7 support

Deploy Pro

Build your own

Want something in between? Customize your The Bus server.

Any RAM from 6 to 32 GB
3 days up to a year
Prepaid or subscription
Server type and settings

Customize

What comes set up on a The Bus server

A shared transit network

Several drivers work the same city and routes at once, which feels much more like a real bus company than solo play.

Admin Menu in game

Owners and admins change the map, operating plan and server name from the Admin Menu in the pause screen.

Workshop mods

Copy Workshop mods into the server's Mods folder. Compatible mods are switched on automatically.

Private or listed

Keep it private with a password and the server GUID, or turn on Show In Server List for anyone.

A look inside The Bus

Real screenshots from the game. Click any of them to see it full size.

How much RAM does a The Bus server need?

Find the row that sounds like your group and we will point you at the right plan.

Your server	RAM	Plan
A few drivers on the stock map	6 GB	Starter$14.99/mo
Up to 20 drivers with some mods	8 GB	Standard$19.99/mo
Full roster with a large mod list	12 GB	Pro$29.99/mo

This is the panel. Click around.

This is the The Bus panel you get. Click any button, or type a command.

panel / the-bus

Online

The Bus Server

play.gamezservers.com:7777

CPU21%

Memory5.0 / 8 GB

Players3 online

[12:00:00] Starting The Bus server

[12:00:03] Loading world

[12:00:06] Server started on port 7777

[12:00:09] Ready for players. Try a button.

Power

How to join your The Bus server

1
Start The Bus and open Multiplayer.
2
Click Add Server and paste the GUID shown in your server console, or find the server by name if Show In Server List is on.
3
Enter the password from your panel if you set one.
4
Install any mods marked Client and Server that the server uses before you connect.

Common problems

Players join with the server GUID, not the address. Find the line Server can be reached with the GUID in the console and share that ID.

To make yourself owner, join once, then open TheBus/Saved/PlayerData.json in the file manager, change your rank to Owner and restart. The console cannot run commands on this server build.

Mods flagged Client and Server must be installed by every player too, or they cannot connect.

Server not responding

Make sure the server is online. Servers sleep after 4 days with nobody playing, and anyone with access can start them again from the dashboard in one click.

Use the server address

Do not use localhost, 127.0.0.1 or your own IP from a home hosting guide. Copy the exact address of the server.

No port forwarding or firewall changes

Opening ports on your router is only for hosting a server at home, so there is nothing to change to join this one. If Windows asks whether to let the game through the firewall, choose Allow.

The Bus server hosting, explained

The Bus is TML-Studios' city bus simulator, set on 1:1 scale routes through Berlin past the Victory Column, Brandenburg Gate and Alexanderplatz. You drive licensed buses like the Scania Citywide, sell tickets, handle traffic and try to keep to the timetable. It left Early Access in March 2026. In multiplayer, several drivers share one city, so you pass colleagues at stops and cover lines together like a real network.

Multiplayer in The Bus always runs through a separate server program, so someone has to keep one running. Driving clubs and virtual transit companies host one to keep shifts going around the clock, and friend groups use one so nobody has to leave their own PC on. Hosting it with us means the depot is open whenever a driver wants a shift.

In the panel you set the server name, password, maximum players (20 by default), admin password and whether the server shows in the public list. A beta branch setting is there for test builds. Once you have owner rights, the Admin Menu in the pause screen controls the map and operating plan. Mods from the Steam Workshop go in the Mods folder over SFTP.

The server keeps track of every bus, passenger and player in a big detailed city. 6 GB works for a few drivers on the stock map. A full 20 driver server with some mods should take 8 GB, and 12 GB gives room for a large mod list and a busy roster. A virtual transit company can split the bill between up to 10 drivers, each paying their share, and change plans in the panel as the roster grows.

The Bus server guides

Fixes

The Bus5 min read

Can't Join a The Bus Multiplayer Server? GUID, Mods and Version Fixes

Fix The Bus multiplayer join problems: the wrong GUID, a server that is not public, Client and Server mods, beta branch mismatches and passwords.

Read

How to

The Bus5 min read

How to Become Owner on a The Bus Server (Ranks and Admin Menu)

Get owner rights on your The Bus dedicated server by editing PlayerData.json, then use the Admin Menu to change map, operating plan and server name.

Read

Setup

The Bus5 min read

How to Host a The Bus Dedicated Server (Multiplayer Setup 2026)

Host a dedicated server for The Bus: install it with SteamCMD, set ServerSettings.cfg, find the GUID players join with, and get owner rights.

Read

All guides

Included on every plan

Always on DDoS protection
24/7 support from real people
Low ping game hardware
Live the moment you pay
Your own address and port
Live console with full access
One click game actions
One click backups
Upgrade or cancel any time

Common questions

How do players join a The Bus server?

When the server starts, the console prints a GUID. Players paste it into Add Server in the Multiplayer menu, or pick the server from the list if Show In Server List is on.

How many drivers can join?

The server starts with 20 slots, set with Maximum Players in the panel. Pick a number that suits your routes and plan size.

How do I get owner rights?

Join once so your player is saved, then open TheBus/Saved/PlayerData.json in the file manager, set your rank to Owner and restart. You then get the Admin Menu in the pause screen.

What can admins change?

The Admin Menu covers the server name, map and operating plan. There are four ranks: owner, admin, moderator and user.

Can I use mods on the server?

Yes. Copy mods into the server's Mods folder. Mods flagged for client and server must be installed by players too.

Is The Bus still in Early Access?

No. The Bus had its full release on Steam in March 2026, and multiplayer is part of the main game.

Can I play the beta branch on my server?

Yes. Put the branch name in the Beta ID setting and restart with Auto Update on. Players need the same branch in Steam to connect.

How much RAM does The Bus server need?

6 GB for a small group, 8 GB for a full 20 driver server, and 12 GB if you run a large mod list.

Is GamezServers affiliated with The Bus?

No. You rent and control your own dedicated The Bus server. GamezServers is not affiliated with the game's developer or publisher.

Can my friends and I split the cost?

Yes. At checkout choose "Me and my friends" and up to 10 people each pay their own share with their own card, on any plan length, from 3 days to a year. It is not a payment plan: nobody pays in parts over time, each friend simply pays their own share. You pay yours, send each friend their link, and the server starts straight away. Each share includes a $1 payment fee.

Can I build a custom plan?

Yes. Every game has a Build your own page: pick any amount of RAM up to 32 GB, any length from 3 days to 1 year, prepaid or a subscription, plus your server type and settings. A custom size costs 15% more per GB than the standard plans next to it.

Can I pay once instead of a subscription?

Yes. Pick Prepaid and pay once for 3 days, 30 days, 6 months or a year. Nothing renews: when the time is up the server pauses and keeps its world for 14 days. Add time or switch to a subscription from your panel any time. Short rentals cost more per day, since every server is set up from scratch.

How fast is setup, really?

Your server starts building the moment Stripe confirms payment. Most are online in under a minute, and the address and login appear on your dashboard automatically.