Dead Matter Game.ini Settings Explained (Server Config)

A Dead Matter server is configured almost entirely in Game.ini, found at DeadMatter/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/Game.ini. It sets the player cap, server name, password, admins, base claims, PvP, hardcore and first person modes, how many zombies, animals and bandits can exist, spawn multipliers and the whitelist. The file is not created on install, settings in it override the launch line, and you must edit it with the server stopped or your changes can be lost.

How the file is laid out

Game.ini uses Unreal Engine sections in square brackets. A key only works inside the right section, so a correct value under the wrong header does nothing. Dead Matter servers have shipped across several builds and community guides spell the section names in different case. Unreal reads them without caring about case, so [/Script/DeadMatter.SurvivalBaseGamestate] and [/script/deadmatter.survivalbasegamestate] are the same thing.

Lines starting with + add an entry to a list. That is how you add several admins:

+Admins=76561198000000001
+Admins=76561198000000002

Player cap

[/Script/Engine.GameSession]
MaxPlayers=36

MaxPlayers is the only setting in this section. Community servers commonly run 36. For a squad of friends, set it a little above your group size so a returning player is never locked out. Every extra player means more of the map loaded and more AI active, which is where the RAM goes.

The main server section

Almost everything else lives here:

[/Script/DeadMatter.SurvivalBaseGamestate]

Admins and SuperAdmins

Both take a 17 digit SteamID64, never a Steam name or a custom URL. A common pattern is to put the owner in both lists and moderators only in Admins. Admin commands and the whitelist are covered in our Dead Matter admin guide.

Claims

MaxPlayerClaims controls how many buildings a player or group can barricade and claim. On a small private server, raising it to 5 or so lets each person have a stash house and a forward base. On a busier PvP server, keep it at the default 3 so the good buildings in town are not all locked up by one group.

Hardcore and first person

These two change the feel of the server more than anything else. First person only takes away the third person corner peek that dominates PvP in survival shooters. Hardcore makes survival harsher. Both are popular on servers that lean into tension over loot runs.

AI caps

The three Max...Count values are ceilings, not targets. Lowering MaxZombieCount is the main lever if your server struggles with performance on a small plan: fewer infected means less CPU and memory. Raising it makes towns more dangerous but costs resources.

Spawn and difficulty multipliers

These sit in their own sections:

[/Script/DeadMatter.FlockSpawner]
AnimalSpawnMultiplier=1.0

[/Script/DeadMatter.GlobalAISpawner]
ZombieSpawnMultiplier=1.0

[/Script/DeadMatter.ZombiePawn]
AttackMultiplier=1.0
DefenseMultiplier=1.0

[/Script/DeadMatter.Agenda]
Timescale=5.5

For a relaxed PvE group, try ZombieSpawnMultiplier=0.7 and AttackMultiplier=0.8. For a punishing server, raise attack and pair it with bIsHardcore=true.

Whitelist

[/Script/DeadMatter.SurvivalBaseGamemode]
WhitelistActive=true
+Whitelist=76561198000000001
+Whitelist=76561198000000002

With WhitelistActive=true, only listed SteamID64s can join. It is the simplest way to keep a private server private without sharing a password around.

A full example for a private PvE squad

[/Script/Engine.GameSession]
MaxPlayers=8

[/Script/DeadMatter.SurvivalBaseGamestate]
ServerName=Ridgeline PvE
Password=
MOTD=Co-op only. Share the loot.
+Admins=76561198000000001
+SuperAdmins=76561198000000001
MaxPlayerClaims=5
bFirstPersonOnly=false
bIsHardcore=false
PVP=false
MaxZombieCount=1500

[/Script/DeadMatter.SurvivalBaseGamemode]
WhitelistActive=true
+Whitelist=76561198000000001
+Whitelist=76561198000000002

[/Script/DeadMatter.GlobalAISpawner]
ZombieSpawnMultiplier=0.8

Why your changes do not stick

1. The server was running. Stop it, edit, save, start. Some hosts recommend making the file read only after editing; if you do, remember to untick it before the next change.
2. Wrong folder. It must be WindowsServer, not Windows or WindowsNoEditor.
3. Wrong extension. Game.ini.txt is ignored.
4. Key in the wrong section. Check the header above each key.
5. Launch line conflict. The server name and ports can also come from the launch line. On our panel the server name is set there, so change the Server Name field in the panel rather than ServerName in the file if the two disagree.

Editing Game.ini on a hosted server

On a GamezServers Dead Matter server, Game.ini is in the file manager under DeadMatter/Saved/Config/WindowsServer. Stop the server, edit in the browser or over SFTP, then start it from the panel. Take a one click backup first so a bad edit is one click away from undone. The server name and auto update are panel fields. If you are still choosing a plan, the plan guide explains how RAM maps to player count.

FAQ

Where is Game.ini for a Dead Matter server?

DeadMatter/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/Game.ini inside the server folder. Create it if it does not exist.

How do I make a Dead Matter server PvE?

Set PVP=false in the SurvivalBaseGamestate section and restart.

What is the difference between Admins and SuperAdmins?

Admins get moderation commands. SuperAdmins also get operational control such as restarts. Put the owner in both.

How do I reduce lag on a Dead Matter server?

Lower MaxZombieCount and ZombieSpawnMultiplier, lower MaxPlayers, and restart the server daily. If it still struggles, it needs more RAM.