Setting up dedicated server and options to host game

Development Programming & Scripting Multiplayer & Networking
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Hi everyone,

I’m currently developing a VR multiplayer game that simulates an office-like workspace, and I’ve run into some difficulties with packaging and hosting. I’ll outline what I’ve done and what I’m trying to achieve.

:puzzle_piece: Project Overview

The game is built in Unreal Engine 5.6.1 and is meant to work like a lobby → workspace setup (similar to Fortnite or CS:GO). Players start in a lobby and then join a shared virtual workspace.

:gear: Dedicated Server Setup Issue

I’ve been trying to package the project for a dedicated server, but I hit a few roadblocks:

  • UE 5.6.1 doesn’t compile properly with Visual Studio 2022 (MSVC) versions higher than 14.38.33130.

  • After downgrading the compiler to the recommended version, I still got packaging errors.

ChatGPT pointed out that:

“You’re trying to package a Server build (CyberVirtualRealityServer) using the installed (binary) version of Unreal Engine (UE 5.6). Epic’s precompiled versions do not include the source code needed to build dedicated server targets. These are only supported in source builds from GitHub.”

Based on that, I cloned Unreal Engine from GitHub, built it from source, and now it seems to compile.

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Question: For anyone who’s worked with UE 5.6.1 — is this the correct approach? Have you successfully built a dedicated server this way?

UPDATE: I tried the UE 5.6.1 GitHub version, it did not work even after I rebuilt the C++ class and try to rebuild the project file.

:cloud: Cloud Hosting Plan

If the dedicated server build works, my next step is to host it on the cloud. I’m considering Unity Cloud Hosting or Edgegap.

A few questions here:

  1. Is it possible to update the game features later after deploying to a cloud host (without a full redeployment)? Are there any tutorials about this ?

  2. Would this setup allow me to connect and test with friends in another continent (cross-region play)? If not, then how should I approach to solve this problem ?

Any advice or confirmation from those who’ve gone through a similar process with UE 5.6.1 (especially for VR multiplayer setups) would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance :folded_hands: