We're introducing a limit on the number of free servers you can have on one account, and starting a process to remove extra or inactive free servers. Here's everything you need to know.
Why are you adding limits and deleting servers?
This is a follow-up to removing play time limits on free servers. To keep offering free servers with no time limits, we need to cut down on servers sitting unused but draining resources. This also frees up server names that have been inactive for a long time.
How many free servers can I have on my account?
The limit is five. If you have 5 or fewer free servers, this update doesn't affect you at all. Servers that are currently on paid plans do not count towards this limit.
What happens if I have more than 5 free servers?
Your extra servers (beyond 5) will be scheduled for deletion. You'll get an email letting you know which ones, and each affected server will also show as "slated for deletion" on your panel. A server in this state can't be started.
When will extra servers actually be deleted?
We're still finalizing the exact rollout timing - it'll be soon. Once it begins, each affected server follows the process below, and you will be notified by email if you've exceeded the limit on free servers.
How do you decide which servers get deleted?
We start with whichever of your servers has gone the longest without being started - including by other players joining it in-game, not just launches from the console. Because of this, it's worth double-checking your servers that are marked for deletion, since someone else starting your server can bump it out of that spot unexpectedly.
If you know someone who has a server marked for deletion, be a good friend and let them know to log into our web panel to manage their server!
How will I know which servers will be deleted?
You will see a Pending Deletion flag on those servers in your server dashboard, as shown in an example below:
How many emails will I get before a server is deleted?
If your account exceeds the 5-server limit, you will receive one email 30 days before server deletion.
How long do I have to act?
You will have 30 days from the email send date. In that window, you can:
- Download the server's files
- Upgrade a server
- Delete a different server instead, to free up a slot
If you're fine with the servers selected, you don't have to do anything - though we'd still recommend downloading the files if you want to keep them.
Can I save a server by deleting or upgrading a different one instead?
Yes. If you upgrade or delete another server, the next-most-recently-started server moves into that freed-up slot instead of the one originally marked. You can't upgrade a server that's already tagged for deletion - to save one, you'll need to upgrade or delete a different server.
⚠️ One important catch: if you save a server this way and then later decide to delete it anyway, it will go through our standard 3-day deletion process instead of the 30-day window. That means you won't get the extended grace period to change your mind that comes with the automatic deletion process.
How long will my files be available for download?
For 30 days - the same window you have to download, upgrade, or swap servers.
What happens if my paid plan expires?
It depends on how many free servers you already have:
- If you have fewer than 5 free servers: The expired server simply becomes a free server and counts toward your 5-server limit, like normal.
- If you already have 5 free servers: The expired server will be frozen - locked from starting, but not deleted or scheduled for deletion. To unlock it, you'll need to either upgrade its plan again or delete a different free server to open up a slot.
I purchased server slots. Do those let me have more than 5 free servers?
No. Server slots and the free server limit are two different systems, and slots have been replaced as part of this update.
Previously, server slots controlled how many servers you could run online at the same time. That system has been replaced:
- Free servers: You can own up to 5, with 1 online at a time. The 4-hour daily time limit is gone entirely — a server stays online as long as you want to run it and players are on it.
- Paid servers: No slots required anymore. You can have as many paid servers as you want, online or offline, for as long as they're on a paid plan.
Why were server slots removed?
The daily time limit used to be the biggest restriction on free servers, and it's gone now. Paid servers no longer need a slot purchased on top of the plan itself. Since slots no longer serve a purpose under the new system, they're no longer for sale.
Can I get a refund for slots I already purchased?
No. While slots were available, they gave you access to additional servers during a period when other players didn't have that option, so the value of that purchase was already received. We're not issuing refunds for past slot purchases.
Have a question that isn't covered here? [Submit a support ticket] and we'll help you out.