Zero-K can join a public dedicated server from the live list, or you can host a private room on your own PC or a PlayBound server. Joining a public server is the default.
Join a community dedicated server from the live list. You will play with whoever is already there — not a private room.
Your PC runs the game. Lowest latency, and your party reaches it over the PlayBound network — no port forwarding. The room ends when you quit.
| Max players | 32 |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows |
| How PlayBound connects you | LAN-only (bridged over Connect) |
Most home connections can't accept inbound traffic, which is normally what breaks self-hosting. PlayBound Connect puts everyone in the party on one private network instead, so the host is directly reachable without opening anything on their router.
Zero-K can join a public dedicated server from the live list, or you can host a private room on your own PC or a PlayBound server. Joining a public server is the default.
Zero-K supports up to 32 players in one session.
No. Party members reach a self-hosted room over PlayBound Connect's overlay network, which needs no port forwarding. A port is only mapped if you make the room publicly joinable to people outside your party.
Yes, for the modes above. Zero-K uses LAN-only (bridged over Connect) through PlayBound Connect.