Dedicated servers and VAC
2026-09-28
The second release, v1.0.1.0, is about playing together: running a server, and getting onto one.
Servers
- Dedicated server packages for Windows and Linux. Steam's dedicated server download only comes with a 32-bit launcher, which can't run the mod, so the packages bring their own 64-bit one. The servers page walks through the setup. Both have been tested with players joining over the internet.
- Linux: Beta 4b has file and folder names with capitals, which a Linux server can't find. The packages include a script that renames them once.
- Listen servers (Create Server in the game) work over the internet through Steam's relay: friends join from the Friends tab or a Steam invite, without any port forwarding.
Getting onto VAC servers
Started from the Steam library, the game ran in insecure mode, and VAC-secured servers turned it away. Steam passes the option that should prevent that, but the engine drops it the way Steam starts mods. The fix is one line in Hidden: Rebuild's launch options in Steam:
-sacrifice -steam
The first option is lost on the way, so -sacrifice goes and -steam survives. The
install guide has the details.
Gameplay and fixes
- Beta 5 Physics, another SourceMod plugin now built in (
hsm_b5phys, off by default): the Hidden's thrown props do 75 damage instead of killing outright, unless the marine was already that low. See the plugins. - Spawning no longer lists your weapons and ammo on the right of the screen, as in Beta 4b.
- The cvars' help texts say what they do, on the site and in the console.
Servers only accept players on the same version, so update both when you get this one.