Palworld: Enable Hardcore Mode

Introduction

Hardcore mode in Palworld enables permanent death rules for players and, optionally, for Pals. In this guide, you will learn how to manually enable hardcore mode on your ZAP-Hosting Palworld server by editing the correct configuration file and restarting the server afterward.

Preparation

Before you begin, make sure you have access to your Palworld game server in the ZAP-Hosting web interface. You also need permission to edit server configuration files through the Configs section of your game server administration.

Permanent Data Loss Warning

When hardcore settings are enabled, characters can be permanently lost on death. If you also enable Pal loss, your Pals can be permanently lost as well.

Create a Backup First

Before changing gameplay settings such as hardcore mode, it is recommended to create a backup of your server or save data if a backup option is available for your service.

Open the Palworld Configuration File

To enable hardcore mode, you need to edit the PalWorldSettings.ini file.

In the ZAP-Hosting game server administration:

1. Open your Palworld server.
2. Go to Configs.
3. Open the file PalWorldSettings.ini.

Correct Configuration File

The hardcore settings are stored in PalWorldSettings.ini. If you edit a different file, the changes will not apply to your Palworld server.

Edit the Hardcore Settings

Palworld stores many gameplay settings inside the OptionSettings configuration entry in PalWorldSettings.ini. You need to set the relevant hardcore values there manually.

Required Configuration Keys

The following configuration keys control hardcore behavior:

Config key	Value	Effect
bHardcore	True or False	Enables or disables permanent player death
bPalLost	True or False	Enables or disables permanent Pal loss on death
bCharacterRecreateInHardcore	True or False	Allows creating a new character after a hardcore death

Recommended Value Overview

Scenario	bHardcore	bPalLost	bCharacterRecreateInHardcore
Player permadeath only	True	False	False or True
Full hardcore with Pal loss	True	True	False or True
Disable hardcore mode	False	False	False

True and False Values

These settings use boolean values, which means you must enter either True or False exactly as supported by the configuration format.

Example Configuration

If the keys are already present in your OptionSettings, change their values as needed. If they are missing, add them inside the same OptionSettings line.

Example:

OptionSettings=(bHardcore=True,bPalLost=True,bCharacterRecreateInHardcore=True)

If your OptionSettings line already contains many other settings, do not remove them. Instead, add or adjust only the hardcore-related entries within the existing parentheses.

Preserve Existing Settings

PalWorldSettings.ini often contains many active server settings in one OptionSettings entry. Deleting other values by mistake can reset unrelated gameplay options on your server.

Save and Apply the Changes

After editing the file:

1. Save the changes in PalWorldSettings.ini.
2. Restart your Palworld server from the ZAP-Hosting game server administration.

A restart is required so the server can load the updated hardcore configuration.

Verify That Hardcore Mode Is Active

After the restart, join your server and confirm that the hardcore rules are active.

What to Check

Setting	Expected behavior
bHardcore=True	Players cannot continue normally after death
bPalLost=True	Pals are permanently lost on death
bCharacterRecreateInHardcore=True	A new character can be created after a hardcore death

Important Behavior Note

The exact in-game result depends on which of the three hardcore settings you enabled. If you want permanent player death but still want users to start over with a new character, enable bCharacterRecreateInHardcore=True.

Troubleshooting

If hardcore mode does not work as expected, check the following points.

Confirm the File Was Edited Correctly

Make sure you edited PalWorldSettings.ini in the Configs area of your ZAP-Hosting Palworld server and not another file.

Check the Syntax

The hardcore keys must be placed inside the OptionSettings=(...) entry. Incorrect punctuation, missing commas, or placing the values outside the correct section can prevent the server from reading them.

Example valid syntax:

OptionSettings=(bHardcore=True,bPalLost=False,bCharacterRecreateInHardcore=True)

Restart the Server Again

If the server was not restarted after saving the file, the new settings will not be loaded. Perform a full restart and test again.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you have successfully enabled hardcore mode on your Palworld server. For further questions or assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our support team, which is available daily to assist you!