OpenArena Server HostingOpenArena Server Hosting
The free, open-source arena shooter with a classic rhythm: run your own OpenArena server in İstanbul and write the rules for rockets, rails and flags in server.cfg.
Choose your Game Server
Select from our wide range of optimized game servers. Each server is configured for maximum performance and comes with DDoS protection.
1. Plan Type
2. Location
3. Choose Plan
Bronze 4GB
Silver 6GB
Gold 8GB
Platinum 10GB
Diamond 12GB
Emerald 16GB
Xtreme 32GB
Which OpenArena Plan Is Right for You?
Compare recommended use, plan hardware and monthly prices.
| Plan | Recommended for | Hardware | Monthly price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze 4GB | Recommended: 2–24 players, every game modeoa_ded is extremely light; even this tier is far more than OpenArena needs. | 4 vCore Ryzen 9950X · 4 GB DDR5 6000MHz · 50 GB NVMe SSD Samsung 990 PRO | ₺240.00/mo |
| Silver 6GB | Unnecessary; only for a huge pk3 archiveThe extra RAM goes unused; the 60 GB NVMe just leaves room for a vast map collection. | 4 vCore Ryzen 9950X · 6 GB DDR5 6000MHz · 60 GB NVMe SSD Samsung 990 PRO | ₺345.00/mo |
| Gold 8GB | Not recommended for OpenArenaAn id Tech 3 server uses only a small fraction of this memory. | 4 vCore Ryzen 9950X · 8 GB DDR5 6000MHz · 70 GB NVMe SSD Samsung 990 PRO | ₺440.00/mo |
| Platinum 10GB | Not recommended for OpenArenaExtra resources do not change match smoothness; core speed and network do. | 4 vCore Ryzen 9950X · 10 GB DDR5 6000MHz · 100 GB NVMe SSD Samsung 990 PRO | ₺530.00/mo |
| Diamond 12GB | Not recommended for OpenArenaThis capacity would sit completely idle on an arena shooter server. | 4 vCore Ryzen 9950X · 12 GB DDR5 6000MHz · 110 GB NVMe SSD Samsung 990 PRO | ₺617.50/mo |
| Emerald 16GB | Not recommended for OpenArenaSix vCores do not help, because oa_ded runs on a single core. | 6 vCore Ryzen 9950X · 16 GB DDR5 6000MHz · 120 GB NVMe SSD Samsung 990 PRO | ₺840.00/mo |
| Xtreme 32GB | Not recommended for OpenArenaDesigned for heavy modern games; it has no real payoff for OpenArena. | 12 vCore Ryzen 9950X · 32 GB DDR5 6000MHz · 200 GB NVMe SSD Samsung 990 PRO | ₺1520.00/mo |
Why TheCrewHost for OpenArena?
Everything a lightweight but latency-sensitive OpenArena server needs: a fast core, a clean network path and full access to your files.
Consistent frames under load
oa_ded barely uses any resources, but it must deliver every server frame on time. The Ryzen 9 9950X's high clock speed keeps frame timing steady even in a crowded FFA.
Rules defined in server.cfg
Adjust sv_hostname, sv_maxclients, g_gametype, fraglimit, timelimit, capturelimit and g_motd in the file manager, then restart the server with the new ruleset in one step.
Bots that fill empty slots
bot_minplayers adds bots automatically when real players drop below a threshold, so the first person to join at midnight has someone to frag and the server looks alive in the list.
pk3 maps and mod folders
Upload community maps as pk3 files to baseoa, enforce matching files on clients with sv_pure, and run a separate mod folder with fs_game when you want a different ruleset.
DDoS filtering for UDP
id Tech 3 servers talk over UDP and are a common target for spoofed floods. Free DDoS protection filters that traffic to help keep your players connected.
24/7 human support
Server missing from the list, a map that will not load or rcon refusing your password? Reach our Turkish-speaking team any time by ticket, live chat, Discord, WhatsApp or phone.
For $6.00 a month (₺240.00), OpenArena server hosting at TheCrewHost gets you a private oa_ded server on Ryzen 9 9950X hardware with DDR5 memory and NVMe storage, running in our İstanbul datacenter. OpenArena is a free, open-source arena shooter built on the ioquake3 engine, so your players never have to buy anything to join. That makes it a natural fit for school clubs, LAN crews and anyone who misses old-school arena play. Pick FFA, Tournament, CTF, Elimination or Domination with g_gametype, keep the server lively overnight with bot_minplayers, and upload custom pk3 maps over SFTP.
Which game modes can an OpenArena server run?
An OpenArena server runs the classic modes you remember from Quake III Arena plus several team modes of its own. g_gametype in server.cfg picks the mode: 0 is free-for-all, 1 is one-on-one Tournament, 3 is Team Deathmatch and 4 is Capture the Flag. On top of those, OpenArena adds One Flag CTF, Overload, Harvester, Elimination, CTF Elimination, Last Man Standing, Double Domination and Domination.
Elimination is round-based with no respawns, which makes it great for small teams that like tense clutch moments. Last Man Standing is about surviving on a limited number of lives. Domination turns the match into a fight over control points spread around the map.
Because OpenArena is free and open source, nobody has to buy a license. Players download the client for Windows, Linux or macOS and connect straight to your server. That makes it an easy choice for school clubs, office tournaments and communities chasing the feel of classic arena shooters without a price tag.
How much RAM and CPU does an OpenArena server need?
Very little. The smallest plan, Bronze 4GB, is far more than oa_ded needs, and we would rather say so plainly. The id Tech 3 engine was designed for the hardware of its era, and a single server instance runs in a tiny slice of that memory. Bots, a 16 or 24-player free-for-all and a sizeable map archive barely move the needle.
In an arena shooter, consistency matters more than raw capacity. The server has to produce each frame on schedule so hits and movement reach every player at the same rhythm. That is where the Ryzen 9 9950X's single-core speed and a clean network path pay off, much more than extra gigabytes would.
Higher plans are not recommended for OpenArena. Silver and above add memory the game will never touch. The only real exception is if you want to keep a massive archive of hundreds of pk3 files, where more NVMe space can help. If that day comes, you can upgrade whenever you like.
Setting up server.cfg and a map rotation
Your OpenArena rules live in server.cfg, placed in the baseoa folder and executed at startup. sv_hostname sets the name players see, sv_maxclients caps the player count, and g_motd shows a message to everyone who connects. fraglimit and timelimit decide when a match ends, while capturelimit sets how many flags win a CTF game. Fill in rconpassword with something strong so remote admin stays yours.
Map rotation uses the classic id Tech 3 vstr technique. You define one variable per map; each variable loads its map and sets nextmap to point at the next variable. When the final entry points back to the first, the loop runs indefinitely, and the server keeps cycling maps even when you are not around.
For quiet hours, set bot_minplayers. When the number of real players drops below that value, bots join, and they step aside as people arrive. Bot difficulty can be set in the same file, so newcomers are not flattened by a perfect-aim bot on their first visit.
How do you add custom maps, pk3 files and mods?
OpenArena packages maps, models and textures in archive files with the pk3 extension. To add a map, upload its pk3 to baseoa with SFTP or the file manager and add the map to your rotation. With sv_pure enabled, the server requires clients to use only the pk3 files the server has, which blocks modified or cheat-friendly assets.
If sv_allowDownload is on, players can pull missing pk3 files from the server, but the engine's built-in download speed is limited. Keep only the maps you actually run on the server and clear out oversized packs you no longer use; newcomers will spend far less time on the loading screen.
To run a different game mod, put its files in their own folder and start the server with fs_game pointing at that folder. Your base baseoa install stays clean, and switching between the mod and vanilla becomes painless. Make a panel backup a habit before any large change.
How do players connect, and how do you administer the server?
Players can open OpenArena and find your server in the internet server list under multiplayer, or bring up the console and type connect followed by the IP and port from your panel. id Tech 3 servers use UDP port 27960 by default, and your exact port is always shown in the panel. To make the server private, set g_password.
For in-game administration, use rcon. Set your rconpassword on the client, then run commands prefixed with rcon to change maps, kick players or adjust settings. The panel console lets you do the same things directly without joining the game.
With the server in İstanbul, players in Türkiye get the fast response an arena shooter demands, and players across Europe and the Middle East connect comfortably too. If one person reports stutter, check their connection first. Server-side trouble usually traces back to an incompatible mod or a broken pk3, and it shows up clearly in the logs.
How to Set Up a OpenArena Server
- 1
Start with Bronze 4GB
The smallest plan is more than enough for OpenArena. Choose Bronze 4GB and check out; larger plans only make sense for a huge pk3 map archive.
- 2
Let setup finish and log in
Your server installs automatically after payment. gamepanel.hostingmerkezi.net gives you the console, file manager, backups and SFTP credentials.
- 3
Pick a mode and rules in server.cfg
Set sv_hostname, g_gametype, fraglimit, timelimit and rconpassword, and use bot_minplayers so bots keep the server busy during quiet hours.
- 4
Add pk3 maps and a rotation
Upload custom pk3 maps to baseoa, build a vstr rotation, restart the server and confirm the first map loads cleanly.
- 5
Share the IP and start the match
Send the address from your panel to your friends; they join from the server list or with connect in the console and the first frag race begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions people ask before hosting OpenArena: price, resources, modes, bots, maps and connecting.
How much does OpenArena server hosting cost?
How much RAM does OpenArena need?
Do players need to buy OpenArena?
Which game modes can I run?
Can bots fill my server when it is empty?
How do I upload custom maps?
How long does setup take?
How do my friends join the server?
Are backups and DDoS protection included?
Can I change plans later?
İstanbul Location,
Maximum Performance
Our İstanbul datacenter runs on Ryzen 9 hardware, delivering low latency to players in Türkiye and good connectivity to Europe, the Middle East and the Caucasus.
Turkey
İstanbul
Turkey
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