Space Engineers dedicated hosting for a small friend group (2026)
Space Engineers is voxel physics and big grids — a small friend faction still wants always-on RAM headroom. Shockbyte, Nodecraft, GameTeam and Bisect all sell it. Apex and PebbleHost page URLs we tried returned 404 (or were not listed). Prices below were read from each host’s own page. Confirm availability and the bill at checkout.
RAM, slots, grids and mods
- Friend-group fit: Shockbyte’s entry Survivor plan is labeled 5 players / 6 GB; Engineer is 10 players / 8 GB. Nodecraft does not cap slots and labels Budget Wake & Play “Not recommended for this game”. A small always-on crew usually sits on Premium 8–14 GB, not the lightest Wake & Play tier.
- RAM honesty (host claims only): GameTeam’s FAQ says Space Engineers needs 8–12 GB, with grid/block count as the real driver on a long-running world, and that about 8–16 players is typical before big player-built grids limit the server. Nodecraft’s Budget label is a host warning, not ours. Treat 6 GB as a light entry; budget for 8–14 GB if your faction welds large ships.
- Mods: Shockbyte claims mod support. Bisect claims full mod support and full TorchAPI integration. GameTeam’s FAQ says Steam Workshop mods (mod IDs in the world config). Nodecraft’s page we read does not spell out a one-click SE mod installer. Confirm at checkout. See Night 6.
Comparison: Space Engineers plans
Price sources: every price comes from the host’s own Space Engineers page (fetched 24 Oct 2026, NZDT). No third-party or search-summary prices are used. For Nodecraft we quote the recurring price, not the first-month sale price (sales disclosed inline). TBD means the host page showed no price, or the page URLs we tried returned 404. Confirm at checkout.
| Host | Entry tier | Bigger tiers | Notes | Oceania | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShockbyteAU brand | Survivor · 6 GB · 5 players · $16.99/mo Page also shows a “coming soon / almost here” banner — confirm live checkout |
Engineer · 8 GB · 10 players · $21.99 Architech · 12 GB · 20 players · $29.99 |
Mod support claimed; auto-updates & backups, full file access, DDoS, 72-hour refund; 6 GB is light for SE physics | Global locations; Melbourne company (check for an AU node) | Cheapest listed always-on entry if the plan is actually orderable |
| Nodecraft | Premium 24/7 · 6 GB · $29.98/mo Budget Wake & Play 6 GB $17.88 (Nodecraft labels it “Not recommended for this game”; first-month sale $12.52) |
Premium 8 GB · $39.98; 14 GB · $69.98 Budget 8 GB $23.84 · 14 GB $41.72 First-month sales disclosed on page; we quote recurring |
Static IP (Premium), save-and-swap, no host slot cap; Budget hibernates when unused | Sydney & Melbourne (+ Auckland) listed on the page | AU/NZ groups who want 24/7 RAM headroom for big grids |
| GameTeam | From $0.49/GB (Budget) Advertised “from” rates; billing term and plan totals not shown. TBD |
TBD | FAQ: 8–12 GB, ~8–16 players, Steam Workshop mods; weekly billing; 72-hour money-back; AI copilot claimed | Global locations (check for AU) | Groups that want weekly seasons while the fleet grows |
| BisectHosting | TBD Priced per GB; the rate didn’t display on the page we read |
TBD | Full mod support + TorchAPI claimed, instance manager, swap to 110+ games, backups manager; stock can vary | 21 locations; the page showed an out-of-stock notice for a location | Check price and stock at checkout |
| Apex Hosting | TBD Space Engineers page URLs we tried returned 404; not listed on the games catalog we read |
TBD | Not confirmed | — | Check directly |
| PebbleHost | TBD Space Engineers page URLs we tried returned 404 |
TBD | Not confirmed | Sydney listed for Minecraft | Check directly |
Sources (host-owned): shockbyte.com, nodecraft.com, gameteam.io, bisecthosting.com (features only). No host is crowned “#1”.
Oceania note
Space Engineers combat and big-grid physics still feel late on a long US route. AU/NZ groups should look at Nodecraft (Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland listed on the page), or check at checkout for an AU node on Shockbyte or GameTeam, or Bisect stock. See the Oceania ping guide.
Budget note and shortlist (not rankings)
- Listed under ~$20 if orderable: Shockbyte Survivor, $16.99 — under the ~$20 budget; confirm the “coming soon” banner is gone before you pay, and expect to step up RAM if grids grow.
- More RAM near AU/NZ (host warning heeded): Nodecraft Premium 8 GB ($39.98) or 14 GB ($69.98) rather than Budget Wake & Play.
- Weekly seasons while the fleet grows (host claim): GameTeam from $0.49/GB — confirm plan total and RAM at checkout (FAQ points at 8–12 GB).
- Similar nights: Factorio (Night 17), Satisfactory (Night 12), Astroneer (Night 19), Abiotic Factor (Night 30) and Empyrion (Night 39), Avorion (Night 40).
Official links (affiliate placeholders)
Buttons below point at official sites today (game pages where the host sells Space Engineers; home/games list where it does not). Tracked affiliate URLs will replace the #aff-* anchors once programs approve — see affiliates.md.
Related (pipeline)
Affiliate disclosure
HostForTheSquad may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page (Shockbyte, Apex, BisectHosting, GameTeam, and others when approved). Commission rates do not decide table rows or “best for” notes. Prices and stock change — always verify on the host’s site before you pay.