Host or Join Listen Servers#
A guide to hosting and connecting to multiplayer server instances of HELIX worlds
1. Overview#
Multiplayer in HELIX allows you to host Listen Servers that other players can join, or connect to existing sessions.
- Pre-requisite: Worlds must be published packages and downloaded locally before hosting or joining.
- Draft worlds cannot be used for multiplayer.
2. Hosting a Multiplayer Server#
- Publish your world as a package.
- Download the package locally:
- The Create Server button is disabled until the package is downloaded.
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Go to the world’s detail page and click Create Server.
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Name the server (optional).
- Click Create and Join:
- The session becomes visible to other players in the server list.
- Anyone can join your session once it appears.
3. Joining a Multiplayer Server#
You can join in two ways:
Option A: Join from a Specific World#
- Open the world’s detail page.
- Go to the Servers tab.
- See existing sessions for that world.
- Download the world first if not already downloaded.
- Click Join.
Option B: Join from the Global Servers Tab#
- Go to the Servers tab in the main menu.
- Switch to the EOS (global) filter.
- See all active Listen Servers for any world.
- Download the corresponding world before joining.
- Click Join.
4. Current Limitations (Pre-Alpha / Closed Alpha)#
- You must manually download the world before joining a session:
- Attempting to join without the download will fail.
- There is no automatic download & loading screen yet.
- Planned feature: Automatically fetch required assets when joining.
- The Servers tab does not currently display which world a session belongs to.
- Planned fix before public release.
5. Best Practices#
- Publish and download your world before hosting to avoid delays.
- Check that all dependencies for your world are downloaded to ensure smooth joining for players.
- Communicate the world name to players so they can download it before attempting to join.