Change Difficulty on a Sons of the Forest Server

Updated 10 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Changing difficulty on a Sons of the Forest server adjusts how challenging survival is for everyone in that multiplayer save. The setting is chosen in the save’s configuration, so you’ll need to stop the server, edit the correct save file, and restart it; available controls can differ between a self-hosted game and a rented server panel.

What You’ll Need

Access to the server’s files or its hosting control panel.
The ability to stop and start the server, plus permission to edit its configuration.
The correct multiplayer save name and a backup of its files.
A text editor for configuration files. Avoid word-processing apps, which can add formatting.

Step-by-Step

Identify how the server is hosted. For a dedicated server you manage, locate its installation and save directories on the host computer. For a rented server, sign in to the provider’s control panel and look for file management, configuration, or startup settings. Menu labels and available file access vary by provider.
Stop the server cleanly. Use the panel’s Stop command or shut it down through its normal console controls. Wait until the status shows it is offline before editing files. Do not change the save while players are connected or the server is writing progress.
Back up the multiplayer save. Find the directory containing the save you intend to change and download or copy the entire save folder to a separate location. If you are unsure which save is active, check the server’s selected save name or configuration first. Keep the backup untouched until you have confirmed the change works.
Find the difficulty setting for that save. Look in the active save’s configuration files for a file named GameSettingsSaveData.json. On a typical dedicated-server save, it is under the server’s save location in a folder structure that includes SonsGame, Saves, the server’s user identifier, and the multiplayer save. The exact path can vary with installation, hosting setup, and game updates. If your host offers a settings editor, check whether it exposes the difficulty option and applies it to the selected save.
Open the file without changing its format. Use a plain-text editor. Search for a difficulty-related entry, often represented by a setting such as GameSetting.Difficulty. Configuration formats and field names may change, so do not assume a particular key or value if it is absent. Check the host’s current documentation or the game’s generated settings before adding or editing anything.
Set the desired difficulty value. If the file clearly identifies the difficulty setting, change only its value to the intended supported option. Preserve the surrounding JSON structure, including quotation marks, commas, braces, and capitalization. Do not paste an example value from an unrelated game version or edit other survival settings by guesswork.
Save and validate the file. Save as plain text in the same location and retain the original filename and extension. If the editor or hosting panel can validate JSON, use that check. Otherwise, compare the edited file with your backup to make sure the only intended change was made and the file was not saved with an extra extension such as .txt.
Start the server and check the result. Start it from the same panel or command used before. Review the startup log for configuration or save-loading errors, then join the server and confirm that the intended save loads. Test the change with a small, low-risk gameplay check before inviting everyone back.

If you are changing a setting in a local multiplayer host’s save rather than a dedicated server, shut down the game and back up the host’s save before editing. The host’s save location and available settings may not match a dedicated-server installation.

Common Mistakes

Editing the wrong save. A server can contain several saves. Changing a file that is not selected at startup has no effect on the active game.
Leaving the server running. It may overwrite your edit when it saves or shuts down. Stop it first and wait for it to go offline.
Breaking JSON syntax. Removing a comma or quote can prevent the settings file from loading. Change one value only and keep a backup.
Using an unsupported value. Difficulty labels and internal values may differ by game version. Do not rely on values copied from old guides unless they match the current file or hosting interface.
Expecting a menu change to alter an existing save automatically. Difficulty may be stored with the save, and some settings may be set when a world is created. Check the running server and its active save rather than relying only on a panel display.
Editing a generated or inactive configuration. Some panels regenerate files during startup. Use the provider’s supported settings interface where possible and verify which file the server actually reads.

Tips

Tell players before changing difficulty; it affects the shared experience and can change survival pressure for the whole group.
Make one adjustment at a time. If the server stops loading, that makes it easier to identify and undo the cause.
Keep a dated copy of the original save and configuration. Do not overwrite the only backup with the edited version.
For hosted servers, check the provider’s instructions for the specific game and current panel. A provider may offer a supported setting that is safer than manual edits.
After an update, recheck the configuration rather than assuming old file paths and setting names still apply.

Troubleshooting

The difficulty did not change: Confirm that you edited the save selected by the server, saved the file in the correct directory, and fully restarted the server. Check whether the value is visible in the game’s settings or configuration after startup. A panel can show a requested setting without applying it to an existing save.

The server will not start or load the save: Stop it and restore the backed-up configuration. If that fixes the issue, the edited file may have invalid JSON, the wrong value, or an unexpected encoding. Try again with a plain-text editor and change only the confirmed difficulty field.

You cannot find the file: Search the active save directory for GameSettingsSaveData.json, and check the server’s startup configuration for its save name and location. On a rented host, use its file manager or ask support where the active save is stored. Do not edit files from an unrelated local profile.

The host panel resets the setting: Some providers rebuild configuration files when starting the server. Set the option through the panel if available, or follow the host’s documented method for persistent edits. Avoid repeatedly changing files that the panel overwrites.

Players still see the old world behavior: Make sure everyone rejoined the same server and save after the restart. If it remains unchanged, the setting may be fixed at world creation or not supported for that save. Restore the backup before considering a new save, since starting over can replace or abandon existing progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change difficulty without stopping the server?
No. Stop it before editing so the game does not overwrite the change or save inconsistent data.

Will changing difficulty delete my save?
It should not when you edit the correct setting carefully, but mistakes can make a save or configuration unreadable. Back up the whole save first.

Where is the difficulty setting?
It is commonly associated with GameSettingsSaveData.json in the active multiplayer save, but paths and fields can vary. Check the current server files or host documentation.

Can I change difficulty from the in-game menu?
Some settings may be available through game menus, but dedicated servers may require a save or host-panel change. Use the controls shown for your current server setup.

Do all players need to change a setting?
No. The server’s active save controls the shared world. Players should rejoin after the server restarts to see the change.

What if my server uses a different configuration format?
Do not add an unverified setting. Check the host’s current instructions or support resources and restore the backup if an edit caused errors.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.