How to Host a Natural Selection 2 Server – Step-by-Step Guide for Commanders & Marines

If you’re ready to take full control of your Natural Selection 2 matches, hosting your own server is the best way to shape the battlefield. You can pick your maps, customize gameplay rules, install mods, and create the exact experience you want for your community.
This guide walks you through hosting your own server and explains why Citadel Servers is a great partner for your setup.

Step 1: Pick a Reliable Hosting Provider

Natural Selection 2 is a fast-paced hybrid FPS/RTS game where performance directly affects gameplay—lag spikes, frame drops, or slow tick rates can ruin competitive and casual matches alike.
When selecting your host, focus on:

Performance: NS2 benefits from strong single-core CPU performance and fast SSD/NVMe storage to keep server tick rates stable.

Network Quality: A reliable host ensures low ping and smooth gameplay for players across regions.

Ease of Management: Managing mods, configs, and maps should be simple through a user-friendly control panel.

Support Availability: Good technical support ensures issues get resolved quickly before they impact your players.

Citadel Servers provides all of the above—offering optimized hardware and tools specially suited for multiplayer shooters and real-time strategy hybrids like NS2.

Step 2: Order Your Hosting Plan

Once you’ve decided to host with Citadel Servers, getting started is simple:

1. Go to the Natural Selection 2 hosting page.

2. Choose how many player slots you want.

3. Pick your server location closest to your player base for the best ping.

4. Select any extras, like process priority, premium support, etc.

5. Proceed to checkout, once payment is confirmed, your server deploys automatically.

You’ll receive an email with your control panel login details and connection info within minutes.

Step 3: Configure Your Server

After deployment, it’s time to personalize your world:

- Follow our Quick Start Guide

Set your server name, description, and password (if needed).

Configure gameplay settings such as round time, voting rules, map cycle, and ready room options.

Manage and install mods easily using the built-in Mod Manager, or upload custom files via FTP/SFTP.

Add your admins, configure access levels, and set up server messages.

Adjust performance options to keep the game smooth, even with a full server.

All configuration is done through the Citadel Control Panel, designed to keep the process simple whether you’re a competitive server owner or hosting casual community games.

Step 4: Launch and Play

When your settings are ready, start your server from the panel and invite your friends.
Players can connect via the in-game server browser or by entering the server’s IP and port.

You can monitor activity, manage users, and restart your world at any time, all through the same web interface.

Why Host with Citadel Servers

Hosting Natural Selection 2 with Citadel Servers means getting consistent performance, robust control, and tools built for fast-paced multiplayer environments. Our hosting keeps your matches smooth and responsive, whether you're running casual games or competitive events.

What Makes Us Stand Out

Instant Setup: Your NS2 server is deployed automatically after payment, letting you start playing within minutes.

High-Performance Hardware: All servers use fast single-core CPU performance and NVMe SSD storage to keep tick rates stable and gameplay smooth.

Global Data Centers: Choose from multiple worldwide locations for the lowest possible latency for your player base.

Full Access & Total Customization: Get complete file access—upload mods, tweak configs, set map rotations, and tailor every part of your server.

One-Click Mod Manager: Browse, install, and update NS2 mods with ease—no manual handling required.

Automated Backups & Simple Restarts: Protect your configuration and save time with regular backups and easy reboot controls.

24/7 Expert Support: Our team is always available to help resolve issues fast so your server stays online and ready for action.

Your Natural Selection 2 world deserves fast, stable, and customizable hosting—and that’s exactly what Citadel Servers delivers.

Order your Natural Selection 2 Server now