Steamworks Direct Connect

Author: Zeitsurfer

Steamworks Direct Connect is a small client-side BepInEx plugin for Valheim.

When you join a dedicated server by IP address or domain, the plugin immediately selects the Steamworks backend. Valheim therefore does not need to wait for a PlayFab FindHostByIp lobby lookup before starting the connection.

Features

• Direct connection to Steam-only dedicated servers by IP address or domain
• Avoids failed or unavailable PlayFab lobby searches for these connections
• No installation required on the dedicated server
• Can be enabled or disabled in its generated BepInEx configuration

Requirements

• Valheim on Steam
• BepInExPack Valheim
• A dedicated server running with the Steamworks backend without -crossplay

Installation

Install the package with a Thunderstore-compatible mod manager and enable it in the client profile used to start Valheim.

For manual installation, copy SteamworksDirectConnect.dll into:

Valheim/BepInEx/plugins/SteamworksDirectConnect/

Configuration

After the first launch, the plugin creates:

BepInEx/config/de.challengehub.steamworksdirectconnect.cfg

Set Enabled = false to temporarily disable the direct Steamworks selection.

Important compatibility notice

Dedicated IP/domain entries are deliberately treated as Steamworks connections while this plugin is enabled. Disable the plugin before joining a PlayFab/crossplay server by IP or domain.

This plugin does not turn a crossplay server into a Steamworks server and does not bypass passwords, bans, allowlists, version checks, or server-side mod requirements.

Deutsch

Steamworks Direct Connect verbindet Valheim bei einer Serveradresse direkt über Steamworks, ohne vorher auf die PlayFab-Lobbysuche zu warten.

Die Mod wird nur auf dem Client benötigt. Sie ist für dedizierte Steam-Server gedacht, die ohne -crossplay gestartet werden.

Solange die Mod aktiv ist, werden dedizierte IP- und Domain-Einträge bewusst als Steamworks-Verbindungen behandelt. Deaktiviere die Mod, bevor du einem PlayFab-/Crossplay-Server per IP oder Domain beitrittst.

Die Konfigurationsdatei lautet:

BepInEx/config/de.challengehub.steamworksdirectconnect.cfg

Support information

When reporting a problem, include the Valheim version, BepInEx version, connection address without its password, and the relevant lines from BepInEx/LogOutput.log.

Changelog

1.0.0

• Initial release.
• Selects the Steamworks backend immediately for dedicated IP/domain connections.
• Avoids dependency on PlayFab lobby lookup for Steam-only server joins.