SteamworksDirectConnect
Connect directly to Steam-only Valheim dedicated servers by IP or domain without waiting for PlayFab lobby lookup.
About this mod Author’s original text
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 -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.
Install & use Install: BepInEx plugin
- The archive from playbuff is the mod itself — usually a BepInEx plugin (a .dll or a plugin folder once unzipped).
- Recommended: use a community mod manager (such as r2modman) — pick this game, import the mod, and the manager sets up BepInEx and its dependencies for you.
- Manual route: install the BepInEx loader in the game folder, then drop the unzipped .dll or plugin folder into BepInEx/plugins/.
- Launch the game — the BepInEx console logs every plugin it loads; seeing this mod in the log means it is installed.
Mods with listed dependencies need those installed too, or they will not load. Options are usually changed in-game or in the plugin's config file. In multiplayer, the host and every client need the same mods installed.
Install these first, or the mod will not work: