Installation & Requirements

Setting up Windows Game Server is quick and lightweight. WGS doesn't write configuration files outside its environment.

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 10, Windows 11, or Windows Server 2019 or newer.
Runtime Layer: Microsoft .NET 8 Runtime environment.
Privileges: Local Administrator rights (mandatory for automatic firewall rule injections).

Administrator Rights Notice: WGS requests administrative privileges to interactively manage inbound and outbound firewall paths via netsh advfirewall when game server instances transition between running states.

Option A: Pre-built Binary (Recommended)

1. Download Release: Grab the latest .zip package deployment bundle straight from our GitHub Releases timeline.
2. Extract Directory: Unpack the archive layout cleanly into a permanent path of your choice (e.g., C:\WGS\).
3. Execute Application: Double-click WindowsGameServer.exe. The WPF engine interface handles hooks and boots instantly.

Option B: Compile from Source

If you prefer building natively on your local machine, ensure you have the full .NET 8 SDK installed environment:

git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/WindowsGameServer.git
cd WindowsGameServer/WGS
dotnet publish -c Release -o publish