Why does my Factorio server require Space Age?

If you cannot connect to a newly set up Factorio server and get a message about missing mods, the cause is almost always the same: the server runs with Space Age, and anyone who does not own the paid expansion cannot join.

The reason

Since Factorio 2.0, the content of Space Age has been implemented as three mods: space-age, quality and elevated-rails. All three are already included in the freely downloadable server package from factorio.com. The server therefore needs no license. Each player buys the expansion themselves.

If Factorio finds no mod list of its own at startup, it enables everything that is present. The server then runs with Space Age without anyone having selected it. The service log then contains a line like Factorio 2.0 (headless, space-age) followed by Loading mod space-age.

If you own Space Age

Then everything is fine. All players also need the expansion. This is the same rule as for any other mod: the set of mods must be identical on all sides.

If you want to play without Space Age

In that case, the three mods are disabled. The timing matters:

• Before the first world: no problem. The world is then created without Space Age.
• With an existing world: no longer advisable. A world started with Space Age contains items, recipes and planets from the expansion. If you remove it, the save can no longer be loaded.

space-age also requires quality and elevated-rails. To play without the expansion, disable all three. Disabling only space-age is not enough, because quality and elevated-rails also require the expansion.

Our default settings

New Factorio servers with us run with Space Age, Quality and Elevated Rails. The settings in the customer portal include the “Space Age” switch. It only takes effect when a new world is created. A world created with Space Age no longer loads without the expansion. When Space Age is off, Quality and Elevated Rails can be switched individually.

See also: View Factorio server Connecting players