Project Zomboid: adjusting sandbox settings

The sandbox settings determine how a Project Zomboid world plays: how many zombies there are, how fast and strong they are, how much loot is lying around and when electricity and water shut off. You set them in the customer portal, and from Flex M also directly in the file if you prefer.

Settings in the customer portal

1. In the customer portal, open your Project Zomboid server and the card „Spielwelt-Einstellungen“ (World settings).
2. The first section „Wichtigste Einstellungen“ (Most important settings) contains the 25 most frequently used values. You can find the rest of the 269 values of Build 42 in the other sections and via the search.
3. Under „Voreinstellung“ (Preset), you can apply a ready-made set of values as a starting point if you wish.
4. Select „Speichern“ (Save). The changes take effect after the next server restart.

The most important settings

Zombie count, population multiplier, peak population multiplier, new zombies, speed, strength, toughness, memory, sight, hearing, transmission, incubation, reanimation, loot for food, weapons and other items, loot respawn, day length, start month, start time, water and electricity shutoff, XP multiplier, vehicles and vehicles on the map.

Start month and start time

Start month and start time only take effect in a new world, because the game time is stored in the save. In an ongoing world, they have no effect.

Directly in the file (from Flex M)

From Flex M, you can edit the file ending in _SandboxVars.lua in the folder Server in the file manager or via SFTP. This lets you, for example, apply the settings from one of your own saves.

• A value you change in the file is kept as long as you do not change the same value in the customer portal.
• The server rewrites the file in its own format at every start. Your own comments are lost in the process, while the values remain.
• Here too, changes take effect after the next restart.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my change not visible in the game?

The server reads the values at startup. Restart it after saving. Start month and start time only take effect in a new world.

Can I upload a ready-made SandboxVars file?

Yes, from Flex M you can replace the file in the file manager or via SFTP. Create a backup beforehand.

From which tier are the sandbox settings available?

In the customer portal in every tier. You can edit the file directly from Flex M.

See also: Setting up Project Zomboid mods Build 42 or Build 41 File manager for game servers

View Project Zomboid server