BetterNetworking Valheim

Now compatible with Mistlands!

This mod greatly improves multiplayer performance. If you find this mod works as advertised, please endorse it!

Default settings should be fine for most people.

Keep in mind

• Compression only works between computers with Better Networking.
• Likely incompatible with (and better than) other networking mods.
• Dedicated servers will not apply changes until restarted.
• You must use the join code or external IP when connecting to servers on the same network when using crossplay.

Features

• crossplay enabled: improves compression speed by more than ~8000% (yes) and compression ratio by up to ~50%!
• crossplay disabled: adds network compression
• allows forcing crossplay (enabled by default)
• package queueing, changing network update speed, min/max send rates, queue size, and network buffer size in Steamworks (AKA crossplay disabled)

Better Networking links

• Please provide feedback!
• Please report bugs!
• Please endorse on Nexus Mods!
• Please endorse on ThunderStore!

Educational links

• Technical explanation of Valheim's networking by u/SleepMyLittleOnes
• Discussion on desync/lag in Valheim on the blog of James A. Chambers

Special thanks

• nightshade221 (Max) for being a patron and providing a community!
• Frostsorrow for QA and community assistance!
• Tquilarius for being a patron!

If you've benefited from this mod and want to see more features implemented, please endorse it! Or if you're feeling particularly generous, donate here or on Patreon!

2.3.2

• compatibility with Valheim 0.217.28

2.3.1

• compatibility with Valheim 0.216.9

2.3.0

• allow changing player limit for dedicated servers

2.2.1

• bugfix: more stable when some people have compression/BN disabled
• bugfix: no longer spams log when unexpected messages received

2.2.0

• PlayFab: fixed failing to work in some cases
• PlayFab: better handling of disconnections
• PlayFab: simplified compression code
• PlayFab: fixed error in vanilla Valheim where data could be lost while connecting
• Steamworks: fixed failing to work in some cases

2.1.3

• reverted to 2.1.1; for now, avoid using Alt+F4 to close the game

2.1.2

• better handling of unexpected disconnections

2.1.1

• improved startup time
• better config documentation

2.1.0

• buffer new connections ("ZDO buffer")
• better default queue size
• better queue size options
• PlayFab: compression ratio info messages
• Steamworks: simplified compression code (less likely to break in future Valheim patches)
• Steamworks: higher maximum send rate
• force crossplay option only shows for dedicated servers
• bugfix: queue size changes apply to PlayFab
• bugfix: can no longer set queue size too high for Steamworks
• bugfix: compression/update rate once again changeable without restart

2.0.4

• lower file size
• fixed incompatibility with mods that read/write from current directory
• bugfix: Linux supported again

2.0.2

• crossplay no longer forced enabled by default
• option to force crossplay disabled
• fixed misleading severity of some log messages

2.0.1

• increased default queue size (might prevent desyncs)
• increased max queue size (might induce lag - enable at own risk)

2.0.0

• now compatible with Mistlands
• now supports new PlayFab (crossplay) networking stack
• improved speed and effectiveness of network compression
• now forces PlayFab (crossplay) by default (can be disabled in config file)

1.2.2

• bugfix: compression handshake wasn't completing properly
• many small improvements

1.2.1

• breaks down multiple large packages into separate messages
• can now disable non-error/non-warning log messages
• fewer config options (based on feedback/testing)
• better config descriptions

1.2.0

• compression now optional
• defaults changed
• better log messages
• bugfix: certain messages could ignore increased queue size
• bugfix: can no longer set minimum send rate to 0

1.1.3

• increased send buffer size
• higher default network queue size and queue size options (made reasonable by compression)
• better default options
• better option descriptions
• possible fix for unusual servers