Methods for running your game

Heads up!

Why can't I use 'Launch Separate Server'? Ideally, you would be able to test a dedicated server from Unreal Engine's editor with these settings:

Multiplayer Options -> Launch Separate Server: true
Multiplayer Options -> Play Net Mode: Standalone
Multiplayer Options -> Run Under One Process: True
Server -> Server Map Name Override: /Game/ThirdPerson/Maps/ThirdPersonMap

However, there's a bug in Unreal Engine that causes the spawned standalone clients to use the Server Map Name Override, which makes this useless.

Quick iteration: PIE + listen server

This setting is useful for quick iteration.

Open Edit -> Editor Preferences -> Level Editor -> Play and update the following settings:

Multiplayer Options -> Launch Separate Server: True
Multiplayer Options -> Play Net Mode: Play Standalone
Multiplayer Options -> Run Under One Process: False
Client -> Play Number Of Clients: >= 2
Server -> Server Map Name Override: Empty

Heads up!

Be aware that running as a listen server may behave differently than with a dedicated server if actor authority is not handled correctly.

Using a listen server means that all actors have Role == ROLE_Authority. In production, actors will have Role == ROLE_SimulatedProxy. Read more here.

Check your functionality with PIE + standalone server if you think you might be having issues.

Testing authority: PIE + standalone server

This setting is useful for:

Testing the offline -> online flow of a user joining a server
Testing actor roles are handled correctly with a dedicated server (i.e. as close to production as possible)

Open Edit -> Editor Preferences -> Level Editor -> Play and update the following settings:

Multiplayer Options -> Launch Separate Server: False
Multiplayer Options -> Play Net Mode: Standalone
Multiplayer Options -> Run Under One Process: True
Client -> Play Number Of Clients: >= 2
Server -> Server Map Name Override: Empty