Starting since February 4th 2021 all servers will be able to set various gamemodes. So far there are 9 modes that server owners can set. Everything is subject to change.

Changing gamemodes

Gamemode can be set using convar +server.gamemode <name>. Put it in your server startup config and changes will be applied on launch. There is also an other command that can be used at runtime, gamemode.set <name>. Check information below for the full list of currently available modes.

Gamemodes List

Hardcore

Hardcore mode provides a "raw" experience of Rust, and in some way might remind you of earlier days. Many features were either removed or limited - for example, you are no longer able to see the map, or use Rust+. Max amount of sleeping bags is now limited, and there is no global chat - that's not all, though. Here's the full list of changes:

• Tech Tree is more expensive: +50% cost to Tier 1 tree, 2x cost to Tier 2, and 4x cost to Tier 3
• Team system is disabled
• Disabled the map for both G key and on death screen. No way to see your last death location either
• Removed safe zones
• Removed peacekeeper NPCs and sentries from "safe zone" monuments
• Global chat is now disabled
• Added local chat instead. Displays messages from players that are near you in radius of 100 meters
• Compass is now disabled
• Contacts are now disabled. Game does not remember players you've seen, and you can't mark any of them as friendlies or enemies
• Rust+ and it's features are now disabled
• Disabled crawling when wounded
• Map seed is no longer sent to Steam servers and won't show up in F1 menu
• Hardcore servers will wipe both map and blueprints each month
• Max amount of sleeping bags for each player is now limited to 5

Also following commands were disabled to avoid players finding workarounds for removed/limited features:

• printpos, printrot, printhead, printeyes, printinput
• monuments, rendermap, renderlabs, rendertunnels
• debug.PrintDebugWorldInfo, debug.CopyDebugWorldInfo, debug.showWorldInfoInPerformanceReadout

Softcore

Softcore is a "lightweight" version of vanilla Rust gameplay:

• Max team size is 4 players
• Auth limited to team size (4)
• Players can respawn at Compound/Bandit Camp. (not available if they are marked as hostile)
• Not all loot is lost on death: 50% of inventory and 50% of hotbar items can be reclaimed at safe zone. Armor isn't saved. Players have only 2 hours to retrieve it, after that it'll disappear.

Softcore Settings

Softcore comes with three convars that allows you to edit amount of random items players can reclaim at safezone terminals. 0 means 0%, 0.5 means 50%, 1 means 100%.

You can also change the maximum team and auth size using convar relationshipmanager.maxteamsize <value>.