How to Install Unreal Engine 5 on Dedicated Servers (Windows & Linux)

Introduction : Welcome to ServerMO Tutorials

Welcome! If you are reading this, you are likely a Game Developer, a Virtual Production Artist, or an Architect looking to break free from the limitations of a local workstation. Today, we are going to walk you through a complete, step-by-step guide on how to install Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) on a Dedicated Server. We will cover both Windows Server (for ease of use) and Ubuntu Linux (for maximum performance).

Why run UE5 on a Server?

• Pixel Streaming: Stream high-fidelity games to any web browser or mobile device.
• Remote Workstation: Develop your game from a lightweight laptop while the heavy rendering happens on the server.
• Build Farms: Compile shaders and package games 10x faster than a standard PC.

The "Hardware Reality" Check (Must Read)

Before we start typing commands, we must address the most critical requirement: Hardware. Unreal Engine 5 is a graphical powerhouse. It relies heavily on VRAM (Video Memory) to run the Editor, render Lumen lighting, and process Nanite geometry.

To follow this guide successfully, you need a Dedicated Server with a GPU (Graphics Card).

Why ServerMO? (Powering Your Creativity)

At ServerMO, we understand that creators need raw power. We don't just sell servers; we provide the infrastructure for your imagination. We offer 600+ High-Performance GPU Dedicated Servers tailored for 3D workloads. Whether you need consumer-grade cards for development or enterprise-grade cards for virtualization, we have it all in stock.

Our GPU Inventory Includes:

• NVIDIA GeForce Series: RTX 3090, RTX 4090 (Perfect for Rendering & Dev).
• NVIDIA Professional Series: A4000, A5000, A6000 (Built for Enterprise & AI).

Available in 25+ Global Locations: We deploy servers closer to you for the lowest latency.

• Americas: USA, Canada (CA), Brazil (BR)
• Europe:UK, Germany (DE), France (FR), Netherlands (NL), Sweden (SE), Switzerland (CH), Spain (ES), Poland (PL), Italy (IT)
• Asia & Pacific:India (IN), Singapore (SG), Japan (JP), South Korea (KR), Australia (AU)
• Others:Turkey (TR), Israel (IL), South Africa (ZA) and more.

System Requirements: Build Your Server

Unreal Engine 5 is resource-intensive. Choosing the right hardware depends on your project size (Simple Game vs. High-Fidelity Virtual Production).

* Note: For Pixel Streaming to multiple users, you will need higher bandwidth (1Gbps recommended).

Prerequisites: Getting Started

Ready to build your cloud studio? Ensure you have the following ready before proceeding:

1. A GPU Dedicated Server:

   Ensure your server meets the "Recommended" specifications listed in the table above for the best experience.




2. Administrator Access:

   • You need Root (Linux) or Administrator (Windows) privileges to install drivers.



3. Epic Games Account:

   • Required to download the engine files.

Part 1:   Installing on Windows Server (The Easy Way)

Windows Server is the easiest way to get started because the workflow is almost identical to your local PC. Follow these steps to set up your remote studio.

Step 1: Connect via Remote Desktop (RDP)

Use the built-in "Remote Desktop Connection" app on your local PC.

• Open Remote Desktop Connection.
• Enter your ServerMO Dedicated Server IP Address.
• Login with the Administrator username and password sent to your email.

Step 2: Install NVIDIA GPU Drivers (Critical!)

Windows Server does not come with GPU drivers pre-installed.

1. Open the browser inside your server and go to the NVIDIA Driver Download page.
2. Select your specific GPU model (e.g., RTX 4090, A4000).
3. Tip: If you have a "Data Center" card (like A5000), choose "Data Center / Tesla" as the product type.
4. Download and install the driver. Restart the server once installed.

Step 3: Install Epic Games Launcher & UE5

Now that the GPU is ready, let's get the engine.

1. Download the Epic Games Launcher installer.
2. Run the installer and sign in with your Epic Games account.
3. Go to the Unreal Engine tab on the left.
4. Click the Library tab -> Click the yellow (+) button to add the latest engine version (UE 5.3 or 5.4).
5. Click Install. (This will download 20GB+ of data, but since ServerMO servers have 1Gbps/10Gbps ports, it will finish quickly!).

Step 4: The "Black Screen" Fix (Use Parsec)

Here is a pro-tip most tutorials won't tell you:
Microsoft's standard RDP (Remote Desktop) is not designed for 3D applications. If you try to open Unreal Engine via RDP, it might lag heavily or crash because RDP uses a virtual display adapter instead of the GPU.

The Solution: Install Parsec (Free for personal use) or TeamViewer.

• Download and install Parsec on both your local PC and the Server.
• Login and connect to your server via Parsec.
• Result: You will get a smooth 60FPS stream with full GPU acceleration, making it feel like you are sitting right in front of the server.

Part 2:   Installing on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (The Performance Way)

Linux is preferred by heavy users because it uses fewer system resources, leaving more RAM and CPU for Unreal Engine. However, it requires a bit more setup.

Step 1: Update & Install Prerequisites

First, update your package list and install the necessary tools, including Vulkan support.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install build-essential software-properties-common vulkan-tools curl wget -y

Step 2: Install NVIDIA Drivers (Critical)

Ubuntu makes this easy. We will use the auto-install command to find the best driver for your ServerMO GPU.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

Reboot the server to apply the drivers:

sudo reboot

Step 3: Install Desktop Environment (GUI) & XRDP

Dedicated servers usually come with a command-line interface (CLI). To run Unreal Engine, we need a visual desktop. We will install XFCE (lightweight) and XRDP (to connect from Windows).

sudo apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodies xrdp -y

Configure XRDP to use XFCE:

echo xfce4-session > ~/.xsession
sudo systemctl restart xrdp

Now, connect to your server! Open "Remote Desktop Connection" on your Windows PC, enter your server IP, and login. You should see a desktop interface.

Step 4: Download & Run Unreal Engine 5

Epic Games does not have a "Launcher" for Linux. Instead, you download the compiled binary directly.

1. Inside your server's new desktop, open the Terminal.
2. Install a browser to download the file: sudo apt install firefox.
3. Open Firefox, go to Unreal Engine Linux Download, and sign in.
4. Download the Linux Compiled Binary (Zip).
5. Extract the Zip file.

To launch the engine, run this command inside the extracted folder:

cd Engine/Binaries/Linux
chmod +x UnrealEditor
./UnrealEditor

Success! The Unreal Engine Editor should now launch on your Ubuntu Server.