Minecraft is a popular video game with over 140 million players around the world. However, some things are more fun with friends, and a big part of Minecraft's success lies in public and private gaming servers.

Hosting providers have the potential to make multiplayer mode a profitable business. By setting up your own Minecraft server, you can create a more engaging, varied, and unique block-based world - and then monetize your creation.

In this post, we'll discuss how to make money from Minecraft using a Virtual Private Server (VPS). We'll then share a step-by-step guide to installing, configuring, and launching your own gaming server. Let's get started!

An Introduction to Minecraft

Minecraft is widely recognized as one of history's greatest video games with millions of copies sold all over the globe. Mojang, a Stockholm-based software developer, originally created the game. Microsoft purchased Mojang and Minecraft intellectual property for $2.5 Billion in 2014.

The basic idea behind this sandbox videogame is simple. Minecraft allows players to explore 3D worlds, create tools and items, and even build structures.

There are several modes, including a creative one where players have unlimited resources. Players can also modify gameplay mechanics, assets, and items.

Minecraft has won a number of awards, including Best Debut Game, Best Downloadable Game and Innovation titles at Game Developers Choice Awards. It is also part of World Video Game Hall of Fame.

However, this cultural phenomenon isn't just popular among gamers. Minecraft is a very popular video game that is often used in educational settings. One teacher, for example, recreated historical landmarks in Minecraft for students to explore.

Minecraft even teaches younger players how code and how to create virtual and physical devices. Minecraft: Education Edition has been created to help educators. This edition is designed to promote Minecraft in schools and includes additional features that can be used by teachers to monitor their students' progress.

Why Create Your Own Minecraft Server

Although you can explore Minecraft's block-based world solo, the game's multiplayer mode is hugely popular. You can create bigger and more amazing things by logging in to a shared Minecraft server.

However, public servers are open to harassment and bullying. This is especially true because Minecraft's young fanbase.

Fortunately, it's possible to create your own Minecraft server. This allows you to have complete control over your Minecraft server, including setting your own rules as well as deciding who can access it.

There's also the opportunity to monetize your Minecraft server by charging for access. You could create a server to cater to a specific community. Parents who care about their children's safety can appeal to you by managing your server.

Alternatively, you might focus on creating a more interesting Minecraft experience. Players may be willing to pay more to play the unique world you have created if it is filled with mini-games, expansions and beautiful structures.

You might even allow people access your server for free while still making money through other means. Minecraft's Commercial Usage Guidelines expressly forbid selling any in-game benefits. There are many addons that do not affect the gameplay. This includes in-game cosmetics, such as a different color for the player's name, or a visual effect that appears around the player's character.

Your server will likely grow in popularity and you might be able to secure sponsorships or display ads online. SERVERS You might also make money through affiliate links. All of this can turn your Minecraft server into a lucrative revenue stream.

Virtual Private Servers (VPS), Why You May Want To Use It

When it comes to creating a Minecraft server, you'll need enough firepower to ensure smooth and responsive gameplay. In terms of horsepower, it's difficult to beat a dedicated server. These are the most expensive hosting plans.

Virtual Private Servers are the answer. A VPS allows your provider to host multiple customers on the same server. This helps minimize their running costs, which means they can offer VPS hosting at a more affordable price.

Similar to a bare metal server, with a VPS you're allocated a portion of the server's physical resources and functionality. This puts you in an excellent position to provide fast rendering, and lag-free gameplay. A VPS could be the best option if you want to impress your community without spending a fortune.

When creating a gameplay server, there's also a good chance that your requirements may change over time. You might attract new players, add more mod packs, and continue to expand your block-based world.

As the game's demands grow, it becomes even more crucial to have guaranteed access to your server's resources. You run the risk of having bad neighbors who eat a large portion of your resources through shared plans.

Even worse, your neighbors might experience an increase in traffic. While this is great for them, it means less resources for you. A shared server coupled with growing demands can lead to disaster. If the gameplay becomes unsatisfying, players might leave.

VPS hosting allows you to be completely isolated from other users. This gives you more freedom to configure your server. Your VPS should be optimized for Minecraft to ensure a fast, responsive gaming experience. This will help you grow your community.

How to Set Up a Minecraft Server Using a VPS (In 8 Steps)

Minecraft may have launched way back in 2011, but this popular game shows no signs of slowing down. It earned over $142million in 2020 alone.

Let's see how you can turn the biggest video game of all time into your next business opportunity. Here's how to set up your own Minecraft server, in eight easy steps.

1. Choose a VPS Pack

We recommend that Minecraft servers have 1.5GB RAM and at least 15GB hard drive storage. A2 Hosting provides more than enough power to run successful Minecraft VPS servers with all managed VPS plans. Runway 2 and higher are available if you prefer an unmanaged VPS plan.

It is also important that you consider how your needs could change over time. You can increase your requirements by installing add-ons and plugins. You may need to upgrade your plan as your game attracts more players. Otherwise, you risk compromising the player experience and making them suffer lagging gameplay.

A2 Hosting offers free migration in almost all cases for customers who wish to upgrade their accounts to higher levels. This means that no matter how big your Minecraft world gets, you can rest assured that A2 Hosting will provide high performance and reliability.

Installing Minecraft and the associated software does require root access. All managed and unmanaged VPS plans include optional root access. This allows you to choose which plan is best for you and your Minecraft community.

2. Secure Shell Protocol Connect (SSH)

Next, connect your VPS using Secure Shell Protocol. This protocol allows for you to communicate securely with your server over an encrypted network. Once you have created this link, you will be able to configure your server for Minecraft.

To start, you'll need to know your IP Address, SSH Port, and root password. Logging into the client area will provide all this information to A2 Hosting customers. Select Services > My services from the toolbar

Click on the Manage button next to the account you wish to connect. On the subsequent screen, select the Additional Information tab:

This screen shows you all the information needed to connect over SSH. To input this information, open a terminal on your local computer. The following command can be typed. Make sure you replace port-number with ip-address.

You'll find the port number in your A2 Hosting dashboard, listed as FTP/SFTP Port. Here you will also find the IP Address. Your completed terminal command should look something like this:

To run the command, press Enter on the keyboard. After you have entered correct port number and IP address the terminal will ask to for your password.

This information is listed in the A2 hosting client area as Root Password/WHM. After entering your password, press the Enter key once more. Now, connect to your VPS as "[email protected]/root"$

3. Install the Open Java Development Kit

Since Minecraft runs on Java, you'll need to install the Open Java Development Kit (OpenJDK) on your VPS. This is a free and open source implementation of the Java Platform Standard Edition (Java SE).

We're going to install OpenDK using the YUM package management tool. This popular tool solves dependencies when installing, updating, or deleting software programs.

To install OpenJDK in your terminal, type the following command:

Hit the Enter key. YUM will now check for the required software package and any dependencies in order to run OpenJDK.

After a few moments, the terminal should display some information about the download, including its estimated size:

If you are happy to proceed, press the Y key. SSH will now download the OpenJDK and install it on your VPS.

4. Install Minecraft

It is smart to create a directory to store all your Minecraft content. This will help you keep your server organized. The following command can be used for this:

You can navigate directly to this folder by using the command change directory (cd).

Now that you are in the Minecraft directory, it is time to install the Minecraft program! At the time of writing, the latest version of Minecraft Server was 1.17.1. You can always go to the official Minecraft website to get the most current version. On that page, find the download Minecraft server link:

Hover over this link, and then Control-click. Next, select Copy Link Address from the context menu that appears:

To download Minecraft Server jars, we'll use the command wget. The final command should look something like the following:

After a few seconds, you should see the'server.jar. saved message. Congratulations! Minecraft has been installed on your VPS!

5. Accept the End User License Agreement (EULA).

The next step is configuring the Minecraft jar file. You might want to rename the file to help you keep track. For example, you might change server.jar to reflect Minecraft version.

In the following example, we're renaming server.jar to minecraft_server.1.17.1.jar:

Before starting your Minecraft server, you'll need to agree to the End-User License Agreement (EULA). This legal agreement is between you and Mojang that outlines guidelines for how you can use Minecraft software.

In your terminal, type the following command

You may have to change the above command according to your renamed "jar" file.

At this point, you will be asked by the terminal to agree to the Minecraft EULA. The following command will verify that the EULA file has been included in the downloaded file.

The terminal will now list the contents of your /minecraft directory, which should include the EULA file. This file can be opened using the Nano text editor, provided that it is present.

Now, go through the EULA. If you accept the terms and condition, change eula=false or eula=true

You can then save the EULA file. Now that you have accepted Minecraft's terms, you can configure your server.

6. Configure your server

The server.properties files contains all of the variables and settings. By editing this file you can customize the Minecraft experience.

This includes cosmetic changes (such as a unique welcome message), but also fundamental changes to gameplay mechanics. You can, for example, change the world size or the number of players allowed.

To start configuring your Minecraft server, type the following:

Then, hit Enter. The terminal will now display the current configuration for your Minecraft server:

Enter Insert mode by pressing on the I key to make any changes. You can then use the arrow keys to navigate between the different settings.

Let's examine a simple example. The default difficulty setting is Easy. This means that enemies spawn, but inflict less harm than those in Hard or Normal modes. It's not possible for enemies or zombies to enter doors or poison players.

If you want to really challenge your players, you could use the arrow keys to navigate to the difficulty=easy line. These settings can then be edited.

You might, for example, change it to difficulty=normal/difficult:

Once you are happy with your changes you can exit Insert mode by pressing the Escape key. Then, type the following.

Hit Enter and you'll be returned to your main terminal window.

7. Install Screen

You're almost ready to launch your Minecraft server. The game will be stopped if you disconnect. This can be a problem for your players and you need to fix it before you make your server live.

Screen will ensure that your session remains active. This popular utility will ensure that your processes continue to run even if their window isn't visible or if you disconnect.

Screen allows you also to connect from a different location and initiate a command. The following commands will install Screen:

Now, you can start the Minecraft server by executing your jar file. In the terminal type the following:

The system will now execute your Minecraft jar file. After a few moments, you should see a message confirming that this process is done. Your Minecraft server is now up and running.

8. Configure Your Firewall

You can now disconnect from the Minecraft screen by pressing CTRL + A + D. To reattach to the session again, press CTRL + R.

If you're going to monetize your VPS, you'll need to allow incoming connections by editing your firewall configuration. Minecraft uses port 2565 by default. You will need to configure port forwarding for port 25655.

Now, people can connect directly to your server via the Minecraft launch screen. They will need to choose Multiplayer from this screen.

They can then select Add Server, and enter the IP or web address of your server. Finally, they'll just need to choose Join Server, and they should successfully connect to your Minecraft VPS!

Multiplayer mode is very popular in Minecraft, but it can be expensive to run a successful gaming server. You can minimize your running costs while maximising your profits by using a Virtual Private Server.

It is important to provide a smooth and lag-free gaming experience if you want to impress your players. A VPS is your secret weapon. Similar to a dedicated server, with a VPS you're allocated a portion of the server's physical resources. However, you don't have to break the bank on an expensive plan.

At A2 Hosting, we've carefully designed our VPS plans to provide the cost-savings of shared hosting with the performance of a dedicated server. You can make your Minecraft venture a success and appeal to the large (and growing!) gaming community by choosing one of our VPS Plans.