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Survival of the Fittest: Arena Mode

Unturned features an integrated “Arena” mode that programmatically mirrors the mechanics of prominent Battle Royale titles. In this high-stakes environment, survivors are deployed into a specialized map where they must scavenge for high-tier loot while remaining within an increasingly restrictive “Dead Zone.” The last individual or coordinated squad standing claims victory. By correctly configuring your server logic, you can host professional-grade competitive matches with customized pacing and intensity.

Difficulty

Beginner

Time

5 Minutes

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Technical Initialization Workflow

To transition your server to the Arena framework, you must synchronize both your map selection and the server’s operational command set.
1

Select an Arena Map

Identify a map specifically architected for Arena play, such as Washington Arena, PEI Arena, or Monolith. Maps without defined arena boundaries will fail to initialize the mode correctly.
2

Access Commands.dat

Log in to the Game Panel and navigate to the following path: /Servers/Default/Server/Commands.dat.
3

Authorize Arena Mode

Add the following technical parameters to the file:
Mode Arena
Map Washington_Arena
4

Initialize the Change

Restart your server via the console. The engine will now load the competitive logic instead of standard survival.

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Strategic Match Calibration

You can precisely fine-tune the intensity of your matches by modifying the Config.json file situated in your server directory.
Technical VariableFunctional ResultStrategic Purpose
Arena_Time_LimitTemporal DelayDefines the duration (in seconds) before the safe zone begins its first contraction.
Arena_Wall_DamagePenalty IntensitySets the health deduction per second for players caught within the Dead Zone (e.g., 10).
Arena_Force_RespawnMatch LifecycleAutomatically restarts the round and teleports players to new spawn points once a winner is declared.

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Minimum Player Requirements

By default, an Arena match will remain in a “Waiting” state until at least 2 players have successfully connected to the lobby. For larger community events, we recommend increasing this threshold within the Config.json to ensure a dense and competitive field before the initial deployment begins.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: January 2026 | Unturned: Arena mode active.