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Crossfire Server for Windows — First Public Release

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@tannerrj tannerrj released this 09 May 08:05
· 60 commits to main since this release
v1.75.0-git-fe1fdb5
c1cd03c

Crossfire Server for Windows — First Public Release

Release Tag: v1.75.0-git-fe1fdb5
Release Date: May 2026
Installer: CrossfireServer-git-fe1fdb5-Setup.exe

⚠️ Early Release Warning

This is the first public Windows build of the Crossfire server. While basic functionality has been tested, this release should be considered experimental. Use caution when deploying in a production or public-facing environment. Please report bugs and issues via the [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/tannerrj/crossfire-windows/issues) page.

What Is Crossfire?

Crossfire is a free, open-source multiplayer graphical RPG and adventure game. It is similar in style to the old Gauntlet game and the roguelike genre. Players can explore dungeons, fight monsters, solve quests, and advance their characters across a large persistent world shared with other players.

This release packages the Crossfire server for Windows, allowing Windows 10/11 users to host their own Crossfire game server without requiring Linux or a virtual machine.

What's Included

  • Crossfire server v1.75.0 (commit fe1fdb5)
  • Full archetype and map data
  • cfanim.dll — animation plugin
  • cfpython.dll — Python scripting plugin (CFBank, CFMail, CFShop, Guilds)
  • All required runtime DLLs (MinGW, Python 3.14, SQLite3)
  • start-server.bat launcher
  • Windows Firewall rule (TCP port 13327, added automatically)
  • Start Menu shortcut
  • Uninstaller

System Requirements

  • Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit)
  • 900 MB free disk space
  • Network access on TCP port 13327
  • Administrator privileges for installation

Installation Instructions

  1. Download CrossfireServer-git-fe1fdb5-Setup.exe
  2. Right-click the installer and select Run as Administrator
  3. Follow the on-screen prompts
  4. Launch the server from the Start Menu → Crossfire Server → Start Server
  5. Connect using the [Crossfire GTK client](https://crossfire.real-time.com/clients/) pointed at your server's IP on port 13327

Known Issues and Limitations

  • Python stdlib not bundled — PYTHONHOME and PYTHONPATH are set in start-server.bat pointing to the MSYS2 installation on the build machine. On machines without MSYS2 installed the Python plugins (CFBank, CFMail, CFShop) will fail to initialize. A future release will bundle the Python standard library.
  • Not tested on a clean machine — the installer has been tested on the build machine only. Missing dependencies may surface on other systems.
  • No Windows service support — the server runs in a console window and stops when the window is closed. Windows service installation is not yet implemented.
  • Unsigned installer — Windows SmartScreen may display a warning when running the installer. Click More info → Run anyway to proceed. The installer contains no malware.
  • Single instance only — running multiple server instances on the same machine is not supported.
  • accounts.tmp warning — on first client connection after server start you may see a harmless accounts: cannot rename warning in the server window. This does not affect gameplay.

Connecting to the Server

Use any Crossfire-compatible client. The recommended client is the GTK client available at:

Connect to your server's IP address on port 13327.

Player Data

Player accounts and characters are stored in:

C:\ProgramData\Crossfire Server\

This directory is not removed by the uninstaller, preserving all player data between upgrades.

Building From Source

This installer was built using the patches and tooling in this repository. See [docs/build-instructions.md](docs/build-instructions.md) for full build instructions.

License

The Crossfire server is licensed under [GPLv2](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html). All Windows-specific patches in this repository are likewise released under GPLv2. See [docs/gpl-compatibility.md](docs/gpl-compatibility.md) for a full compatibility analysis.

Credits

  • Crossfire Development Team — original server source code
  • Rick Tanner — Windows port, patches, and installer packaging
  • MSYS2 Project — MinGW-w64 toolchain and runtime libraries

Reporting Issues

Please open an issue at:
https://github.com/tannerrj/crossfire-windows/issues

Include the contents of the server window output and your Windows version when reporting bugs.

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