# Changing Game Mode on Your Subnautica Nitrox Server (/docs/subnautica/game-mode)



import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

Subnautica's four game modes change which survival mechanics are active. Nitrox supports all four. You can change the mode from the panel or live in-game as an admin.

The Four Modes [#the-four-modes]

| Mode         | Hunger / Thirst | Death                          | Resources |
| ------------ | --------------- | ------------------------------ | --------- |
| **Survival** | Yes             | Respawn                        | Gathered  |
| **Freedom**  | No              | Respawn                        | Gathered  |
| **Hardcore** | Yes             | Permadeath, kicked from server | Gathered  |
| **Creative** | No              | No damage                      | Unlimited |

`Survival` is the default. Pick the mode that matches what your group wants -- it's hard to switch from Hardcore back to Survival without it feeling like a cheat, so commit at the start.

Change via Panel [#change-via-panel]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Stop your server [#stop-your-server]

    In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), click `Stop`.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Edit the save config [#edit-the-save-config]

    Open `File Manager` and navigate to:

    ```
    .config/Nitrox/saves/My World/server.cfg
    ```

    Find `GameMode` and set it to one of `Survival`, `Freedom`, `Hardcore`, or `Creative`:

    ```
    GameMode=Freedom
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Start your server [#start-your-server]

    The new mode applies on boot.
  </Step>
</Steps>

> 📝 **Note:** The **Startup** tab may also expose game mode as a variable. Either entry point works -- the save config is the source of truth at runtime.

Change Live In-Game [#change-live-in-game]

If you're logged in as admin (`/login <AdminPassword>`), you can switch mode without restarting:

```
/gamemode creative
/gamemode survival
```

This applies to the running session. The change is also written to the save config, so it persists through restarts.

Hardcore Notes [#hardcore-notes]

In Hardcore, dying kicks the player from the server permanently for that save. There's no way to "undo" a death. If a player dies and you want to bring them back, you'd need to restore from a [backup](/docs/subnautica/backup-restore) taken before the death -- which rolls **everyone** back. Run Hardcore only with a group that's aligned on the stakes.

Related [#related]

* [Configure Your Server](/docs/subnautica/configure-your-server) -- full settings reference
* [Admin Commands](/docs/subnautica/admin-commands) -- in-game `/gamemode` and other commands