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What is BeamMP?
BeamMP is a free multiplayer mod for BeamNG.drive, the soft-body physics driving sandbox. It lets you drive, race, crash and roleplay with other players in the same world, using a standalone launcher that handles installation and connection for you. In practice, it turns a single-player physics playground into a shared one.
It is aimed at two broad groups:
- Players who want company: casual cruising, competitive racing, roleplay communities, demolition derbies and freeroam. The site advertises a large pool of public servers and thousands of concurrent players, so finding an active session is usually not the hard part — choosing a playstyle is.
- Developers and server owners who want to build their own experiences. BeamMP offers a Lua scripting API for custom game modes and server-side mods, plus documentation and an open-source codebase on GitHub. Server software builds are published for Windows and for common Linux distributions.
A few practical trade-offs worth knowing before you start:
| If you want… | BeamMP is a good fit | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-in multiplayer | Standalone client manages setup | You still need a legitimate copy of BeamNG.drive |
| A specific playstyle | Hundreds of servers across modes | Public server quality and moderation vary by community |
| Custom content | Lua API and docs | Scripting and hosting require real technical effort |
| Self-hosting | Windows and Linux server builds | You maintain uptime, updates and moderation yourself |
Next step: if you just want to play, install the client and browse the server list, filtering by game mode first and ping second — a roleplay server and a derby server attract very different crowds. If you want to run your own, read the documentation and start with a small private server before opening it publicly. The project is also supported through Patreon, and community help is available via its forum and Discord.
How do I install BeamMP for BeamNG.drive?
BeamMP installs in two parts: the client that connects you to multiplayer, and the BeamNG.drive game it depends on. The website describes a standalone launcher that "manages everything for you — just install and play," which means you don't manually patch game files.
Basic install flow
- Install BeamNG.drive first. BeamMP is built specifically for it and requires the game — it won't run as a standalone game.
- Download the BeamMP client from BeamMP Website using the "Download Now" option.
- Run the installer and let it complete. On Windows, the launcher handles the setup; the site also lists Linux builds (Debian and Ubuntu, x86_64 and arm64).
- Launch through the BeamMP client, not the plain BeamNG.drive shortcut, so the multiplayer layer loads.
- Pick a server from the in-client server browser or the site's "Browse Servers" list, then connect.
If something goes wrong
- If the client can't find your game, confirm BeamNG.drive is installed normally (not moved or on a disconnected drive) and point the launcher at it.
- If you see no servers or can't connect, check your firewall and whether the server you chose is still active.
- On Linux, match your distribution and architecture to the correct build before installing.
Choosing between playing and hosting
| Goal | What you need |
|---|---|
| Join existing servers | Client install only; browse public servers |
| Run your own server | Server software (Windows or Linux) or a hosting partner; Lua scripting and the docs help with custom modes |
Practical next step
Before installing, decide whether you want to play or host. If you only want to drive with others, install the client and start with a freeroam server — it's the most forgiving way to test your connection and performance. If you want custom game modes or moderation control, read the developer documentation and server setup guides first, since that path involves more configuration than the one-click client.
What are the different multiplayer game modes available in BeamMP?
BeamMP does not enforce a fixed list of game modes. It is a multiplayer mod for BeamNG.drive, so the modes you see come from the servers people run. The official site groups them into four broad categories.
The four categories BeamMP highlights
- Racing — high-speed races on custom tracks, often with competitive leaderboards.
- Roleplay — realistic scenarios run by dedicated communities, with their own rules and economies.
- Crash & Derby — demolition derby events for players who want destruction.
- Freeroam — relaxed map exploration with friends, no fixed objective.
Beyond these, the site notes "custom game modes" and active moderation as things to look for when browsing. Because server owners can script their own rules with the Lua API, expect hybrids too — a freeroam server with impromptu races, for example.
How to choose
Pick by what you want from a session rather than by label:
| If you want… | Start with | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Structured competition | Racing servers | Track/mod requirements, schedule times |
| Persistent character and rules | Roleplay servers | Applications, whitelists, strict conduct rules |
| Short, chaotic fun | Crash & Derby | Event times; may be crowded |
| Low-pressure driving | Freeroam | Little direction if you like goals |
A practical first step: install the standalone client, open the server browser, and filter by the mode you want. Join a freeroam server first to check your ping and settings before committing to a roleplay community that expects regular attendance. If nothing fits, the developer tools let you host your own ruleset — see BeamMP for the server list and documentation.
How can I host my own BeamMP server?
Host your own BeamMP server by downloading the server software for Windows or Linux and running it, then sharing the address with players. The site presents self-hosting as an alternative to using hosting partners, so you can start on your own machine and move to a dedicated box later.
The download options on the site are split by platform:
- Windows builds
- Linux builds for x86_64 and arm64, covering Debian 11/12 and Ubuntu 22.04/24.04
That means a spare Windows PC, a Debian/Ubuntu VPS, or an ARM machine such as a Raspberry Pi-class device are all plausible starting points.
What to expect once it's running
BeamMP is a multiplayer mod for BeamNG.drive, so your server depends on the base game's soft-body physics. The site highlights stable server performance, real-time synchronization for players worldwide, and a standalone client that handles installation for players. For hosting, the practical implications are:
- CPU matters more than graphics. Physics sync and player counts drive load; the server itself doesn't render.
- Network latency shapes the experience. The site mentions a global server network for better connections, which is a hint that hosting near your players beats hosting near yourself.
- Game mode choice changes requirements. Racing, roleplay, crash derby and freeroam servers attract different player counts and moderation needs.
If you want custom content
The developer section points to a Lua scripting API for custom game modes and server-side mods, plus documentation and an open-source codebase. If you plan to build something beyond a stock server, budget time for the docs before renting hardware — a small test server locally is enough to learn the API.
A sensible first run
- Pick the build matching your OS and architecture.
- Run the server locally and connect from your own BeamNG.drive install to confirm it works.
- Invite one or two people to test latency and sync before opening it publicly.
- Decide between self-hosting and a hosting partner based on whether you want to manage updates, uptime and moderation yourself.
For the actual files, guides and API references, go to BeamMP and follow the download and docs links. If you'd rather not run the infrastructure, the same page lists trusted hosting partners as the alternative path.
What Lua scripting capabilities does BeamMP offer for custom mods?
BeamMP’s Lua scripting support is aimed at server-side customization rather than client-side game modding. According to the site’s developer section, you can use its Lua API to “create custom game modes and server-side mods.” In practice, that means a server operator or developer can define rules, events and gameplay logic that run on the server and are synchronized to connected players.
What you can build
- Custom game modes: racing formats, roleplay rulesets or derby-style events with your own conditions and scoring.
- Server-side mods: logic that manages sessions, player state or round flow without requiring every player to install a separate client mod.
- Community-specific behavior: tailored rules and automation for freeroam, roleplay or competitive servers.
H3. What the site does not specify The page promotes a “powerful Lua API” and links to documentation, but it does not list individual functions, events, hooks or limitations. For exact capabilities, the API reference is the authoritative place to check.
H3. Practical next step If you are evaluating BeamMP for a custom server, start with the official documentation and GitHub repository to confirm which hooks exist and how server-side Lua interacts with BeamNG.drive. The project’s own pages are BeamMP Website, and its codebase is on GitHub. For broader BeamNG.drive modding questions, the game’s official site is BeamNG.drive.
A useful decision criterion: choose BeamMP’s Lua API when your idea is primarily server-authoritative and shared by all players. If your mod needs deep client-side UI or vehicle changes, verify in the docs whether BeamMP exposes the necessary hooks before committing.
How do I find and join a BeamMP server?
Open BeamMP's server browser and pick a server that matches how you want to play, then launch the game through the BeamMP client. The site groups public servers by play style — racing, roleplay, crash and derby, and freeroam — so you can filter by mood rather than guessing from server names.
Steps to join
- Install the BeamMP client (Windows or Linux) and make sure BeamNG.drive is installed, since BeamMP runs on top of it.
- Open the server list from the site or the client and browse the public servers.
- Check the game mode, map and current player count before joining — a full racing server plays very differently from a relaxed freeroam one.
- Connect through the client; it handles the launch and mod syncing for you.
- If a server asks for a password or has rules, read them before joining so you don't get kicked.
Choosing between server types
| Server type | Good for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Racing | Competitive laps, custom tracks, leaderboards | Expect stricter rules and cleaner driving |
| Roleplay | Immersive scenarios with dedicated communities | Often requires more setup or voice/text etiquette |
| Crash & Derby | Demolition events and chaos | Less about driving skill, more about survival |
| Freeroam | Exploring maps with friends at your own pace | Can feel aimless if you want structure |
Public servers are the fastest route in, but they vary in moderation and lag. If you want consistent rules, a specific map rotation or a private group, hosting your own server is the better long-term option — BeamMP provides server builds for Windows and several Linux distributions, plus Lua scripting and documentation for custom game modes.
For a first session, start with a freeroam or racing server near your region, since the site notes a global server network for better connections. If you enjoy it and want control, move on to the developer docs and set up your own server.
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