FiveM Steam Authentication Update: What Server Owners Need to Do

With the recent update published by Cfx.re, the Steam authentication flow on FiveM and RedM platforms has changed. This change requires server owners to modify their configuration files and directly affects the login process on the client side for players.

To prevent service disruptions on server infrastructures that rely on Steam identifiers (Steam IDs), the FXServer version must be updated and new configuration commands must be added to the system.

Changes in the FiveM Steam Authentication Flow

According to the official announcement published, the Steam authentication architecture used on FiveM and RedM platforms has transitioned to a new flow. The steam_webApiKey parameter, which was widely used in the previous structure, has been deprecated.

In the new flow, a prompt appears on the client screen for players trying to connect to servers that require Steam authentication. Players are asked to link their Steam accounts with their FiveM or RedM accounts in order to join the server. After players complete the account linking process by following the on-screen instructions, they can access the server.

On the server side, instead of the authentication method based on the old API key structure, the new authentication parameters must be applied to the server.cfg file.

Technical Steps Server Owners Must Take

To ensure servers requiring Steam authentication continue to run smoothly, two main technical steps must be taken:

• Upgrading FXServer Artifact Version: All servers that continue to use Steam IDs must update their FXServer artifact versions to 38004 or higher. Versions below 38004 may experience authentication errors and player disconnects.
• Adding the New Authentication Command: Administrators who want to enforce Steam authentication on their server must add set sv_enforceSteamAuth true to their server.cfg file.
• Removing Old Parameters: Removing the deprecated steam_webApiKey line from configuration files is recommended to prevent conflicts.

It is important to adhere to basic setup principles while configuring server infrastructure settings. For detailed information on this topic, you can review our FiveM server setup guide.

Changes on the Player Side and User Experience

The new authentication flow brings a minor change to how players join the server. If the set sv_enforceSteamAuth true command is active on your server, an automatic check is performed by the platform when a player joins.

If the player's Steam account is not already linked to their FiveM/RedM account, a prompt to link the account appears on the screen. Once the player links their account by following the instructions, they can connect to the server. Server administrators informing players about this process through community announcement channels will reduce support requests.

Server Update and Migration Checklist

You can follow the step-by-step checklist below to apply the update to your server without issues:

• Creating a Backup: Create a backup of configuration files (server.cfg) and the server database.
• Artifact Update: Download version 38004 or higher from the FXServer artifact list for your Linux or Windows server and replace your server files.
• Editing server.cfg: Remove or comment out the steam_webApiKey line inside the file.
• Adding the Command: Add set sv_enforceSteamAuth true to an appropriate line in the server.cfg file.
• Restarting and Testing: Start the server and log in with a test account to verify that the Steam account linking screen and player data load without issues.

F-Development, a Turkey-based software studio working with over 800 game servers since 2019, provides technical consulting for architectural changes like this occurring in game server infrastructures. To protect your server performance and infrastructure, you can review our game server infrastructure services.

What to Consider Regarding Script and Database Compatibility

Many FiveM scripts rely on identifiers starting with steam: when saving player data to the database. Successfully completing the player's Steam authentication under the new method is critical for correctly retrieving database records such as inventory, character data, and licenses.

If the sv_enforceSteamAuth setting is left as false on your system or if the FXServer version is not updated, Steam ID information may not be transmitted to the server. This can lead to players being unable to access their database data or spawning into the server with a blank character. Therefore, you should check how your scripts query player identifiers and not delay the FXServer update. For custom script development or adaptation needs, check out our FiveM script development page.

Common Mistakes and What to Avoid

Some common mistakes server owners make during the update process include:

• Skipping FXServer Updates: Adding only the new command to the server.cfg file without upgrading the FXServer artifact version to 38004. This can render authentication dysfunctional.
• Insisting on Old Parameters: Continuing to use the steam_webApiKey parameter, causing the system to throw errors.
• Operating Without Backups: Failing to back up existing configuration and server files when making artifact changes in the server infrastructure.
• Not Informing Players: Not informing the community about the Steam account linking prompt on the login screen, causing login issues.

A properly configured server infrastructure is minimally affected by platform updates. To get technical support regarding current FXServer configurations and infrastructure management for your server, you can contact the F-Development team via our contact page.