Technical Changes and Performance Enhancements to Our RS2 Servers

[MadMax]

Some of you may know I make extensive changes to how our RS2V servers run, so I will share those in hopes it might help other server ops.

These changes only work with the server-side, do not make these changes to your client as the anti-cheat will not like that.

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Steam .dll files

The shipped steam DLL files are currently from 2019, in fact the actual steam API file that handles steam auth, workshop and a ton of other things is version 5.69. What I did to fix this was working from the current version backwards found the API that was last to work which was a 2023 version 8.2.21.95

Shipped versions: 2019 (v5.69)
New version installed: 2023 (v8.2.21.95)

Files we replaced from a mix of the steam client and steam API package:

• steam_api64.dll / steamclient64.dll
• tier0_s64.dll
• VkLayer_steam_fossilize.dll
• VkLayer_steam_fossilize64.dll
• vstdlib_s64.dll

Benefits you should notice:

• Improved reliability when joining games (fewer auth failures)
• More consistent workshop content downloads & map mod loading
• Better TLS/validation compatibility on modern Windows versions
• Fewer crash/timeout issues related to Steam calls
• Smoother anti-cheat / VAC integration

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Epic / EOS backend .dll

File name: EOSSDK-Win64-Shipping.dll
Shipped versions: 1.16.4 shipped with RS2V
New version installed: 1.18.0.4 from the Epic SDK

This helps us with: connection/auth stability, better token/refresh handling, saner timeouts/retries, cleaner P2P/relay behaviour, improved TLS/HTTP stack, and lots of bug/crash fixes within the EOS system.

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tbbmalloc.dll (server memory handling)

tbbmalloc.dll is the memory allocator library that manages how the engine allocates and frees memory for gameplay objects, networking buffers, and replication data.
Upgrading it can reduce CPU contention and frame hitches, which in turn helps keep tick times stable and lowers perceived in-game ping spikes for players during heavy load.

Modern memory allocator: The server now uses Intel oneTBB (June 30 2025 release) instead of the original 2009 allocator that shipped with the game.
Better multi-core performance: oneTBB handles memory far more efficiently on modern CPUs, reducing internal stalls under heavy load.
Smoother network performance: Less allocator contention means more consistent server tick times, which translates to lower and more stable in-game ping during peak activity.
Improved player experience: Expect fewer micro-hitches when players join, vehicles spawn, or maps change — moments that previously could cause short lag spikes.
Stability improvements: The newer allocator fixes old memory handling quirks, helping the server run more reliably over long sessions.

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Server switches used:

-DEDICATED -USEALLAVAILABLECORES -UNATTENDED -SEEKFREELOADINGSERVER -NOINNEREXCEPTION -NOPAUSE