Your rules, browser players
Custom Quake 3 Servers for Browser Players
Q3JS is not limited to project-managed arenas. Community operators can run a dedicated server, choose its maps and rules, add the browser gateway, and publish it to the live server list.
Community server
My custom arena
arena.example.com:27961
Map
Q3DM17
Mode
FFA
Limit
20 frags
- Deployment
- Docker
- Browser link
- WebSocket
- Listing
- Community
A real dedicated server, web-ready
The Q3JS server package keeps native Quake III behavior and adds the pieces required for discovery and browser connections.
Game rules
Choose the arena
Set the hostname, map, game type, player capacity, frag limit, time limit, and the rest of the familiar server configuration.
Browser access
WebSocket gateway
The packaged gateway makes the UDP-based game server reachable to a browser through ws:// or a correctly configured wss:// endpoint.
Discovery
Community listing
Public servers can register with the Q3JS master. Reachable arenas appear with live maps, modes, player counts, and ping.
Variants
Compatible mods
The runtime supports separate game directories and mods; browser clients also need access to the matching published PK3 assets.
From Docker to the list
The full guide includes copyable commands, network requirements, health checks, and troubleshooting.
- 01
Provide legal game data
Mount the required baseq3 PK3 files into the versioned Q3JS server container without publishing them in the image.
- 02
Publish both protocols
Expose UDP 27960 for the game server and TCP 27961 for the browser-facing WebSocket gateway.
- 03
Register and verify
Send heartbeats to the Q3JS master, confirm the public endpoint is reachable, and find the server in the browser.
Questions
Can I run my own Q3JS server?
Yes. Q3JS provides a Docker image that packages the dedicated Quake III server and the WebSocket gateway required by browser players.
Can a community server appear in the Q3JS server browser?
Yes. A publicly reachable server can send an anonymous heartbeat to the Q3JS master and be listed as a community server without a private project credential.
What can a custom server operator configure?
Operators can configure the server name, map, game type, player capacity, frag limit, time limit, networking, and compatible game or mod data.
Build your own arena
Follow the operator guide from local health check to a persistent public server listed for Q3JS players.