cfggameplay.json

Purpose

cfggameplay.json is the primary gameplay rules file. It controls a wide range of player behavior settings — stamina, shock recovery, movement, drowning, base building placement rules, UI elements, map behavior, and vehicle decay. Unlike XML economy files, this is a JSON file and must follow valid JSON syntax.

This file only takes effect when enableCfgGameplayFile is set to 1 (enabled) in your Nitrado server settings.

Console Path 

dayzxb_missions/dayzOffline.<mapname>/cfggameplay.json    (Xbox)
dayzps_missions/dayzOffline.<mapname>/cfggameplay.json    (PlayStation)

Prerequisite: In Nitrado settings, enableCfgGameplayFile must be enabled (set to 1 / true). If this is off, the file is completely ignored.

Full Block Structure 

{
  "version": 123,
  "GeneralData": {
    "disableBaseDamage": false,
    "disableContainerDamage": false,
    "disableRespawnDialog": false,
    "disableRespawnInUnconsciousness": false
  },
  "PlayerData": {
    "disablePersonalLight": false,
    "StaminaData": {
      "sprintStaminaModifierErc": 1.0,
      "sprintStaminaModifierCro": 1.0,
      "staminaWeightLimitThreshold": 6000.0,
      "staminaMax": 100.0,
      "staminaKgToStaminaPercentPenalty": 1.75,
      "staminaMinCap": 5.0,
      "sprintSwimmingStaminaModifier": 1.0,
      "sprintLadderStaminaModifier": 1.0,
      "meleeStaminaModifier": 1.0,
      "obstacleTraversalStaminaModifier": 1.0,
      "holdBreathStaminaModifier": 1.0
    },
    "ShockHandlingData": {
      "shockRefillSpeedConscious": 5.0,
      "shockRefillSpeedUnconscious": 1.0,
      "allowRefillSpeedModifier": true
    },
    "MovementData": {
      "timeToStrafeJog": 0.1,
      "rotationSpeedJog": 0.3,
      "timeToSprint": 0.45,
      "timeToStrafeSprint": 0.3,
      "rotationSpeedSprint": 0.15,
      "allowStaminaAffectInertia": true
    },
    "DrowningData": {
      "staminaDepletionSpeed": 10.0,
      "healthDepletionSpeed": 10.0,
      "shockDepletionSpeed": 10.0
    },
    "WeaponObstructionData": {
      "staticMode": 1,
      "dynamicMode": 1
    },
    "spawnGearPresetFiles": []
  },
  "WorldsData": {
    "lightingConfig": 0,
    "objectSpawnersArr": [],
    "environmentMinTemps": [-3,-2,0,4,9,14,18,17,13,11,9,0],
    "environmentMaxTemps": [3,5,7,14,19,24,26,25,18,14,10,5],
    "wetnessWeightModifiers": [1.0, 1.0, 1.33, 1.66, 2.0],
    "playerRestrictedAreaFiles": []
  },
  "BaseBuildingData": {
    "HologramData": {
      "disableIsCollidingBBoxCheck": false,
      "disableIsCollidingPlayerCheck": false,
      "disableIsClippingRoofCheck": false,
      "disableIsBaseViableCheck": false,
      "disableIsCollidingGPlotCheck": false,
      "disableIsCollidingAngleCheck": false,
      "disableIsPlacementPermittedCheck": false,
      "disableHeightPlacementCheck": false,
      "disableIsUnderwaterCheck": false,
      "disableIsInTerrainCheck": false,
      "disableColdAreaPlacementCheck": false,
      "disableColdAreaBuildingCheck": false,
      "disallowedTypesInUnderground": ["FenceKit","TerritoryFlagKit","WatchtowerKit"]
    },
    "ConstructionData": {
      "disablePerformRoofCheck": false,
      "disableIsCollidingCheck": false,
      "disableDistanceCheck": false
    }
  },
  "UIData": {
    "use3DMap": false,
    "HitIndicationData": {
      "hitDirectionOverrideEnabled": false,
      "hitDirectionBehaviour": 1,
      "hitDirectionStyle": 0,
      "hitDirectionIndicatorColorStr": "0xffbb0a1e",
      "hitDirectionMaxDuration": 2.0,
      "hitDirectionBreakPointRelative": 0.2,
      "hitDirectionScatter": 10.0,
      "hitIndicationPostProcessEnabled": true
    }
  },
  "MapData": {
    "ignoreMapOwnership": false,
    "ignoreNavItemsOwnership": false,
    "displayPlayerPosition": false,
    "displayNavInfo": true
  },
  "VehicleData": {
    "boatDecayMultiplier": 1.0
  }
}

Section-by-Section Reference

version

Type: Integer
Internal version marker. The vanilla value is 123. Do not change this — the engine uses it to track file compatibility.

GeneralData

disableBaseDamage

Type: Boolean (true/false) or integer (0/1)
Disables damage dealt to base-building structures from the environment and decay.

  • false — bases take decay damage normally
  • true — base structures do not decay from environmental damage

Popular on console: true — players build once and don’t have to repair constantly.

disableContainerDamage

Type: Boolean
Disables damage to containers like tents, barrels, and storage items.

  • true — tents and barrels do not degrade

disableRespawnDialog

Type: Boolean
Disables the UI prompt that asks players to choose their respawn type after pressing the respawn button.

  • true — removes the dialog, player respawns immediately via the configured spawn method

disableRespawnInUnconsciousness

Type: Boolean
Prevents players from using the respawn button while unconscious.

  • false (default) — players can respawn while unconscious
  • true — players must wait out the unconscious state or die naturally

PlayerData

disablePersonalLight

Type: Boolean
Disables the ambient personal light that illuminates objects near the player at night.

  • false — subtle light exists around player at night
  • true — pure darkness at night, significantly harder without a light source

StaminaData

All stamina values must be ≥ 0.

Field What it controls Default
sprintStaminaModifierErc Rate of stamina consumed during upright sprinting. Higher = more drain. 1.0
sprintStaminaModifierCro Rate of stamina consumed during crouched sprinting 1.0
staminaMax Maximum stamina pool size 100.0
staminaMinCap Minimum stamina cap — even heavily encumbered players retain at least this much 5.0
staminaWeightLimitThreshold Weight (in grams) below which no stamina penalty applies 6000.0
staminaKgToStaminaPercentPenalty How much each kg of overweight reduces max stamina (%) 1.75
sprintSwimmingStaminaModifier Stamina drain rate during fast swimming 1.0
sprintLadderStaminaModifier Stamina drain rate during fast ladder climbing 1.0
meleeStaminaModifier Stamina consumed per heavy melee attack 1.0
obstacleTraversalStaminaModifier Stamina consumed during jumps, vaults, and climbs 1.0
holdBreathStaminaModifier Stamina drain rate when holding breath (scoped shooting) 1.0

To reduce stamina impact: Lower the modifier values below 1.0. Values above 1.0 increase drain.

ShockHandlingData

Field What it controls Default
shockRefillSpeedConscious Shock recovery rate per second while conscious 5.0
shockRefillSpeedUnconscious Shock recovery rate per second while unconscious 1.0
allowRefillSpeedModifier Allow ammo type to affect shock recovery speed true

Higher shockRefillSpeedConscious means players wake up from unconsciousness faster.

MovementData

Field What it controls Minimum
timeToStrafeJog Blend time for diagonal jog movement (seconds) 0.01
rotationSpeedJog Character rotation speed while jogging 0.01
timeToSprint Time to reach full sprint from jog (seconds) 0.01
timeToStrafeSprint Blend time for diagonal sprint movement (seconds) 0.01
rotationSpeedSprint Character rotation speed while sprinting 0.01
allowStaminaAffectInertia Stamina level affects movement inertia —

DrowningData

How fast each stat depletes per second while a player is underwater without air.

Field Observed value
staminaDepletionSpeed 10.0
healthDepletionSpeed 10.0
shockDepletionSpeed 10.0

These match the full example block above (all three at 10.0) — treat this as the observed snapshot value, not a universal engine default, and confirm against your own cfggameplay.json. Higher values = faster drowning death.

WeaponObstructionData

Controls whether weapons visually lower/reposition when near walls or geometry.

Value Behavior
0 Disabled — weapon stays in raised position regardless
1 Enabled — weapon lowers near obstacles
2 Always — weapon always in lowered state

staticMode applies to stationary obstructions. dynamicMode applies to moving obstructions.

spawnGearPresetFiles

Type: Array of strings
List of JSON file paths (relative to mission root) pointing to player spawn gear loadout files. When populated, players spawn with the defined gear.

"spawnGearPresetFiles": ["custom/starter_kit.json"]

Leave as empty array [] for default (naked) spawns.

WorldsData

lightingConfig

Type: Integer
Controls night-time lighting mode.

Value Effect
0 Bright nights — vanilla default
1 Dark nights — standard darkness
2 Sakhal mode — used for the snow map’s specific lighting

objectSpawnersArr

Type: Array of strings
File paths to object spawner JSON files that place persistent static objects on the map (vehicles, static items, etc.).

"objectSpawnersArr": ["custom/spawn_vehicles.json"]

environmentMinTemps and environmentMaxTemps

Type: Array of 12 numbers (exactly)
Monthly temperature ranges in Celsius. Each position is a month (January through December).

"environmentMinTemps": [-10,-8,-4,2,8,14,16,14,10,4,-2,-8],
"environmentMaxTemps": [2,4,8,16,22,26,28,26,22,14,6,2]

Must have exactly 12 values. Affects player warmth/cold gameplay.

wetnessWeightModifiers

Type: Array of exactly 5 numbers
Weight multipliers for items at each wetness level: [DRY, DAMP, WET, SOAKED, DRENCHED]

BaseBuildingData

HologramData — Placement Check Disablers

Each field disables a specific placement validation check. All default to false (checks enabled).

Field What disabling it allows
disableIsCollidingBBoxCheck Place when colliding with world objects
disableIsCollidingPlayerCheck Place when touching another player
disableIsClippingRoofCheck Place when clipping roof geometry
disableIsBaseViableCheck Place on dynamic objects and incompatible bases
disableIsCollidingGPlotCheck Place garden plots on incompatible surfaces
disableIsCollidingAngleCheck Place despite exceeding angle limits
disableIsPlacementPermittedCheck Bypass basic placement permission checks
disableHeightPlacementCheck Place with limited height clearance
disableIsUnderwaterCheck Place underwater
disableIsInTerrainCheck Place when clipping terrain
disableColdAreaPlacementCheck Place garden plots on frozen ground
disableColdAreaBuildingCheck Build in frozen area conditions

Console common use: Some servers enable disableIsCollidingAngleCheck and disableIsCollidingBBoxCheck to make base building easier on uneven terrain.

disallowedTypesInUnderground

Type: Array of classname strings
Item types that cannot be built in underground areas.

Default: ["FenceKit","TerritoryFlagKit","WatchtowerKit"]

ConstructionData

Field What disabling it allows
disablePerformRoofCheck Construct when clipping the roof
disableIsCollidingCheck Construct when colliding with world objects
disableDistanceCheck Remove minimum player distance requirement

UIData

use3DMap

Type: Boolean
Enables the 3D map and disables the default 2D overlay map. Rarely used.

HitIndicationData

Controls the hit direction indicator (the UI element showing what direction damage came from).

Field What it controls
hitDirectionOverrideEnabled Whether any of this block takes effect
hitDirectionBehaviour 0=disabled, 1=static indicator, 2=dynamic moving indicator
hitDirectionStyle 0=splash, 1=spike, 2=arrow
hitDirectionIndicatorColorStr Color in ARGB hex format (0xAARRGGBB)
hitDirectionMaxDuration How long the indicator shows (seconds)
hitDirectionBreakPointRelative Fraction of duration before fading starts (0.0–1.0)
hitDirectionScatter Angular inaccuracy added to direction (degrees)
hitIndicationPostProcessEnabled Enable/disable the red screen flash on hit

MapData

Field What it controls
ignoreMapOwnership Allow map to be opened without having a map item in inventory
ignoreNavItemsOwnership Show compass/GPS helpers on map without owning those items
displayPlayerPosition Show player’s position marker on map
displayNavInfo Show GPS/compass UI legend on the map screen

Popular console settings: ignoreMapOwnership: true, displayPlayerPosition: true — makes navigation much friendlier for console players.

VehicleData

boatDecayMultiplier

Type: Number
Multiplies the speed at which boats decay.

  • 1.0 — normal decay rate
  • 0.0 — boats don’t decay
  • 2.0 — boats decay twice as fast

Confidence Note

This page describes the field shape and observed behavior for cfggameplay.json. It has not been independently matched against native binary parsers the way the db/ economy files have — treat field behavior here as locally observed (L), not binary-confirmed (B), unless stated otherwise. spawnGearPresetFiles, playerRestrictedAreaFiles, and disableColdAreaPlacementCheck are documented from the schema shape; their downstream runtime effects are not independently verified.

JSON Syntax Rules

This file is JSON, not XML. Different rules apply:

  • No trailing commas after the last item in an object or array
  • Strings in double quotes only
  • true/false lowercase (not True or 1 unless the schema accepts integers)
  • Arrays use [], objects use {}
  • Comments are not supported in JSON — remove any // or /* */ style comments

A single syntax error will cause the entire file to be ignored with no warning in game.

What Console Admins Typically Adjust

  1. disableBaseDamage: true — stop base decay
  2. disableContainerDamage: true — protect tents and barrels
  3. ignoreMapOwnership: true — quality-of-life for console players
  4. displayPlayerPosition: true — show player dot on map
  5. disablePersonalLight: true — hardcore night experience
  6. StaminaData modifiers — reduce stamina drain for more casual gameplay
  7. lightingConfig — change night brightness
  8. spawnGearPresetFiles — add starter kits

Common Mistakes

Mistake Result
enableCfgGameplayFile not enabled in Nitrado settings File is completely ignored
JSON syntax error (trailing comma, missing brace) Entire file ignored, no error shown in game
environmentMinTemps or environmentMaxTemps not exactly 12 values File validation error
wetnessWeightModifiers not exactly 5 values File validation error
Setting stamina modifier to 0 Stamina cost becomes zero — no stamina drain ever

DayZ Console Server Configuration Reference — Xbox & PlayStation

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