How to Play the Verity Mod With Friends (Multiplayer Guide)

Quick answer: Yes — verity mod multiplayer works on both Java and Bedrock editions. On Java, every player installs the same Forge 1.20.1 profile with Verity JE v5.7.4 and GeckoLib, then joins either a LAN world or a dedicated Forge server that has the mod, its dependencies, and a Groq API key configured. On Bedrock, the host installs the Verity BE add-on on a shared world or Realm and every joining player downloads the resource pack automatically. This guide walks through all three Java hosting options and the full Bedrock setup, step by step.

Which Verity Edition Are You Playing?

Verity exists as two completely separate projects, and their multiplayer setups share almost nothing. Pick your edition before reading further — the steps below are split so you never mix them up.

	Verity JE (Java)	Verity BE (Bedrock)
Creator	VarmiteYT (official adaptation of ThatMob’s “Something” ARG series)	A different community creator
Runs on	Forge 1.20.1 (v5.7.4) / NeoForge 1.21.1	Bedrock 1.19.0 – 1.26.50 (add-on)
AI backend	Your own free Groq API key	Hosted AI server (no key needed)
Dependencies	GeckoLib	None (resource + behavior packs)
Multiplayer via	LAN, self-hosted or rented Forge server	Shared world invite or Realm

One rule applies to both editions: every player needs the same content installed. Verity is not a server-side-only plugin. If your friends join without the mod or the add-on, they will either be kicked or see nothing scary at all.

Minecraft 1.20.1 · Forge · v5.7.4 · Official download

Verity Mod Multiplayer on Java Edition

What every player needs first

Before anyone hosts anything, get every player on an identical setup. Mismatched versions are the number one cause of failed Verity multiplayer sessions.

1. Minecraft Java Edition 1.20.1 with Forge 47.4.10 installed. Launch the modded profile once so the mods folder is generated. (Unsure why Forge and not Fabric? Our Forge vs Fabric vs NeoForge guide explains which loader fits which mod.)
2. Verity JE v5.7.4 — the verity-5.7.4.jar from the button above, dropped into .minecraft/mods. The file is large (about 246 MB) because it bundles the AI voice systems, so give it time.
3. GeckoLib for Forge 1.20.1 in the same mods folder. Verity will crash without it.
4. A free Groq API key from console.groq.com, pasted into the mod’s config at Options > Mods > Verity JE > Config > AI Settings. Without a valid key, Verity spawns but stays silent — more on that in troubleshooting.
5. Java 17 (the runtime Minecraft 1.20.1 needs) and 4–6 GB of RAM allocated to the modded profile in your launcher.

If you’re starting from zero, follow our Java mod installation guide first, then come back here.

Hosting options compared

Option	Cost	World persists?	Setup effort	Best for
LAN world	Free	No — only while the host’s game is open	Minutes	One-evening scares on the same network
Self-hosted dedicated server	Free (your PC)	Yes — 24/7 while the machine runs	30–60 minutes	Regular groups who want a persistent horror world
Rented modded server	~$5–15/month	Yes — 24/7	10–20 minutes	Groups who don’t want to touch port forwarding

The verdict: for a horror mod, a persistent world matters more than usual. Verity’s whole scare is slow-burn — it learns about your builds and conversations over days. A LAN world resets that tension every session because the world only exists while the host plays. If your group will play more than twice, run a dedicated server (self-hosted or rented). LAN is only for a single-night test.

What about Minecraft Realms? Java Realms do not support mods at all — Forge mods cannot run there. Don’t waste time trying; you need one of the three options above.

Option 1: LAN world (quickest)

1. Every player launches the identical Forge 1.20.1 profile with Verity JE, GeckoLib, and their Groq key configured.
2. The host opens their singleplayer world, presses Esc, and clicks Open to LAN.
3. Set Game Mode: Survival and Allow Cheats: OFF (Verity’s horror works best in pure survival), then click Start LAN World. The chat shows the port, e.g. Local game hosted on port 61234.
4. Everyone else clicks Multiplayer on the title screen — the LAN world appears in the server list automatically on the same network. Join it.
5. Each player’s client uses their own Groq API key, so Verity can talk to everyone individually.

Gotcha: some routers block LAN discovery between wired and Wi-Fi devices. If the world doesn’t appear, have the joining player use Direct Connection with the host’s local IP and port, like 192.168.1.20:61234.

Option 2: Dedicated Forge server (best for regular groups)

This is the setup the mod is designed for: Verity JE runs on a dedicated Forge server as long as the server has GeckoLib, the Verity jar, and a Groq API key in its config.

1. Install the Forge server files. Download the Forge 1.20.1 installer (build 47.4.10) from the official Forge site, run it, select Install server, and point it at a new empty folder (e.g. C:\VerityServer).
2. Accept the EULA. Run the server jar (or run.bat/run.sh) once. It will stop and generate eula.txt — open it and change eula=false to eula=true.
3. Add the mods. Create a mods folder in the server directory and drop in the exact same files every client uses: verity-5.7.4.jar and the Forge 1.20.1 GeckoLib jar. Do not put client-only mods (shaders, minimaps) on the server.
4. Configure the Groq API key on the server. Start the server once so Verity generates its config in the server’s config folder, then stop it. Paste your Groq API key into the Verity config — the field mirrors the client-side AI Settings screen. If the server config doesn’t expose the key field, copy your working client config file from .minecraft/config into the server’s config folder. Use a dedicated key for the server rather than your personal one.
5. Give the server enough RAM. Edit the start script to allocate at least 4 GB, e.g. java -Xmx6G -jar forge-1.20.1-47.4.10.jar nogui. Start the server and watch the console for Done with no crash report.
6. Let friends in. On your router, forward port 25565 (TCP and UDP) to the host PC, and allow Java through the firewall. Friends connect via Multiplayer > Add Server using your public IP. Lock it down with whitelist on and whitelist add <playername> in the server console, and grant the host op <playername>.
7. Everyone joins with the identical client profile. Same Forge version, same Verity jar, same GeckoLib. The server will reject mismatched clients — that’s normal and desirable.

Option 3: Rented modded server (easiest persistent option)

If port forwarding sounds miserable, rent from any reputable Minecraft host:

1. Order a plan with at least 4 GB RAM and choose Forge 1.20.1 as the server type (most hosts offer one-click Forge installs).
2. Upload verity-5.7.4.jar and GeckoLib to the server’s mods folder via the host’s file manager or FTP.
3. Find the Verity config in the server’s config folder and paste in your Groq API key, then restart.
4. Share the host’s IP:port with your friends. No port forwarding, no PC left running overnight.

Keeping your group’s setup in sync

• Version lock everything. The moment one player updates Verity or GeckoLib and the others don’t, joins start failing. Agree on exact file versions in your group chat and update together.
• One Groq key per person, one for the server. Keys are free at console.groq.com. Don’t share your personal key in a public Discord — anyone with it burns through your free-tier rate limits.
• Keep a shared mod list. A simple text file listing each jar and version saves hours of “it worked for me” debugging. If you outgrow that, export a CurseForge profile and have everyone import the same .zip.
• Back up the world before big sessions. Horror mods alter saves in ways you can’t always undo. Copy the world folder before each play night.

Verity Mod Multiplayer on Bedrock Edition

Verity BE is a separate add-on (not the same code as Verity JE), and its AI runs on the creator’s hosted server instead of your own API key — so there’s no Groq setup at all. Multiplayer works through a shared world or a Realm, and joining players must accept the add-on’s resource pack when they connect.

1. Get the official Verity BE .mcaddon file from the add-on creator’s official download page. Avoid repack sites and “free Verity APK” pages — they bundle adware, not the add-on.
2. Import it. Open the .mcaddon file on your device and Minecraft will import it automatically.
3. Create the world with the packs active. Create a new world, then under Behavior Packs and Resource Packs activate the Verity packs. Under Experiments, enable Beta APIs, and turn Cheats on — the add-on requires both.
4. Run the add-on’s setup command in chat, exactly as shown on its download page. This initializes Verity in the world.
5. Open the world to friends. In world settings, go to Multiplayer and turn Multiplayer Game on, set visibility to Friends or Invite Only. Then invite your Xbox friends directly — or, for a persistent world, upload it to a Realm (Realms > Edit > Replace World) and make sure both packs are activated in the Realm’s settings too.
6. Joiners accept the resource pack prompt when connecting. If a friend declines it, Verity will be invisible or broken for them — they need to rejoin and accept.

Bedrock caveat worth knowing: add-ons can’t reach as deep into the game as Java mods, so Verity BE is a simpler experience than Verity JE — closer to a scripted stalker entity than a fully conversational AI. For the full psychological-horror version, Java is still the way to play. See our best Minecraft horror mods roundup for how the two compare.

Troubleshooting

Verity spawns on the server but never talks

The Groq API key is missing or invalid in the server’s Verity config — the client-side key doesn’t help a dedicated server. Stop the server, verify the key is pasted correctly in the server’s config folder (generate a fresh free key at console.groq.com if unsure), and restart. Check the server log for authentication errors mentioning Groq.

Friends get kicked: “mod mismatch” / “incompatible client”

Their mods folder differs from the server’s. Have everyone delete Verity and GeckoLib from their client mods folder and re-copy the exact files the server runs. Also confirm nobody is accidentally on a NeoForge profile while the server runs Forge — the loaders are not interchangeable.

Friends can’t connect: “connection timed out”

Almost always networking, not the mod. Check in order: the server console shows Done (it’s actually running), port 25565 is forwarded to the correct local IP of the host PC, the firewall allows Java, and friends are using your public IP — not a 192.168.x.x address, which only works inside your house. An online port checker will confirm whether 25565 is reachable from outside.

Server crashes on startup after adding Verity

Read the crash report’s Caused by lines. Nine times out of ten it’s a missing dependency (GeckoLib not in the server’s mods folder) or the wrong loader build of the mod. Verity JE v5.7.4 is a Forge 1.20.1 file — it will not load on a NeoForge or Fabric server.

Bedrock joiners see no Verity, or the pack won’t download

The host’s world or Realm is missing an active pack. Re-open world settings and confirm both the behavior pack and resource pack show as Active, and that Beta APIs is still enabled — game updates sometimes silently disable experiments. On a Realm, packs must be activated in the Realm’s own settings, not just on the local copy of the world.

Safety & download notes: Download Verity JE only from its official CurseForge page (linked above) and Verity BE only from the add-on creator’s official page. Never download from APK sites, repack blogs, or random mirrors — they frequently bundle malware. Never paste your Groq API key, passwords, or personal information into public chats or Discord servers. And remember that AI-driven mods send your in-game messages to external AI servers for processing, so keep real-world personal details out of your conversations with Verity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all players need the Verity mod installed to play multiplayer?

Yes. Verity JE must be installed on the server and on every player’s client, with matching versions. It is not a server-side-only mod — a player who joins without it will be kicked or will miss the entire horror experience.

Can I play Verity multiplayer on Minecraft Realms (Java)?

No. Java Realms do not support mods, so Verity JE can’t run there. Use a LAN world, a self-hosted Forge server, or a rented modded server. (Bedrock Realms do support add-ons, so Verity BE works on a Bedrock Realm.)

Does each player need their own Groq API key?

On a dedicated server, the server needs one key in its config for server-side AI. Each player’s client also uses their own key for client-side features. Keys are free at console.groq.com — generate one per person rather than sharing, so nobody burns through anyone else’s rate limits.

Does Verity JE work on Minecraft 26.x?

Not currently. The latest release (v5.7.4) targets Forge 1.20.1, with NeoForge 1.21.1 builds also published by the author. Don’t try to force it onto a 26.x loader — it will fail to load. Stick with 1.20.1 until the author publishes a newer port.

Can Java and Bedrock players play Verity together?

No. Java and Bedrock are separate games with no cross-play for modded content, and Verity JE and Verity BE are entirely different projects by different creators. Your whole group needs to be on the same edition.

How many players can join a Verity multiplayer world?

The mod doesn’t set a hard player cap. In practice, 4–6 players is the sweet spot: Verity’s slow-burn horror is designed around a small group, and a single free-tier Groq key has rate limits that a large crowd will exhaust quickly.