Which setting fixes the first-wave crash on modded servers?

Set MaxObjectsNotConsideredByGC in KFEngine.ini to 33476 instead of the default value, which is around 179220.

Why must KFEngine.ini be read-only?

Without it the value reverts after about one session and the crashes return.

Will this stop all crashes?

No. It targets the crash when the first wave starts on certain modded servers and should only improve stability in general.

Fixes & Performance

KF2 Modded Server Crash Fix: MaxObjectsNotConsideredByGC

A small change in one config file can prevent Killing Floor 2 from crashing when the first wave starts on some modded servers. The author of this fix notes that it will not cure every crash, since hosting the game has always been rough, but it helps with this particular case.

Steps

Open Documents/My Games/KillingFloor2/KFGame/Config and open KFEngine.ini.
Press Ctrl+F and search for MaxObjectsNotConsideredByGC.
The value is probably 179220 or something close. Change it to 33476.
Save the file.
Right-click KFEngine.ini in the folder, open Properties, tick Read-only and apply.
Restart the game and rejoin the server where you had crashes.

The read-only step matters. If you skip it, the game rewrites the value after maybe one session and the crashes come back.

Notes

This does not remove every crash, only the one at the start of the first wave on certain modded servers.
If you host a server yourself, see dedicated server setup and server FPS and ini tweaks.
For general startup problems see the startup crash troubleshooting guide.

FAQ

Which setting fixes the first-wave crash on modded servers?: Set MaxObjectsNotConsideredByGC in KFEngine.ini to 33476 instead of the default value, which is around 179220.
Why must KFEngine.ini be read-only?: Without it the value reverts after about one session and the crashes return.
Will this stop all crashes?: No. It targets the crash when the first wave starts on certain modded servers and should only improve stability in general.