Why use Direct Zone Connect
Direct Zone Connect (DZC) is an independent DayZ and Arma 3 platform. The website lists public servers; DZC Launcher is the desktop app you install to browse, check Workshop mods, keep favourites, and launch through Steam.
Platform scope
DZC is built around both games sharing one catalogue and one launcher family.
- DayZ and Arma 3 servers on dzclauncher.com
- Dedicated launcher downloads per game, plus a Combined Windows build
- Arma 3 launcher packages for Windows, Linux x64, and macOS
- DayZ public launcher packages remain Windows x64
Launcher
DZC Launcher syncs approved catalogue data from the platform API and keeps a local copy for browse and search.
- Native Avalonia desktop UI
- Required Workshop mods shown on server pages and in the launcher
- Favourites and recent servers stored on your device
- Ping measured locally from your machine
- Structured launch fields converted through game-specific allowlists
- Website links via dayzplatform:// and arma3platform://
Website and API
The public site and API handle discovery, filtering, and approved launch metadata. Joining still runs through Steam and the installed launcher.
- Server search, filters, and detail pages on dzclauncher.com
- Explainable quality labels on listed servers
- Launch metadata validated before the launcher applies allowlisted arguments
Scope comparison
Differences in game and platform coverage — not a quality ranking. DZSA Launcher, LaunchZ, and Day(Z) Beans Launcher are established DayZ tools with their own strengths, including server search, favourites, and Workshop mod checks. Steam’s in-game browser covers both games through the Steam client.
| Capability | Steam in-game browser | DZSA Launcher | LaunchZ | Day(Z) Beans Launcher | DZC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DayZ community servers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Arma 3 community servers | Yes (in Steam UI) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Unified web catalogue (dzclauncher.com) | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Website open-in-launcher deep links | No | No | No | No | Yes (dayzplatform://, arma3platform://) |
| Dedicated per-game launcher installs | N/A | DayZ only | DayZ only | DayZ only | Yes |
| Arma 3 Linux / macOS launcher packages | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Combined DayZ + Arma 3 Windows launcher | N/A | No | No | No | Yes (incl. Microsoft Store) |
DZSA Launcher, LaunchZ, Day(Z) Beans Launcher, Steam, DayZ, and Arma 3 are independent products. Names and logos belong to their respective owners. Capabilities reflect publicly visible product scope and may change. This table does not describe launcher internals, performance, or which tool is “better” for DayZ.
Footprint
DZC is not the lightest DayZ launcher in our Windows RAM and disk test. See the Performance page for measured results if footprint matters to you.
DZC is an independent community project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bohemia Interactive or Valve Corporation.