Dune: Awakening Offers Rentable Private Servers

Private servers are coming to Dune: Awakening, but they will include some "concessions" to preserve the game's essential large-scale multiplayer features.

This news was confirmed by developer Funcom in a recent update posted to the Steam store page. "Rentable private servers" will be available immediately when the game launches for "head start" (early access) players on Thursday, June 5.

"While we initially stated private servers were a post-launch feature, development has progressed faster than anticipated," the team explained. "Still, we want to set clear expectations about how these servers will function in Dune: Awakening. This isn't a standard survival game."

Each private server will belong to a larger group called a World, which contains several interconnected servers. These worlds share common social hubs and the perilous Deep Desert. According to Funcom, this structure maintains a "neighborhood-like feel" across the community.

The studio stated, "Early in development, we decided against removing the large-scale multiplayer elements, as they are fundamental to the Dune: Awakening experience. The game’s content and core mechanics are built around this large-scale setup."

"This required us to make certain compromises regarding player control over their private servers. Consequently, you'll find fewer customizable settings here compared to other survival titles like Conan Exiles."

If you rent a private server, you'll control one Hagga Basin—identical to the official servers—and become part of a World with other private servers (you can select your World during sign-up). While you cannot rent or manage the social hubs or Deep Desert, you can still fully engage with the game's large-scale multiplayer content and systems.

Dune: Awakening - January 2025 Screenshots

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So what features *do* private servers offer? Funcom says you can toggle security zones off completely, "enabling PvP across all areas of Hagga Basin," or maintain designated PvP zones as on official servers. Additional options include disabling taxation and sandstorms, naming your server, and setting a password. Owners can also visit other World servers with the correct password and even claim land—a feature unavailable on official servers.

"Implementing private servers for Dune: Awakening has been challenging due to our unique large-scale multiplayer design. It was crucial for us to preserve the core MMO-like gameplay that defines this experience," the team stated. "This naturally leads to some configuration limits compared to games like Conan Exiles.

"Nevertheless, we believe this service will be valuable for players who prefer a server not shared with strangers. We also hope the shared World structure adds a new social layer without compromising the distinctive content and mechanics that make Dune: Awakening special."

"As a longtime Dune fan, it's incredibly rewarding to explore and learn more about a universe I love. Funcom has invested tremendous effort into worldbuilding and lore, even while taking creative liberties by setting Awakening in a parallel reality distinct from the books and films," we noted in IGN's Dune: Awakening closed beta impressions preview.

"Small details have a significant impact on gameplay. Without spoiling anything, this meticulous attention to detail influences nearly every aspect of the world, including the factions and characters you encounter, which will delight any fan of the franchise."

Dune: Awakening launches on June 10, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S following a three-week delay to address issues found in beta testing. Players with a "head start" can begin playing five days earlier, starting June 5. For more information, read about the MMO's business model and post-launch roadmap. You can also find the global release schedule for Dune: Awakening here.