Dune: Awakening Debuts Rentable Private Servers with Unique Features

Private servers are launching with Dune: Awakening, designed with specific adjustments to preserve the expansive multiplayer experience.

Funcom, the developer, shared this update on the Steam store page, announcing that "rentable private servers" will be available from the start for "head start" (early access) players on Thursday, June 5.

"We initially planned private servers for after launch, but development progressed faster than anticipated," the team stated. "However, we want to clarify how private servers function in Dune: Awakening, as this isn’t a standard survival game."

Each server will be part of a World, connecting with multiple other servers that share the same social hubs and Deep Desert. Funcom noted this structure fosters a "community-like atmosphere."

"We chose to maintain the large-scale multiplayer elements critical to the Dune: Awakening experience, as the game’s content and mechanics are built around this framework," the update explained.

"This required compromises on the level of control players have over private servers. Compared to other survival games like Conan Exiles, fewer customization options are available."

Renting a private server grants you one Hagga Basin, similar to the official server, and connects you to a World of other private servers (with the option to choose which World during sign-up). While social hubs and the Deep Desert remain outside your control, you can still fully engage with Dune: Awakening’s large-scale multiplayer content and mechanics.

Dune: Awakening - January 2025 Screenshots

What do you gain by renting a private server? Funcom highlighted that you can disable security zones entirely, enabling PvP across all of Hagga Basin, or opt for selective PvP areas, mirroring official servers. You can also turn off taxation and sandstorms, name your server, and set a password. Private server owners can visit other World servers with the correct password and even claim land, a feature unavailable on official servers.

"Implementing private servers for Dune: Awakening was complex due to our distinctive large-scale multiplayer setup, but preserving the core MMO-like gameplay was essential," the team noted. "This imposes some configuration limits compared to games like Conan Exiles."

"Still, we believe this option will appeal to players who prefer exclusive servers, and the shared World structure enhances the experience without compromising the unique content and mechanics that define Dune: Awakening."

"As a dedicated Dune fan, exploring this world feels incredibly rewarding. Funcom has invested heavily in worldbuilding and lore, even while crafting Awakening in a parallel reality and canon distinct from the books and movies," we wrote in IGN's Dune: Awakening closed beta impressions preview.

"Small details significantly impact gameplay. Without revealing spoilers, this meticulous attention extends to every element of the world, from factions to characters, delighting fans of the setting."

Dune: Awakening is slated for release on June 10, 2025, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, following a three-week delay to address beta testing issues. Early access players can start five days earlier, on June 5. For more details, explore the MMO's business model and post-launch plans. We also have the global release time schedule for Dune: Awakening available.