Dune: Awakening Rolls Out Private Servers

Private servers for Dune: Awakening have been confirmed for launch day. Here we explain the developers' rationale and how these servers will function.

Dune: Awakening Private Servers Ready on Launch Day

Rentable Private Servers Available at Launch

Developer Funcom has announced that Dune: Awakening will feature rentable private servers upon its release. In a Steam blog post from June 2nd, the team outlined their functionality and how players can access them.

For months, players speculated about private servers coming to the game, with developers initially suggesting they would arrive post-launch. During Funcom's Q&A Roundtable in February 2025, Director Joel Bylos acknowledged plans for the feature but was unsure it would be ready for the initial release.

Funcom's latest Steam update, however, reveals that development has progressed faster than anticipated, confirming launch-day availability. It's important to note these private servers will operate uniquely. Players in a private server will still connect to Dune: Awakening's broader world, interacting with others from different servers via social hubs and the dangerous Deep Desert region.

Renting a private server grants access to a Hagga Basin area, offering a similar experience to the official servers. Each private server is linked to a "World" containing several other private servers. Players can select their preferred World when they begin renting.

Funcom explained, "This means you can fully participate in Dune: Awakening's large-scale multiplayer content and systems, such as visiting social hubs and venturing into the Deep Desert to meet and play with people from any private server within the same World."

The developers also detailed some configurable settings for private servers. Admins can define Security Zones to enable or disable PvP in specific areas, implement Taxation systems, and toggle Sandstorms on or off. At launch, features like an admin control panel and character transfers will not be available, with details to follow post-launch.

Funcom noted that configuration for other settings will depend on the third-party hosting provider. Players can rent servers through GPORTAL, Nitrado, or xREALM. The studio clarified it does not set the rental prices, which will be determined by the providers.

The Unique Design of Dune: Awakening

Funcom elaborated, "In short, each server is part of a World containing multiple servers, all sharing the same social hubs and Deep Desert. This preserves a neighborhood-like atmosphere in the Hagga Basin and supports the persistent, freeform building and other demanding mechanics common in survival games."

The developers added, "We merge this with the large-scale multiplayer dynamics found in MMOs, where hundreds of players gather in social hubs and the Deep Desert to socialize, trade, engage in conflict, and more."

Funcom's goal is to preserve these large-scale multiplayer elements, which are central to the game's experience and deeply tied to its core systems. As the studio stated, "Releasing a 'half game' for private servers was never an option."

This philosophy resulted in a model that may offer fewer customization options than typical MMO private servers but faithfully maintains the game's intended multiplayer experience.

The availability of private servers at launch provides players with greater flexibility to explore Arrakis. Dune: Awakening launches on June 10, 2025, for PC, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions following at a later date. For the latest updates, explore our related coverage below!