Dune: Awakening Unveils Private Server Support at Launch

Dune: Awakening will feature private servers from day one. Discover how the developers plan to implement this feature and its functionality.

Private Servers Ready for Dune: Awakening Launch

Rentable Private Servers Available Immediately

Funcom, the developer, announced that Dune: Awakening will include rentable private servers at launch. In a June 2 Steam blog post, they outlined the servers' operations and rental options.

Speculation about private servers swirled for months, initially pegged as a post-launch addition. During a February 2025 Q&A, Director Joel Bylos expressed uncertainty about their launch readiness, though Funcom planned to include them.

Funcom’s latest Steam update revealed faster-than-expected progress, confirming private server availability at launch. These servers operate uniquely, allowing players to connect with others across Dune: Awakening’s broader server network, including social hubs and the Deep Desert.

Renting a private server grants access to one Hagga Basin, functioning like an official server. These servers link to a World of other private servers, with players choosing their World upon rental.

Funcom explained, "This setup ensures you can fully engage with Dune: Awakening’s large-scale multiplayer features, such as visiting social hubs and the Deep Desert to interact with players from other private servers in the same World."

Additionally, Funcom detailed customizable settings for private servers, including Security Zones for PvP areas, Taxation options, and the ability to disable Sandstorms. Admin controls and character transfers won’t be available at launch but will be addressed later.

Server settings’ flexibility depends on third-party providers like GPORTAL, Nitrado, and xREALM, which handle rentals. Funcom clarified they don’t set rental prices.

What Makes Dune: Awakening Stand Out

Funcom noted, "Each server is part of a World with multiple servers sharing social hubs and the Deep Desert. This fosters a community-like atmosphere in the Hagga Basin while supporting persistent building and survival mechanics typical of the genre."

They added, "We blend this with large-scale multiplayer elements found in MMOs, where hundreds of players connect in social hubs and the Deep Desert for trading, socializing, and conflict."

Funcom emphasized preserving the game’s multiplayer core, integral to its features and mechanics. "Releasing a limited version for private servers was never an option," they stated.

This approach, while offering fewer settings than typical MMO private servers, prioritizes the game’s multiplayer experience.

Private servers at launch provide players with flexible ways to explore Arrakis. Dune: Awakening arrives on PC June 10, 2025, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S releases to follow. Stay updated with our article below!