Dune: Awakening to Launch with Private Servers, Despite Some Restrictions

Dune: Awakening, an upcoming MMO survival game set in the Dune universe, will provide rentable private servers beginning from its initial head start release on June 5. This is sooner than initially anticipated as the game’s developers, Funcom, had earlier intended to introduce private servers after the game’s launch. However, the earlier introduction comes with a few restrictions mainly due to the game’s unique large-scale multiplayer infrastructure.

Unlike traditional survival games, Dune: Awakening combines persistent player-built worlds with MMO elements, allowing for interaction among hundreds of players in shared social spaces and the expansive Deep Desert. As a result, the private server options might not provide the same level of control as games like Conan Exiles. However, players will have several customization options at their disposal.

• At launch, third-party hosting companies including GPORTAL, Nitrado, and xREALM will provide private servers for rent.
• Each private server will feature a full Hagga Basin map and will be a component of a larger World, facilitating interaction among players from other private servers through the same World’s social hubs and Deep Desert.
• Players can modify certain settings, including:
  • Customizing or disabling PvP security zones
  • Switching off server taxation
  • Turning off sandstorms
• While servers can be password-protected and named, they currently do not offer character transfers or admin control panels.
• Players can travel to other private servers within their World by keying a server password and even take ownership of land as visitors. This feature is unavailable on official servers.
• Third-party providers manage all server hosting operations, including pricing and support.

This approach maintains the core MMO features that make Dune: Awakening stand out from other survival games, while giving private server admins less control compared to other games in the genre. Based on player feedback, the development team might consider expanding private server features in upcoming updates.

Funcom, the developers of Dune: Awakening, are also known for their work on survival games such as Conan Exiles. The game seeks to create a unique space in its genre by combining survival mechanics with persistent, large multiplayer worlds inspired by Frank Herbert’s iconic science fiction universe. Priced at $49.99, Dune: Awakening is creating quite a buzz with over 200,000 followers on Steam.

Additional References: Official announcement, Steam Store Page