Dune: Awakening Private Servers Announced

Private servers are arriving for Dune: Awakening, though with some compromises to preserve the game's large-scale multiplayer elements.

Developer Funcom announced the news on the Steam store page, confirming "rentable private servers" will launch simultaneously with the game's early access period beginning Thursday, June 5.

"We initially planned private servers for post-launch, but development progressed faster than anticipated," the studio stated. "However, we want to clarify how these servers function within Dune: Awakening's unique framework - this isn't a conventional survival game experience."

Each private server will connect to a broader World cluster sharing common social hubs and the Deep Desert area. Funcom designed this approach to maintain "strong community connections" across servers.

"We committed early to preserving our large-scale multiplayer vision - it's fundamental to Dune: Awakening's identity," the developers explained. "This philosophy required balancing player control with core gameplay integrity, resulting in fewer customization options than traditional survival games like Conan Exiles."

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Private servers offer several key features: Complete removal of security zones for full PvP combat in Hagga Basin, optional PvP zones matching official servers, plus the ability to disable taxation and sandstorms. Server owners can customize names, set passwords, visit other World servers with proper credentials, and even claim exclusive territories unavailable on official servers.

"Implementing private servers presented technical challenges given our ambitious multiplayer architecture," the team noted. "We carefully balanced preservation of our MMO DNA while offering meaningful private play options. Though more restricted than some survival titles, we believe this model serves both playstyles without compromising Dune: Awakening's core identity."

"The meticulous worldbuilding demonstrates Funcom's deep respect for the Dune universe, even while crafting its own parallel continuity," we observed in IGN's Dune: Awakening closed beta evaluation. "Gameplay mechanics thoughtfully incorporate environmental details that will delight franchise fans, from faction dynamics to survival systems."

Dune: Awakening launches June 10, 2025 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S following a three-week delay to address beta feedback. Early access begins June 5 for qualifying players. Additional details about the MMO's monetization approach and content roadmap are available, along with the global release timetable for Dune: Awakening.