Dune: Awakening Will Launch With Private Servers — PvP, No Taxes, and More

In a surprise announcement just days before release, Funcom has confirmed that Dune: Awakening will support private servers at launch — giving players more control over their gameplay experience. Those who purchased the Deluxe or Ultimate Editions will get early access starting June 5, and private servers will be available from day one of the head start.

🔧 Customization Options Are Limited — But Key Features Can Be Tweaked

While Dune: Awakening’s private servers won’t offer the deep modding and configuration seen in games like ARK (e.g., XP multipliers or crafting tweaks), players will still have a few powerful settings they can control. According to Funcom, private server admins will be able to:

• Enable full PvP: Turn off safety zones and make the entire Hagga Basin a PvP-enabled area.
• Disable taxes: Enjoy the freedom of running your own land without paying tribute to the Emperor.
• Turn off sandstorms: Remove the disruptive (but manageable) desert storms for a more stable environment.

These changes are geared toward maintaining balance between private servers while still allowing meaningful customization.

🌍 How Private Servers Fit Into the Game’s World System

Funcom clarified that private servers won't operate in total isolation. Instead, each private server is part of a larger shared “World,” which includes other private servers rented by different players. This means:

• Each private server supports 40+ players, while a full “World” can host hundreds of concurrent players.
• Players from different private servers within the same World will share major social hubs, trade zones, and the dynamic Deep Desert endgame.
• Official and private servers remain separate, so interaction between those communities won’t occur.

This setup allows for a blend of persistent survival mechanics and MMO-scale interactions, keeping both community scale and technical performance in balance.

⚠️ What You Can’t Do — Yet

There are some limitations at launch:

• No admin panel for deeper server control.
• No character transfers between servers.
• No gameplay tuning like resource rates or XP boosts.

However, Funcom is open to expanding server functionality post-launch, depending on community feedback. For now, you can visit other private servers and claim land—provided you have the server password—something that’s not possible on official servers.

🖥️ How to Rent a Server

Private servers will be available via:

• GPortal
• Nitrado
• xRealm

Pricing and player slot availability will vary depending on the provider.

If you’ve been dreaming of PvP across the entire map, ditching your spice taxes, or just avoiding sandstorms altogether, Dune: Awakening’s private servers are shaping up to be a solid option at launch—especially for groups looking to craft their own desert experience.