Dune Awakening devs: “No private servers at launch” but “could” be done after

As a seasoned MMO player with countless hours spent on various servers, I must admit, the announcement regarding Dune Awakening’s server structure has both excited and left me slightly disappointed. On one hand, the multiple server versions of Hagga Basin offer a tantalizing prospect for exploration and competition. However, the lack of private servers at launch is a bit of a letdown.

We spoke to Dune Awakening’s Creative Director, Joel Bylos, about the upcoming survival MMO. After playing the game for an hour and exploring Hagga Basin, our conversation touched on the server situation for the game. Funcom’s main title aside from the Arrakis MMO is Conan Exiles which, running since 2018, notably supports dedicated servers.

Initially, Bylos explained the layout of our server setup at launch: “We have numerous servers arranged like a farm,” he stated. “One of these servers, Hagga Basin, was the map you played yesterday. Players can access various iterations of this map to join. Following that, there’s a social hub where you connect with others, and finally, the deep desert which seems to be our end-game location.”

Later on, I inquired about personal servers and whether players would have the option to establish their own dedicated servers. Bylos addressed one of the community’s primary worries, stating, “There will be no private servers at the start; we’re committed to using official ones.” At first sight, this may seem disheartening, but the Creative Director hinted at a potential future where players could rent out dedicated servers.

“Instead of sharing servers, let’s consider an option where we provide personal server rentals for players to enjoy a unique gaming experience. However, when it comes to Conan Exiles, modifications to game balance and end-game outcomes would not be permitted.”

It seems as though Funcom has expressed interest and may have even discussed the possibility, although it’s not yet definite that they will indeed show up.

For approximately £10 each month, you can rent a server in Conan Exiles that supports up to ten players simultaneously. This service is provided by a third-party host (G-Portal). However, it’s important to note that Funcom has not yet confirmed whether they will use the same model for their upcoming Dune MMO.

As an eager fan, I wouldn’t jump the gun just yet when you see countless server hosting sites advertising Dune: Awakening. These listings are merely preliminary setups, getting ready for the grand game launch.

In essence, it’s not surprising to consider the concept of personal or exclusive servers for Dune Awakening, an MMO that focuses more on Player vs Environment (PVE) content. Funcom has openly stated that Player versus Player (PVP) isn’t essential in this game, making a post-end-game server management plausible.

2024-08-30 16:10

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