At GPORTAL, we’re dedicated to leading the way in server hosting technology, constantly striving to improve gaming experiences. Our recent partnership with Double Eleven, a leader in game porting, exemplifies this commitment: on November 30th, 2023, we successfully launched private servers for Rust on consoles. Now that the (R)dust has settled, we’d like to briefly recapitulate on our collaborative work.
Rust, the gritty online multiplayer survival game, has fascinated gamers worldwide since its initial release on PC in 2013. With its unique blend of crafting, base-building, and intense player-vs-player combat, Rust quickly garnered a dedicated following and critical acclaim. In 2021, Double Eleven brought this immersive experience to consoles, allowing a new wave of players to immerse themselves in Rust’s unforgiving world. Having established itself as a premier porting and co-development studio, Double Eleven has contributed to high-profile franchises like LittleBigPlanet and Crackdown, showcasing their versatility and expertise in bringing games to life across multiple platforms. One of their major successes was the console port of Prison Architect, which allowed players to experience the acclaimed prison management sim on Xbox and PlayStation systems.
Since its console debut, Rust Console Edition has experienced remarkable success, with players flocking to the game’s tense and unpredictable gameplay. However, amid the excitement, a common request emerged from the console community: the ability to create and play on private servers. This feature, long enjoyed by PC players, would allow console players to curate their own customized experiences, fostering private communities and tailored gameplay mechanics. The idea to bring Rust to console players in a collaboration began taking shape in early 2023. When asked why GPORTAL was chosen as the sole server hosting provider for the console launch, Double Eleven responded with: “We felt at the time GPORTAL would help us get to market quicker and at a price point which the players would like”.
We understood the potential of expanding Rust’s survival experience to a wider audience and knew this task required a partner equally committed to excellence. Double Eleven, with their impressive track record in game porting, were the perfect match. Together, we envisioned a seamless integration of private servers, a feature that would grant console players unprecedented freedom and customization options in their gaming experience.
Our collaboration was structured around clear roles to maximize efficiency and innovation. At GPORTAL, our main task was to provide robust, scalable server solutions that could handle the unique demands of Rust Console Edition . This involved extensive backend development and continuous adjustments to ensure optimal performance under varying loads. Double Eleven brought their deep expertise in game development and porting to the table. Their team was responsible for adapting Rust for console platforms, ensuring the game’s core elements translated effectively without compromising quality. They managed code development, server integration and production while other crucial aspects like quality assurance and community management were split between GPORTAL and Double Eleven. By defining these roles, both GPORTAL and Double Eleven could focus on their strengths, leading to a streamlined development process.
Effective communication was the cornerstone of our partnership with Double Eleven. Recognizing the complexity and the innovative demands of integrating Rust Console Edition with private servers, we leveraged modern tools and regular alignments to stay connected and proactive through daily communications and troubleshooting, ensuring that no query went unanswered for long. While our journey was largely smooth, it wasn’t without its challenges. Coordination between the distinct setups of GPORTAL and Double Eleven sometimes meant waiting for implementations and adjustments. These moments, although initially slowing our progress, were overcome through our regular alignment calls. These sessions proved invaluable in quickly resolving blocking issues, ensuring the development and launch phases proceeded as planned without significant delays.
The collaboration between GPORTAL and Double Eleven has significantly enriched the Rust Console Edition gaming community. Thousands of players are now regularly using the private servers we’ve set up, a clear indicator of how popular and well-received this feature has become. It’s rewarding to see such a positive response, which reflects the demand for more personalized and controlled gaming environments among console players.
Working alongside Double Eleven to bring private servers to Rust Console Edition has been a rewarding experience for all of us, in a project that wasn’t just about technological achievements but teamwork, understanding, and shared goals. A big thank you to everyone at Double Eleven and the dedicated teams at GPORTAL—your hard work has truly made a difference. We’ve laid a strong foundation for what’s possible in console gaming, proving that with the right partners, innovative features can be successfully introduced.
