Private servers (formerly and commonly known as VIP Servers^[1]) are private per-experience servers that are individually owned. As of June 12, 2020, developers can choose to make their private servers free (players may only own one private server per experience).^[2] Before leaderboards were removed, they could appear as clans in the Clans section while viewing game leaderboards. Currently, players can own up to 100 free active private servers in total.^[3]

Creating a private server

If a developer has enabled private servers for their experience, then players can create private servers for their place. Players will spend the chosen amount of Robux monthly or will get for free if they are a Plus subscriber and then can name their private server, users allowed and have access to a link to the private server, and if friends are allowed to join. Then, the server can be seen on the servers tab. If the server creator shuts down the server, the developer disables private servers or the server creator does not have enough Robux to renew their subscription, then the server becomes deactivated.

Developer usage

There are two properties in DataModel that can be used to detect a private server. These properties are PrivateServerId and PrivateServerOwnerId. More information here.

History

• VIP Servers entered beta testing on December 14, 2014.
• VIP Servers has been fully launched on December 17, 2014.^[4]
• Starting April 9, 2015, developers began earning 70% of the Robux that players spend on purchasing VIP Servers.^[5]
  • Additionally, three features have been added to VIP Servers: a 'Friends Allowed' checkbox, which lets players to open VIP Servers exclusively for their friends, Clan Access, which allows all members of the selected clan and an enemy clan to access the VIP Server, and a toggle to automatic renew VIP servers every 30 days.^[5]
• VIP Servers became available for community-owned experiences on June 16, 2016.^[6]
• VIP Servers were renamed to Private Servers on July 15, 2020.^[1]
• Private Servers became free for Plus subscribers regardless if the game has paid Private Servers on April 30, 2026.

Issues

Bugs

• When attempting to join a friend that is in a private server you do not have access to, you will be kicked. This has caused confusion among many players attempting to join and not knowing why they can't get in their friend's game.
• When you shut down the server, players may not be instantly kicked.

Other

• Players who do not use a web browser for Roblox cannot join private servers through invite links, and instead have to rely on the server owner specifically inviting them through the configuration settings.
• Players who are on PlayStation 4 and 5 lack the ability to create or join their private servers, although if a friend is in either their private server or other they can join it by simply pressing join by the friend tab.

Use of private servers

Private servers are purchased and used for a multitude of reasons. Such reasons may include;

• Regular players may use private servers to make progress or farm an in-game currency or item without the hassle of dealing with other players, in a clean isolated environment. It is increasingly common for RPGs and prison games to have players purchase private servers for easy farming. They could also use private servers to use content that the experience's developer makes exclusive to private servers. It is also used to transfer funds after the group's delay on payout.
• Content creators such as YouTubers or Twitch streamers also frequently own private servers, to make recording easier and prevent players from "stream-sniping" them. They may also open private servers to be a public invite link, so fans of the creator can join and play with other fans.
• Developers may own a private server in their own experience to make it easier to test new features (of their experience).
• Exploiters may also use private servers to automatically farm in experiences, without the fear of getting reported.
• Private servers are also sometimes purchased simply for privacy reasons. Players may wish to play a game alone or with their friends only, and no random people.

With private servers being free in some experiences, they do not need to be purchased.

Trivia

This section is a trivia section. Please relocate any relevant information into other sections of the article.

• Anyone, regardless of age, who has "Who can make me a member of their private server?" set to "Friends" or "No one" cannot join private servers of players they are not friends with. If this is attempted, the user will get a 533 error code while attempting to join said private server.
• Before June 12, 2020, developers could only make private servers paid.

References