Community Servers No Longer Allowed to Unlock Paid Skins or DLCs
In a move that has already sparked intense debate among Rust’s community server owners and players, Facepunch has updated its official server guidelines to prohibit the use of paid skins and DLCs unless they have been legitimately purchased by the player. The update effectively bans popular plugins and mods, such as Skinbox, that previously allowed servers to grant players access to all in-game skins.
According to the updated Community and Hosting Guidelines, only servers designated as official Test Servers are allowed to unlock DLC or paid skins for players without purchase verification. Community and modded servers are now explicitly forbidden from offering any official Facepunch DLC or paid skin content to players who do not own them.
A Significant Shift for the Modding Community
For years, mods like Skinbox have been a staple on community servers, letting players customize their gear with any of Rust’s hundreds of skins. This change removes that option unless the skin has already been purchased on the Steam marketplace and is linked to the player’s account.
Facepunch has stated this is to ensure fairness, protect the value of paid content, and comply with their intellectual property policies. However, some server owners argue that the policy discourages creativity and undermines what has been a key part of the community experience.
Community Response
The reaction among players and admins has been mixed. Some players appreciate the move as it upholds the integrity of paid content and supports artists. Others feel it damages the freedom that has made community servers a vibrant and distinct experience compared to official servers.
One server owner on Reddit summed up the sentiment: “Skinbox basically can’t be used at all now. It’s disappointing because players loved having the full range of skins available without spending hundreds.”
What This Means Going Forward
Server owners now have two options: they can strip out plugins that grant access to unpaid skins and DLC, or they can apply for and operate under a Test Server designation where limited exemptions apply.
Players on community servers should expect to see far fewer skins in circulation unless they have purchased them directly.
This policy marks a clear line from Facepunch about monetization and copyright enforcement. Whether the community adjusts gracefully remains to be seen, but for now, Rust’s community server scene will have to adapt to the new reality.
