When you jump into Rust, you might be surprised to see that character customization isn’t exactly in your control. Rust approaches characters differently from most games—no sliders, no customization screens, just a randomly assigned model based on your Steam ID. This randomness makes the game unique, a little more immersive, and, in my experience, more intense.
Why Rust Uses Randomized Character Models
![If Rust were to have a character creation menu [Concept]](https://tradeit.gg/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/atmb3r2yww961-1024x576.jpg)
Rust’s character models are tied to your Steam ID, meaning you don’t get to choose gender, race, or facial features. Once your character is set, it stays that way permanently, across all servers, without any option to reset or alter.
You could be a burly guy one moment or a petite woman the next time you log in. This forced randomness does two things: first, it keeps everyone on an equal footing visually, and second, it shifts the focus squarely on survival instead of aesthetics.
Why Tho?
For me, this approach to characters reinforces Rust’s survivalist feel. You’re there to survive, not worry about appearances, and that mentality adds to the raw, gritty immersion of the game.
This lack of control over looks might seem off-putting initially, but it quickly pushes you to focus on what really matters—finding resources, staying alive, and building alliances.
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The Evolution of Rust’s Character Models
When Rust first launched, every player had the same generic male character. But in 2016, things changed. Facepunch Studios introduced female models and a broader variety of facial features.
Now, when you spawn, there’s a mix of gender, race, and facial diversity, all randomly assigned. This change was a big deal for many players, especially those who wanted to see more representation in the game.
This randomness means you might play as a different character type than you’re used to or even get a look that you wouldn’t pick if given the choice.
Personally, I think this randomness is actually part of Rust’s charm—it’s unpredictable, a little brutal, and adds a unique flavor to the survival experience.
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The Permanent Nature of Rust Characters
One aspect of Rust that new players might find surprising (and maybe even frustrating) is that your character model is completely permanent. This isn’t just for a single server—this is for every server you play on.
Once your model is set, that’s it, and while you can reset a lot of things in the game, your character’s face and body aren’t among them. Basically, you can’t change character in Rust.
This permanent assignment has a few benefits. First, it prevents players from focusing on cosmetics and keeps the game grounded in its hardcore survival theme. It also makes every encounter feel less predictable.
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Final Thoughts
Rust’s approach to character models is definitely unconventional. The random assignment based on your Steam ID and the inability to customize your character is almost a test—one that encourages you to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Rust includes female characters. In 2016, the game introduced female models, and now players are randomly assigned a gender upon starting.
Rust doesn’t have a main character. Each player controls a unique survivor in the game’s open-world environment, focusing on personal survival and interaction.
Rust lacks character customization to emphasize survival over appearance. The developers assign character attributes randomly to promote diversity and immersion.
Yes, Rust assigns character attributes randomly. Your character’s gender, race, and appearance are determined by your Steam ID and cannot be changed.
