"Dune: Awakening Set to Launch for Thousands, Developer Confirms"

Dune: Awakening's studio, Funcom, is gearing up for a potentially crowded launch as it prepares for a large-scale beta this weekend. Dive into the details to discover Funcom's server strategy and what fans can anticipate at launch.

Dune: Awakening Pre-Launch Updates

Funcom’s Servers Are Prepared

As Dune: Awakening nears its release date, Funcom is assuring fans that they are ready for a packed launch in June. In a recent Steam post dated May 7, the developer addressed concerns raised during the first closed beta about server capacity and provided insights into the game's large-scale multiplayer mechanics.

Upon starting the game, players will select a server as their home base. These servers are part of a larger World, which contains at least 20 servers, enabling players to interact with others across different servers within the same World.

However, concerns about server load and queues have been voiced by the community. Funcom anticipates a high demand at launch, with some servers possibly reaching their capacity. To address this, they have promised "thousands of servers grouped together in hundreds of Worlds available at launch."

Funcom elaborated on server capacity: "While a Hagga Basin server can support 40 players at once, the daily fluctuations in player numbers allow it to serve as a home for several hundred players." They highlighted that rigorous testing during the closed beta has led to the implementation of systems designed to limit character creation on overly popular servers, thereby reducing the likelihood of servers reaching full capacity.

Dune: Awakening emphasizes large-scale multiplayer mechanics but remains enjoyable for solo players. At launch, the game will not feature single-player or private servers, though these are planned for post-launch updates.

What To Expect During The Large-Scale Beta Weekend

Ahead of the official launch, Funcom is hosting a large-scale beta weekend. In a post on the Dune: Awakening official website on May 8, they outlined what participants can expect.

To gain access to the beta, fans can wishlist and request access on the game’s Steam page, sign up on the official website, or obtain an access code at the Global LAN party on May 10.

The beta will run from May 9 to May 12. Here’s the schedule to see when the stream starts in your region:

The beta will cover the first 20-25 hours of gameplay, spanning from early to mid-game stages. Players will have access to the CHOAM building set, the Hagga Basin South region, Eastern and Western Vermillius Gap Region, the Sandbike, early and mid-game combat, and portions of Act I of the story. Funcom has confirmed that progress made during the beta will not carry over to the full game.

Dune: Awakening is slated for release on June 10, 2025, on PC, with subsequent releases planned for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at a later, yet-to-be-announced date. Keep up with the latest news by checking out our related articles below!