"Dune: Awakening Ready for Thousands, Developer Confirms"

Dune: Awakening's developer, Funcom, is gearing up for a potentially crowded launch while preparing for a large-scale beta this weekend. Dive into the details below to discover Funcom's strategies for managing their servers at launch and what fans can anticipate.

Dune: Awakening Pre-Launch Updates

Funcom’s Servers Are Prepared

As Dune: Awakening approaches its release date, Funcom is reassuring fans that they are ready to handle a potentially overcrowded launch in June. In a Steam post dated May 7, the developer addressed the most pressing concerns raised after the first closed beta, particularly about server capacity and large-scale multiplayer dynamics.

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, allowing players to interact with others across different servers within their World.

Despite these assurances, fans have expressed concerns about server load and potential queues. Funcom anticipates a heavy load at launch, with some servers possibly reaching full capacity. To mitigate this, they plan to have "thousands of servers grouped together in hundreds of Worlds available at launch."

Funcom emphasized the dynamic nature of server populations, stating, "While a Hagga Basin server can support 40 people playing concurrently, the way populations ebb and flow over the course of a day means that it still supports several hundred people picking that server as their home." They have rigorously tested this during the closed beta and implemented systems to restrict character creation on overly popular servers, reducing the likelihood of servers becoming full.

Although Dune: Awakening focuses on large-scale multiplayer, it's also designed to be enjoyable for solo players. While single-player and private servers won't be available at launch, they are slated for inclusion in post-launch updates.

What To Expect During The Large-Scale Beta Weekend

Before the official launch, the large-scale beta weekend is set to provide a glimpse into the game. On May 8, Funcom detailed what fans can expect from this event on the Dune: Awakening official website.

Access to the beta weekend can be obtained by wishlisting and requesting access on the game’s Steam page, signing up on the official website, or receiving an access code during the Global LAN party on May 10.

The large-scale beta weekend will run from May 9 to May 12. Check out the timetable below to see when the stream starts in your region:

During the beta, players will experience the first 20-25 hours of the game, covering early to mid-game content. Features include the CHOAM building set, the Hagga Basin South region, Eastern and Western Vermillius Gap Region, access to the Sandbike, early and mid-game combat, and parts of Act I of the story. Funcom has confirmed that player progress during the beta weekend will not carry over to the full game.

Dune: Awakening is scheduled for release on June 10, 2025, for PC, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions to follow at a later, yet-to-be-announced date. Stay updated with the latest game news by checking out our article below!