Dune: Awakening's studio, Funcom, is gearing up for a potentially crowded launch as they prepare for a large-scale beta this weekend. Dive in to discover Funcom's server strategies for the 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 for a potentially overcrowded launch in June. In a Steam post dated May 7, the developer addressed key concerns following the first closed beta, particularly around server capacity and 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, allowing players to interact with others across different servers within the same World.

However, concerns about server load and queues have been raised by the community. Funcom anticipates a high load at launch, with some servers possibly reaching full capacity. They aim to mitigate this by ensuring "thousands of servers grouped together in hundreds of Worlds available at launch."

Funcom elaborated, "While a Hagga Basin server can support 40 players concurrently, the natural ebb and flow of player activity throughout the day means it can accommodate several hundred players choosing it as their home server." They emphasized that these dynamics were thoroughly tested during the closed beta, and systems are in place to limit character creation on overly popular servers, reducing the risk of servers becoming full.

Dune: Awakening emphasizes large-scale multiplayer, yet it remains enjoyable for solo players. While the game launches in a multiplayer setting, players can explore Arrakis alone. Single-player and private servers won't be available at launch but are planned for future updates.

What To Expect During The Large-Scale Beta Weekend

Before the official launch, the large-scale beta weekend is on the horizon, and Funcom has shared details about what to expect. In a post on the Dune: Awakening official website dated May 8, they outlined the features of the upcoming beta.

Access to the beta weekend is available through 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:

According to their post, the beta will include the first 20-25 hours of gameplay, covering early to mid-game content. Other features include the CHOAM building set, the Hagga Basin South region, Eastern and Western Vermillius Gap Region, access to the Sandbike, early and early 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 releases to follow at a later, yet-to-be-announced date. Stay updated with the latest news on the game by checking out our article below!