Dune: Awakening's studio, Funcom, is gearing up for a potentially crowded launch as they prepare for the game's large-scale beta this weekend. Dive into the details below to discover Funcom's plans for server management and what fans can anticipate.
Dune: Awakening Pre-Launch Updates
Funcom’s Servers Are Prepared
As Dune: Awakening nears its release date, Funcom is reassuring fans of their readiness for a possibly overcrowded launch in June. In a Steam post dated May 7, the developer addressed concerns raised after the first closed beta, focusing on server capacity and large-scale multiplayer mechanics.
When starting the game, players will select a server as their home base within a World, which consists of at least 20 servers. This setup allows players to interact with others across different servers within their World.
Despite fan concerns about server load and potential queues, Funcom is expecting a high load during the launch, with some servers potentially reaching capacity. They are set to launch with "thousands of servers grouped together in hundreds of Worlds."
Funcom elaborated, "While a Hagga Basin server can handle 40 players at once, the natural flow of player activity throughout the day allows it to support several hundred choosing it as their home server." They've tested this extensively during the closed beta and have systems in place to prevent overpopulation by limiting new character creation on popular servers.
While Dune: Awakening emphasizes large-scale multiplayer, it remains playable solo. Players can explore Arrakis alone, though single-player and private servers won't be available at launch; these are slated for post-launch updates.
What To Expect During The Large-Scale Beta Weekend
Ahead of the official launch, the large-scale beta weekend is set to take place, and Funcom has shared what fans can expect. In a post on the Dune: Awakening official website on May 8, they outlined the features of the upcoming beta.
Access to the beta weekend can be secured 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 beta will run from May 9 to May 12. Check the schedule below to see when the stream starts in your region:
During the beta, players will experience the first 20-25 hours of gameplay, covering early to mid-game content. Included features are the CHOAM building set, the Hagga Basin South region, Eastern and Western Vermillius Gap Regions, access to the Sandbike, early and early mid-game combat, and segments 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, for PC, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions to follow at a later, yet-to-be-announced date. Keep up with the latest news by checking out our article below!
