As the highly anticipated release of Dune: Awakening approaches, developer Funcom is gearing up for what they anticipate will be a crowded launch. The studio has been diligently preparing for this event, especially as they approach a large-scale beta test this weekend. Dive in to uncover Funcom's strategies for server management and what players can look forward to.

Dune: Awakening Pre-Launch Updates

Funcom’s Servers Are Prepared

With Dune: Awakening nearing its launch in June, Funcom has taken proactive steps to ensure a smooth start. In a detailed Steam post dated May 7, they addressed potential overcrowding issues and outlined the game's server and multiplayer mechanics.

Players will begin their journey by selecting a server within a designated World, which comprises at least 20 servers. This setup allows for interaction and encounters with players from other servers within the same World.

Addressing concerns about server capacity and potential queues, Funcom has planned for a significant server load at launch. They've reassured the community that "thousands of servers grouped together in hundreds of Worlds" will be available from the get-go.

Funcom elaborated, "A Hagga Basin server can handle 40 concurrent players, yet due to natural fluctuations in player activity throughout the day, it can comfortably accommodate several hundred players choosing it as their home server." Extensive testing during the closed beta has enabled them to implement systems that manage character creation on increasingly popular servers, thus preventing them from reaching full capacity too quickly.

While Dune: Awakening emphasizes large-scale multiplayer, it also caters to solo adventurers. Although players enter a multiplayer environment, they can explore Arrakis independently. However, single-player and private servers won't be available at launch; these features are slated for post-launch updates.

What To Expect During The Large-Scale Beta Weekend

Ahead of the official release, Dune: Awakening's large-scale beta weekend is on the horizon. Funcom shared insights on what participants can expect during this event in a post on the game's official website dated May 8.

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 obtaining an access code at the Global LAN party on May 10.

Scheduled from May 9 to May 12, the beta will offer a glimpse into the early to mid-game stages, covering the first 20-25 hours. Participants will explore areas such as the CHOAM building set, the Hagga Basin South region, Eastern and Western Vermillius Gap Regions, and get hands-on with the Sandbike. Early and early mid-game combat scenarios and segments of Act I of the story will also be accessible. It’s important to note that any progress made during the beta weekend will not transfer to the full game.

Dune: Awakening is slated for release on June 10, 2025, on PC, with subsequent launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S to follow at a later, yet-to-be-announced date. For the latest updates and more details about the game, be sure to check out our dedicated article below!