Funcom, the studio behind Dune: Awakening, is gearing up for a potentially massive launch, with a large-scale beta test scheduled for this weekend. Discover Funcom's server strategy for launch day and what players can anticipate.
Dune: Awakening Pre-Launch Updates
Funcom’s Servers Are Prepared
With the release of Dune: Awakening approaching, developer Funcom confirms its readiness for a potential influx of players at launch in June. In a recent Steam post, the team addressed key questions from the first closed beta, detailing the game's server infrastructure and large-scale multiplayer design.
Upon starting the game, players select a home server. These servers are organized into Worlds, each containing at least 20 servers, allowing for interaction between players from different servers within the same World.
While some players raised concerns about server capacity and potential queues, Funcom anticipates high demand at launch, with the possibility of some servers reaching their limit. The developer assures that "thousands of servers, grouped into hundreds of Worlds, will be available from day one."
"It's important to understand that while a Hagga Basin server supports 40 concurrent players, the natural ebb and flow of daily traffic means it can accommodate several hundred players who call it home," Funcom explained. "Our closed beta tests rigorously validated this, and we have measures to limit character creation on overly popular servers, reducing the risk of them becoming full."
Although Dune: Awakening emphasizes large-scale multiplayer, it also supports solo play, allowing individuals to explore Arrakis independently. Private and single-player servers are not part of the initial launch but are planned for future updates.
What To Expect During The Large-Scale Beta Weekend
Ahead of the official release, Funcom's large-scale beta weekend offers a preview of the game. A post on the official website outlines what participants can experience during this event.
Access to the beta is available by wishlisting the game on Steam and requesting access, signing up on the official website, or obtaining a code during the Global LAN party on May 10.
The beta runs from May 9 to May 12. Refer to the schedule below for start times in your region:
According to the post, the beta includes the first 20-25 hours of gameplay, covering early to mid-game content. Features include the CHOAM building set, the Hagga Basin South region, Eastern and Western Vermillius Gap regions, Sandbike access, early combat, and segments of Act I of the story. Note that player progress from the beta will not transfer to the full game upon release.
Dune: Awakening launches on June 10, 2025, for PC, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions to follow at a later date. For the latest updates, check out our related article below.
