Funcom's ambitious survival MMO set in the Dune universe needs a little more time in development before it's ready for players to explore the sands of Arrakis. The developer has announced a short delay to incorporate valuable feedback from ongoing beta testing.
Delay Announcement
Funcom has pushed back the release of its highly anticipated survival MMO Dune: Awakening by three weeks. Originally scheduled to launch on May 20, the game will now arrive on June 10, with early access for deluxe and ultimate edition owners beginning on June 5. According to Funcom, this decision wasn't made lightly, but the additional development time will allow the team to implement important improvements based on feedback from their closed beta testers, ensuring a better gameplay experience at launch.
Dune: Awakening Release Information
- Original release date: May 20, 2024
- New release date: June 10, 2024
- Early access (deluxe/ultimate editions): June 5, 2024
- Delay length: 3 weeks
- Large-scale beta weekend: Coming in May 2024 (exact date TBA)
Reason Behind the Delay
Dune: Awakening is a beast of a game, Funcom explained in their announcement. This is multiplayer survival on a massive scale, and we're making gameplay and technical strides not seen in the genre before. We want to make sure we stick the landing. The company emphasized that the ongoing persistent closed beta has provided invaluable feedback, with developers actively engaging with testers through Discord to collaboratively improve the game. The three-week extension will give the development team time to address issues identified during this testing phase.
Large-Scale Beta Weekend
The silver lining to this delay is that Funcom now plans to host a large-scale beta weekend in May, giving more players the opportunity to experience Dune: Awakening before its official release. While specific details about this beta event haven't been announced yet, the developer has promised to share more information soon. This expanded testing phase should help Funcom gather additional feedback and ensure the game launches in the best possible state.
Current Testing and Development
Funcom continues to update and refine the game through its persistent closed beta program. For those eager to get a taste of what's to come, the developer has already made the character creator and benchmark tool available, allowing players to prepare for their journey to Arrakis while testing if their systems can handle the game's requirements. Additionally, Funcom is showcasing more of the game through developer livestreams, including a recent one focusing on the combat system.
Game Overview
Dune: Awakening is shaping up to be an ambitious project that PC Gamer editor Joshua Wolens described as sounding tense, complex, and just like Dune. The game aims to deliver multiplayer survival gameplay on a massive scale, with technical and gameplay innovations not previously seen in the genre. Set in the harsh desert world of Arrakis, players will need to navigate the dangers of the environment while dealing with the complex politics and power struggles that define Frank Herbert's iconic universe.