Summary
Funcom,Dune: Awakening’s developer, has gone on the record, calling the Xbox Series S port of the game “a challenge.“Dune: Awakeninghas shown plenty of potential in several areas. The gameplay could provide a chance for gamers to immerse themselves in the world’s dynamics, while the visual fidelity of the trailers show a commitment to pulling off the look of Arrakis with few compromises to artistic vision. AlthoughAwakeningis the firstDunegame Funcom has developed, it previously publishedDune: Spice Wars.
In August, Funcom set a2025 release window forDune: Awakeningon PC, but the announcement carried a measure of notable disappointment for console gamers since that launch window was left up in the air. Still, plenty of fans were hyped to get a clear look at whatDune: Awakeningis set to offer. The open-world MMO experience set in theDuneuniverse looks to be an ambitious release, but it has faced some difficulties.
Dune: Awakeningchief product officerScott Junior tells VG247that “Xbox Series S is a challenge,” which brings insight into what could be taking the console release so long. Junior states that the Xbox platform as a whole requires a lot of optimization, explaining that this is why PC has been prioritized, suggesting that the process has been significantly easier. It appears that fans who want toexperienceDune: Awakeningon their consoles will have to wait a bit longer.
Series S Development is Challenging for Dune Awakening
This is not the first time theXbox platform has been cited as a source of frustrationfor developers. Rocksteady’s Lee Devonald expressed annoyance at the rule that releases must target both the Series X and S consoles, zeroing in on the idea that the weaker GPU of the Series S is a potential limit that makes development more difficult. In cases like these, developers may have to consider various “tradeoffs” for their release, such asBaldurs Gate 3’s removal of a split screen mode in the Series S version.
This is not the only narrative at play, however, andDune: Awakeningmay not suffer the same exact kinds of setbacks.Baldurs Gate 3developer Swen Vincke disagreeswith the notion that the Series S is holding back consoles, stating that the key factor at play is actually “development effort.” The amount of time developers have to complete a project and the amount of members available to help with the task can define the execution of a release, and Funcom appears to be implementing that reasoning in its approach by having console players wait a little bit longer.
Dune: Awakening
WHERE TO PLAY
Rise from survival to dominance on the most dangerous planet in the universe. Dune: Awakening combines the grit and creativity of sandbox survival games with the social interactivity of a large, persistent multiplayer game to create a unique and ambitious Open World Survival MMO.Awaken The SleeperYour journey begins on Arrakis, with its vast deserts and colossal sandworms. Meet characters from the movies and books as you follow your story across Dune. Discover new allies and enemies and exploit your relationships to uncover the mystery that lies just beneath the surface of the sands.Choose Your IdentityCraft your identity and build your prowess, from deep character creation to skills and abilities taught by specialists like Mentats and Bene Gesserit. Declare your loyalties by what you wear and become known by what you do, whether you are a specialized master or multi-talented adept.Explore Arrakis Like Never BeforeDune: Awakening brings the epic landscapes of Arrakis to vivid life. Explore boundless rolling dunes, ancient underground Ecology Labs, and deep canyons pockmarked with caves, where bandits seek easy prey. Wander the bustling villages before braving the lawless and ever-changing deep desert.
