Summary
- Funcom finds Xbox Series S development challenging.
- Funcom has prioritized the PC version due to the Xbox optimization challenges.
- A console release date for Dune: Awakening is not known yet.
Funcom, Dune: Awakening's developer, has gone on the record, calling the Xbox Series S port of the game "a challenge." Dune: Awakening has 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. Although Awakening is the first Dune game Funcom has developed, it previously published Dune: Spice Wars.
In August, Funcom set a 2025 release window for Dune: Awakening on 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 what Dune: Awakening is set to offer. The open-world MMO experience set in the Dune universe looks to be an ambitious release, but it has faced some difficulties.
Dune Awakening Is at Risk of Committing a Classic Open-World Sin
Dune: Awakening has generated a good deal of hype so far, but it may run up against a common issue in the open-world genre space.
Dune: Awakening chief product officer Scott Junior tells VG247 that "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 to experience Dune: Awakening on their consoles will have to wait a bit longer.
Series S Development is Challenging for Dune Awakening
This is not the first time the Xbox platform has been cited as a source of frustration for 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 as Baldurs Gate 3's removal of a split screen mode in the Series S version.
This is not the only narrative at play, however, and Dune: Awakening may not suffer the same exact kinds of setbacks. Baldurs Gate 3 developer Swen Vincke disagrees with 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.
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 Sleeper
Your 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 Identity
Craft 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 Before
Dune: 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.
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Survival, MMO
