Dune: Awakening has been delayed slightly to implement last minute changes from beta testers.
Back in February, developer Funcom announced a release date of 20th May on Steam. That’s now been pushed back to 10th June (with earlier access for pre-orders on 5th June).
In a statement on social media, Funcom explained a major preview beta has been initiated in addition to the game’s ongoing Persistent Closed Beta that’s provided “invaluable” feedback to ensure the studio can “launch a quality game”.
“Thanks to this process, we’ve concluded that with a bit more time to cook, we can act on a lot more of the feedback we know is important to our beta testers,” the statement reads.
“This is not a decision we take lightly, we know everyone is very excited to get playing, but these three extra weeks will give us the time needed to make improvements that will lead to a better gameplay experience from day one.”
As a result of the delay, Funcom will launch a large-scale beta weekend next month, with more information expected soon.
“Dune: Awakening is a beast of a game,” the studio said. “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.”
An important update regarding Dune: Awakening:
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— Dune: Awakening (@duneawakening.com) 15 April 2025 at 15:14
There’s no mention in the statement of the game’s console release on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, which is expected to follow PC.
Before May was originally confirmed, the game had an “early 2025” release date. The game’s executive producer Scott Junior told Eurogamer: “I guess it depends how you define early. It could be the first half of ’25 – that could be ‘early’. So I’ll leave it there. It could be the first half of 2025.”
Eurogamer’s Bertie Purchese came away impressed after going hands-on with Dune: Awakening at the start of the year, writing: “You can live out your Dune fantasy in the most faithful recreation of Arrakis we’ve yet seen in a game, pausing as the ground shudders from a nearby sandworm, ducking for cover as a sandstorm blows in, and searching crevices for the secrets of the world hidden within. Dune: Awakening has promise – keep an eye on this one.”