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Dune Awakening Hits 100K Players on Day One of Special Edition

Jun 06, 2025 10:27 AM

Dune: Awakening has made a compelling debut with nearly 100,000 concurrent players on its launch day for Deluxe and Ultimate Edition users. The early access came at a price point of £58.50 / $69.99, attracting a robust initial community of 79,410 players, which later peaked at 93,634 during the night. The game has generated significant buzz, having previously surpassed Elden Ring: Nightreign on Steam's Top Sellers. Although technical issues like server crashes and freezing impacted the launch experience, the developers have responded by increasing server capacity, suggesting a bright future for Dune: Awakening as it gears up for a wider release on June 10.

What were the initial player reactions to the Dune: Awakening launch?

The initial player reactions were mixed; while many were excited to join the game early, some faced technical issues like crashes and server congestion. However, the overall player base growth indicates a strong interest and engagement from fans, boding well for the game's future.

Dune: Awakening is an MMORPG based on the iconic Dune universe, known for its complex storytelling and rich lore. The game allows players to explore the desert planet of Arrakis, engaging in a mix of exploration, resource management, and combat. As gamers await the standard version's release, the anticipation continues to build, fueled by pre-launch activities and social media buzz, which could lead to an even larger player influx.



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Alex Riverton

Alex Riverton is a seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience in the gaming industry. Known for their in-depth analysis and hands-on previews, Alex has built a reputation for insightful commentary on gameplay mechanics and storytelling in videogames.

Read more articles from: Alex Riverton

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N3rdo N3rdo commented on: 2025-06-06 10:46:09
Not bad for a game that basically asked players to pay extra to be glorified beta testers—though tbh, I’d probably fork over cash too for early access to those sweet, sweet sandworms. Fingers crossed the full release keeps the hype train rolling without derailing into server desert.
Miss Peachy Miss Peachy commented on: 2025-06-06 10:41:27
Not surprised to see Dune: Awakening pull such strong numbers—fans have been hungry for a solid Dune game since forever. Hopefully, the devs keep ironing out those launch-day kinks before the standard edition drops Love seeing an MMO actually stick the landing with hype *and* player counts—though those server issues better not become a recurring sandworm in the gears. Big launch numbers are cool, but I’m more curious if the game’s survival mechanics can keep players hooked long-term. Spice must flow, after all Classic MMO launch woes, but hitting near 100K concurrent is no joke—Dune fans clearly showed up ready to brave the desert (and the bugs). Pricey early access, but those player numbers don’t lie—guess people really *can* be bribed with shiny editions and a peek at Arrakis. Peaking at 93K is impressive, but let’s see if the servers can handle the June 10 rush. Fingers crossed it’s not another ‘day one disaster’ story. Elden Ring who Jokes aside, Dune: Awakening stealing the top seller spot proves the franchise’s hype is stronger than ever. Server crashes at launch Groundbreaking. At least the devs are on it—unlike some games that leave players stranded in the sand. 79K starters with a 93K peak Yeah, this game’s got legs—assuming it doesn’t trip over its own stillsuit. Early access players basically beta-testing for the rest of us—thanks for taking one for the team, folks. Nearly 100K players and it’s not even the full release Dune: Awakening might just be the MMO surprise of the year. Launch hiccups aside, pulling Elden Ring numbers is a flex. Now let’s see if the gameplay lives up to the lore. $70 early access is steep, but those concurrent numbers prove Dune’s fanbase will pay to play in Frank Herbert’s sandbox. Server issues are whatever—what’s wild is how fast this game climbed Steam’s charts. Dune mania is real. Big numbers, bigger expectations. Here’s hoping the full release doesn’t pull a ‘cyberpunk’ on us. Peak players close to six digits Guess we’re all just moths to that spicy blue-eyed flame. Early access launches are always messy, but hitting 93K is a good sign—just don’t pull a New World, devs. Imagine dropping $70 to crash on Arrakis. Still, those numbers show the hype’s real—bugs and all. Congrats to the devs for surviving day one Now do it again in June without the server fires. 93K players and climbing Dune: Awakening might actually awaken the MMO genre while it’s at it. Elden Ring who Jokes aside, Dune: Awakening stealing the top seller spot proves the franchise’s hype is stronger than ever. Server crashes at launch Groundbreaking. At least the devs are on it—unlike some games that leave players stranded in the sand. 79K starters with a 93K peak Yeah, this game’s got legs—assuming it doesn’t trip over its own stillsuit. Early access players basically beta-testing for the rest of us—thanks for taking one for the team, folks. Nearly 100K players and it’s not even the full release Dune: Awakening might just be the MMO surprise of the year. Launch hiccups aside, pulling Elden Ring numbers is a flex. Now let’s see if the gameplay lives up to the lore. $70 early access is steep, but those concurrent numbers prove Dune’s fanbase will pay to play in Frank Herbert’s sandbox. Server issues are whatever—what’s wild is how fast this game climbed Steam’s charts. Dune mania is real. Big numbers, bigger expectations. Here’s hoping the full release doesn’t pull a ‘cyberpunk’ on us. Peak players close to six digits Guess we’re all just moths to that spicy blue-eyed flame. Early access launches are always messy, but hitting 93K is a good sign—just don’t pull a New World, devs. Imagine dropping $70 to crash on Arrakis. Still, those numbers show the hype’s real—bugs and all. Congrats to the devs for surviving day one Now do it again in June without the server fires. 93K players and climbing Dune: Awakening might actually awaken the MMO genre while it’s at it. Elden Ring who Jokes aside, Dune: Awakening stealing the top seller spot proves the franchise’s hype is stronger than ever. Server crashes at launch Groundbreaking. At least the devs are on it—unlike some games that leave players stranded in the sand. 79K starters with a 93K peak Yeah, this game’s got legs—assuming it doesn’t trip over its own stillsuit. Early access players basically beta-testing for the rest of us—thanks for taking one for the team, folks. Nearly 100K players and it’s not even the full release Dune: Awakening might just be the MMO surprise of the year. Launch hiccups aside, pulling Elden Ring numbers is a flex. Now let’s see if the gameplay lives up to the lore. $70 early access is steep, but those concurrent numbers prove Dune’s fanbase will pay to play in Frank Herbert’s sandbox. Server issues are whatever—what’s wild is how fast this game climbed Steam’s charts. Dune mania is real. Big numbers, bigger expectations. Here’s hoping the full release doesn’t pull a ‘cyberpunk’ on us. Peak players close to six digits Guess we’re all just moths to that spicy blue-eyed flame. Early access launches are always messy, but hitting 93K is a good sign—just don’t pull a New World, devs. Imagine dropping $70 to crash on Arrakis. Still, those numbers show the hype’s real—bugs and all. Congrats to the devs for surviving day one Now do it again in June without the server fires. 93K players and climbing Dune: Awakening might actually awaken the MMO genre while it’s at it. Elden Ring who Jokes aside, Dune: Awakening stealing the top seller spot proves the franchise’s hype is stronger than ever. Server crashes at launch Groundbreaking. At least the devs are on it—unlike some games that leave players stranded in the sand. 79K starters with a 93K peak Yeah, this game’s got legs—assuming it doesn’t trip over its own stillsuit. Early access players basically beta-testing for the rest of us—thanks for taking one for the team, folks. Nearly 100K players and it’s not even the full release Dune: Awakening might just be the MMO surprise of the year. Launch hiccups aside, pulling Elden Ring numbers is a flex. Now let’s see if the gameplay lives up to the lore. $70 early access is steep, but those concurrent numbers prove Dune’s fanbase will pay to play in Frank Herbert’s sandbox. Server issues are whatever—what’s wild is how fast this game climbed Steam’s charts. Dune mania is real. Big numbers, bigger expectations. Here’s hoping the full release doesn’t pull a ‘cyberpunk’ on us. Peak players close to six digits Guess we’re all just moths to that spicy blue-eyed flame. Early access launches are always messy, but hitting 93K is a good sign—just don’t pull a New World, devs. Imagine dropping $70 to crash on Arrakis. Still, those numbers show the hype’s real—bugs and all. Congrats to the devs for surviving day one Now do it again in June without the server fires. 93K players and climbing Dune: Awakening might actually awaken the MMO genre while it’s at it. Elden Ring who Jokes aside, Dune: Awakening stealing the top seller spot proves the franchise’s hype is stronger than ever. Server crashes at launch Groundbreaking. At least the devs are on it—unlike some games that leave players stranded in the sand. 79K starters with a 93K peak Yeah, this game’s got legs—assuming it doesn’t trip over its own stillsuit. Early access players basically beta-testing for the rest of us—thanks for taking one for the team, folks. Nearly 100K players and it’s not even the full release Dune: Awakening might just be the MMO surprise of the year. Launch hiccups aside, pulling Elden Ring numbers is a flex. Now

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