Dune Awakening Console Release Expected One Year After PC Launch; Cross-Play Features Rely on Sony and Microsoft

Insights from Gamescom 2025: Dune Awakening’s Game Director Speaks

At Gamescom 2025, we had the opportunity to speak with Joel Bylos, the Game Director for Dune Awakening, regarding the highly anticipated game’s launch on PC and the exciting updates planned for its survival sandbox MMO. A critical point of discussion was the status of the console releases, which have been a topic of interest for many fans.

Console Launch Timeline

Bylos shared that development on the console versions is making progress, with a target launch window set for next year on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The team has begun extensive work post-launch, indicating an estimated timeframe of approximately one year for the final touches and optimizations necessary to ensure a smooth experience on these platforms.

“We’re working towards a launch on console sometime next year. I’ve seen it running on a PlayStation 5, but there were a lot of texture issues, still a lot of work to do, and then we have to do all the different requirements for the different consoles and optimize the game shaders to work properly with the different console hardware, so there’s work to do.”

The anticipated timeline suggests that Dune Awakening could be available on consoles by summer 2026, potentially coinciding with major game releases such as GTA VI.

Cross-Play Possibilities

Another topic of interest was the potential for cross-play between platforms. Bylos noted that while discussions are ongoing with both Microsoft and PlayStation regarding cross-platform capabilities, a definitive decision has yet to be made.

“It’s still on the conversations we’re having with Microsoft and PlayStation to decide that, so we haven’t actually made a decision. From our technical standpoint, it’s no problem for us because we run these servers, and the games will connect to our service. So it’s not a problem, but it depends on what the platform holders have to say; we need to have those conversations.”

Fortunately, over the past few years, both Microsoft and Sony have eased restrictions on cross-play, making it a more feasible option for new multiplayer titles. Should no insurmountable obstacles arise, it is likely that players will be able to share a consistent experience in the world of Arrakis.

Looking Ahead

The development team at Funcom remains optimistic about the future of Dune Awakening on consoles, and gamers are eager to experience the vast desert landscapes filled with adventure and survival elements. As updates progress and more information becomes available, fans are encouraged to stay tuned for announcements regarding both the console release and cross-play capabilities.

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