Dune: Awakening System Requirements and Platform Support

Dune: Awakening will launch on PC first, with Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X|S console versions officially confirmed and expected in 2026. While official day-one Steam Deck support is currently pending, there were multiple reports from players successfully running Dune: Awakening on Linux with Proton and Steam Decks with native SteamOS.

The complete minimum and recommended specs for this Unreal Engine 5 title are sourced directly from the official Funcom announcement from March 21st.

The best way to check your system’s performance is with the official Character Creator and Benchmark Mode tool, available now for free on Steam. This tool allows players to create and save their characters for use in the game, and to test their PC’s performance with a fly-through benchmark sequence.

Since Dune: Awakening is built with the demanding Unreal Engine 5, the developers have emphasized that a modern SSD is a must for optimal performance and avoiding prolonged loading screens.

Dune: Awakening runs both natively on Steam Deck via SteamOS and offers two performance presets at launch:

• Performance Mode (low-end laptop settings)
• Balanced Mode (default “normal” settings)

Early benchmarks from the game’s Character Creator & Benchmark Mode tool indicated modest performance under controlled conditions. During the Creator Preview event, content creators generally enjoyed smooth gameplay on Steam Deck.

However, during the Large-Scale Beta Weekend – when servers were under heavy load – several streams showed noticeable FPS drops and occasional stutters.

According to Steam Deck Gaming on Youtube (see video below), you can expect a stable 30 FPS indoors, but frame rates can plunge to as low as 9 FPS during intense moments such as sandstorms or sandworm encounters.

Users on ProtonDB’s page for Dune: Awakening also reported some issues with BattlEye anti-cheat system but this is expected to be fixed for launch.

Note: This Steam Deck performance preview is based on benchmarks and footage released nearly a month ago. Funcom has indicated that official Steam Deck support details will arrive before launch, and we’ll update this section as soon as they do. In the meantime, if you need rock-solid performance for critical gameplay, consider alternate platforms such as the ROG Ally X or cloud gaming services. Steam Deck will undoubtedly remain a great companion device for lighter tasks like gathering and crafting.

Initially the game was supposed to launch both on PC and consoles, including Playstation 5 but Funcom has delayed the console release until after the launch. According to a recent reply on X from Funcom, the console release is scheduled for 2026. We anticipate further details after the PC release.

While official performance targets for PS5 are pending, players can likely expect options prioritizing resolution (e.g., 4K dynamic @ 30fps) or performance (e.g., dynamic resolution @ 60fps), common for Unreal Engine 5 titles on current-gen consoles. This is speculative until official details are shared.

As with Xbox Series X|S, Funcom has not yet confirmed details regarding cross-platform play (e.g., PC with PS5) or cross-progression (sharing save data between platforms). This section will be updated upon official announcements.

Dune: Awakening is confirmed for Xbox Series X|S release following its PC launch, with Funcom targeting 2026, as per Funcom's recent reply on X.

Similar to PlayStation 5, official Xbox Series X|S performance targets are pending. Players can generally expect optimization options for Unreal Engine 5 titles, likely focusing on dynamic 4K resolution at 30 FPS or dynamic resolution at 60 FPS. This remains speculative until official details are shared by Funcom.

As with PlayStation 5, Funcom has not yet confirmed details regarding cross-platform play (e.g., PC with Xbox Series X|S) or cross-progression. This section will be updated when official announcements are released.

There is no native macOS support announced. Looking at Funcom’s history with their previous titles such as Conan Exiles, it is highly unlikely macOS will ever be officially supported.

Therefore, macOS gamers will need to explore non-native solutions, such as:

• Boot Camp (Intel Macs Only): Allows installing Windows directly for native gaming performance. Best for compatible Intel-based Mac devices that meet the minimum requirements.
• Virtualization (such as Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion): Runs Windows within macOS. Expect noticeable performance overhead for demanding Unreal Engine 5 titles due to virtualization.
• Compatibility Layers (like CrossOver): Attempts to run Windows applications directly on macOS without a full virtual machine. Performance and stability can be inconsistent with complex games like Dune: Awakening.
• Cloud Gaming Services: The most hardware-agnostic solution that allows streaming Dune: Awakening from remote servers directly to your Mac. This circumvents all hardware requirements and needs only a high-speed, stable internet connection.

Players with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3) systems should be aware that performance across all non-native methods will vary significantly on Apple Silicon Macs. Emulation layers, like Rosetta 2 for Intel-based Windows environments, introduce substantial overhead, making optimal gameplay challenging.

Right now we haven’t had any success ourselves or heard success stories from the community about getting either the Large-Scale Beta Weekend client or the benchmark mode tool run successfully on macOS. This section will be updated once the required tests are performed and any additional information becomes available.

While Dune: Awakening does not offer native Linux support, it can run on Linux using Valve’s Proton compatibility layer. Multiple users reported successful gameplay during Large-Scale Beta Weekend in May on ProtonDB, suggesting a promising outlook for launch.

For those on Linux, here’s what you need to know to play Dune: Awakening:

• Based on beta experiences, using either GE-Proton9-27 or Proton Experimental is highly recommended for optimal compatibility and performance.
• To access multiplayer areas (all in-game areas after the initial tutorial), you must install “Proton BattlEye Runtime”, which makes games protected by BattlEye kernel-level anti-cheat system work via Proton. This can be found by searching for it directly within your Steam client.
• For enhanced stability and performance, you might need to set the following launch options in Steam: “LD_PRELOAD=”” PROTON_ENABLE_NVAPI=1 __GL_SHADER_DISK_CACHE_SIZE=5000000000 mangohud gamemoderun %command%”.

As compatibility can evolve rapidly, we suggest checking the official Dune: Awakening ProtonDB page frequently for the latest user reports, specific workarounds, and updated Proton recommendations post-launch.

If local performance or setup proves challenging, cloud gaming offers a seamless alternative. These services stream the game directly to your Linux machine, bypassing the need for complex local configurations.

Funcom has released an official Character Creator & Benchmark Mode tool. This utility is the most accurate and direct way for you to test your PC’s hardware performance against Dune: Awakening’s system requirements before launch.

This Benchmark Mode tool is available for free directly on Steam. Simply go to the official Dune: Awakening Steam Store Page and click on the “Download Demo” button.

The tool includes a dedicated benchmark mode that will run a pre-defined fly-through sequence and display your Frames Per Second (FPS) performance. Use these guidelines to assess your system’s readiness:

• 30 FPS (Minimum Playable): Indicates your system meets or barely exceeds the minimum requirements for a playable, though not always smooth, experience.
• 60 FPS (Recommended): Your system is well-suited for a smooth and responsive gameplay experience, meeting or exceeding recommended specifications.

For players whose PC hardware doesn’t meet Dune: Awakening’s minimum requirements, cloud gaming services offer a powerful alternative. These platforms allow you to stream the game from high-end remote servers, bypassing the need for even having a computer.

The primary requirements for a smooth cloud gaming experience with Dune: Awakening are centered on your internet connection and having a compatible access device:

• High-Speed, Stable Internet: A consistent broadband connection is crucial. It depends on the service provider but most recommend at least 15 Mbps for a stable 1080p 60 FPS streaming, with higher speeds preferable for 4K or lower latency.
• Low Latency (Ping): Minimizing network latency to the cloud gaming data center is vital for responsive gameplay. One way to do this is to use a wired Ethernet connection or at least a 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection. Another requirement is to ensure that your chosen game streaming provider has a data center close to your physical location.
• Compatible Device: Most cloud gaming services support various devices: from computers and laptops (with various operating systems) to smart TVs, older TVs with streaming sticks and even smartphones or tablets.

For a complete overview of all confirmed cloud gaming services supporting Dune: Awakening, please visit our dedicated cloud gaming services page.