Dune: Awakening Dev Calls Xbox Series S Development ‘A Challenge’

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Dune: Awakening Dev Calls Xbox Series S Development 'A Challenge'

Key Takeaways

  • 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.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of familiarity when I hear about Dune: Awakening’s development challenges on Xbox Series S. It seems like every new generation brings its own set of technical hurdles for developers to navigate.

Funcom, the creators behind “Dune: Awakening”, have openly admitted that developing the Xbox Series S version of the game has been quite a test. The game, with its promising potential in terms of gameplay and visuals, offers players an opportunity to delve into the intricacies of the world. The trailers suggest that the developers are dedicated to maintaining the authentic look of Arrakis without sacrificing their artistic vision. Notably, “Dune: Awakening” is Funcom’s first original “Dune” game, although they have previously published “Dune: Spice Wars”.

In August, Funcom revealed that “Dune: Awakening” would be released on PC by 2025, leaving console gamers with a sense of uncertainty as the launch window for their platform was not specified. However, many enthusiasts were thrilled to catch a glimpse of what they can expect from “Dune: Awakening”. This open-world MMO game, set in the “Dune” universe, appears to be an ambitious project, but it has encountered some challenges along the way.

As a devoted fan, I’ve learned from Scott Junior, the Chief Product Officer of Dune: Awakening, that the Xbox Series S poses a formidable challenge in terms of development and optimization. This insight sheds light on why the console release might be taking some time. He emphasizes that the Xbox platform, being broader and more complex, necessitates extensive optimization, which is less challenging on PC. It seems that fans eager to dive into Dune: Awakening on their consoles will need to exercise a little more patience for now.

Series S Development is Challenging for Dune Awakening

On numerous occasions, I’ve found myself sharing the same sentiments with fellow Xbox enthusiasts about the platform sometimes posing challenges for game developers. Lee Devonald from Rocksteady recently voiced his displeasure over a rule that demands releases to be compatible with both the Series X and S consoles. He specifically mentioned the less powerful GPU of the Series S as a concern, making the development process more complex due to the potential limitations it presents. In situations like these, developers often need to make tough decisions regarding their game’s release, such as the removal of a split screen mode in the Series S version of games like Baldur’s Gate 3.

In addition to this storyline, it’s worth noting that the situation for Dune: Awakening might not face identical challenges. Swen Vincke, the developer of Baldur’s Gate 3, contests the idea that the Series S consoles are being hampered. Instead, he emphasizes that the main determinant is “development effort.” The length of time developers have to finish a project and the number of team members available to assist can significantly impact the timing of a release. Funcom seems to be applying this thinking in their strategy by asking console players to wait just a tad longer.

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2024-09-03 02:24