Dune Awakening has recently overtaken Elden Ring Nightreign in Steam’s Top Sellers chart just one day ahead of its early launch for Deluxe and Ultimate Edition owners. The game’s impressive performance is only rivaled by Counter Strike 2, which remains a strong competitor.
In a recent closed weekend beta, Dune Awakening reached a remarkable peak of 37,889 concurrent players, primarily composed of invited participants and pre-order customers who gained access towards the end of the beta phase. Eurogamer published a preview featuring gameplay highlights, showcasing the promising potential of the game.
Dune Awakening’s climb on the sales charts occurs as Elden Ring Nightreign, which launched last Friday and has since surpassed 3.5 million sales across multiple platforms, begins to see a decline. This demonstrates the evolving dynamics in player interest and the competitive landscape of new releases.
The game from Funcom is set to be fully released to the public on June 10th, but those eager to play ahead can purchase the Deluxe Edition for approximately £58.50 / $69.99 / €69.99. While it’s unclear how many players are opting for which edition, the surge in sales reflects a strong initial interest.
Recently, Funcom provided deeper insights into the game’s mid- to end-game experience during a live stream, detailing the activities players can engage in over hundreds of potential hours. An interview with the creative director highlighted the unique Landsraad system, which introduces a rotating set of tasks for factions such as the Atreides and Harkonnen to compete for, adding a layer of strategy and competition among players.
Dune Awakening is set to follow an alternate timeline of Frank Herbert’s celebrated sci-fi novels while drawing significant aesthetic inspiration from Denis Villeneuve’s recent film adaptations. Funcom’s previous experience with titles such as Conan Exiles and The Secret World positions them well to enrich the Dune universe through engaging gameplay and immersive storytelling.
The combination of enthusiastic early access sales and intriguing gameplay features bodes well for Dune Awakening’s success, exciting fans of the genre and the franchise alike.