Known as one of 2025's standout releases on Steam, Funcom's Dune: Awakening has now proudly acquired the Steam Deck Verified status. This confirmation from Valve, the company behind the handheld gaming console, assures users that Dune: Awakening is fully functional and optimized specifically for the Steam Deck’s display and control mechanism. The milestone comes roughly two months following the game’s initial PC release and provides a seal of confidence for potential buyers considering the $49.99 price point.
Fluctuating Player Engagement
Upon its launch on June 10, 2025, Dune: Awakening, a survival MMO, made an impressive impact by reaching 189,333 concurrent players. This achievement placed the game among the top-played titles of the year on Steam. However, like many online games, its player engagement has seen fluctuations post-launch, with current concurrent numbers variably hovering between 20,000 and 47,000.
Despite these changes in player numbers, the game retains a noteworthy position, featuring in 87th place on the all-time concurrent players chart. Yet, the player base remains vocal, shaping the game's mixed reception on the platform.
Community Reception and Developer Response
The community's feedback is encapsulated in Dune: Awakening’s Steam rating, which reflects a "Mostly Positive" overall standing, with 74% of 37,547 user reviews endorsing the game. However, recent reviews have been more critical, showing a "Mixed" rating of roughly 53% approval. This sentiment highlights growing player impatience with the pace of new content releases.
In response, Funcom has committed to ongoing updates and improvements since the launch. The company's continuous efforts aim to address elements of player dissatisfaction and enhance the gaming experience by integrating fresh content.
This iterative process underscores Funcom’s potential strategy to maintain player interest and continue cultivating a dedicated community for Dune: Awakening. As interest balances between its initial peak and current conditions, the newly verified compatibility with the Steam Deck offers an additional opportunity to capture a wider audience eager to experience the game on Valve’s portable platform.
