"We've been through this before": Dune: Awakening team assures stability at launch despite past server issues
Prepare to embark on the arid expanses of Dune: Awakening, the highly-anticipated survival MMO nestled within the iconic Dune universe, where the onset of server troubles is a predictable part of the launching process for numerous multiplayer games. The weekend beta is set to commence tomorrow, with a full launch scheduled for June 10th. But will Dune: Awakening be another game that crumbles under the pressure of a gargantuan player influx?
Developer Funcom is stepping up to quell your server-related anxieties. In a post on Steam, they addressed the concern surrounding server strain and queues. Citing their prior experience launching multiple MMOs and survival games over the past 25 years, Funcom expressed confidence in their arsenal of tools and competent live operations team.
The studio acknowledged the impossibility of completely avoiding full servers and detailed their strategy to ensure infrastructure readiness. Thousands of servers will be grouped together in hundreds of Worlds across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Funcom suggests they have the capacity to spin up additional servers if required.
However, I've noticed a pattern over the years - developers and publishers frequently claim they have robust systems in place to handle overflowing players. Nevertheless, the games often stumble on day one, with influxes larger than anticipated.
In recent times, the widespread server woes on launch day have become more frequent than ever. Foreshadowing 2024 as "the year of server issues," we witnessed game after game - including Helldivers 2, Last Epoch, Palworld, Nightingale, and Microsoft Flight Simulator - being hobbled by the sheer weight of players and forced to quickly remedy the situation.
Even with advanced warning, Funcom can't help but caution its players of potential complications, such as encountering a server queue if a player concurrency cap is reached. Interestingly, they seem to view this as a fortunate circumstance, suggesting that it provides a more orderly approach than leaving players in limbo, hoping a slot may open up.
While the beta will offer "tens of thousands" of keys, testing the system with limited player numbers might not fully replicate the load it will face during the full launch. As optimistic as Funcom may be, they're far from immune to the treacherous pitfalls that bedevil other multiplayer games. One can only hope that they manage to tame their proverbial horses and deliver a seamless experience to all the eager players.
- Server troubles are a common occurrence during the launch of many multiplayer games, including the upcoming Dune: Awakening.
- Developer Funcom is seeking to allay player concerns about server strains and queues, citing their experience in launching multiple MMOs and survival games over the past 25 years.
- Funcom plans to group thousands of servers together in hundreds of Worlds across various continents, aiming to handle player influxes by spinning up additional servers if necessary.
- Despite claims of robust systems, many games struggle with handling excess players on the first day, even games launched in recent years like Helldivers 2, Last Epoch, Palworld, Nightingale, and Microsoft Flight Simulator.
- Funcom acknowledges the possibility of server queues due to a player concurrency cap, viewing it as a more orderly approach than leaving players in limbo.
- While the beta provides limited player numbers for testing, the full launch may pose challenges to Funcom, as they aim to deliver a seamless experience despite the potential treacherous pitfalls that often plague multiplayer games.
