Dune: Awakening released a Benchmark Test and Character Creation Demo on Steam, 2 months before their planned release date on May 20, 2025. Here we will discuss what it involves.
Benchmark Test
Dune Awakening’s benchmark test is a good way to see if your PC rig can withstand the game. This game doesn’t look to be too heavy in graphics and so far it doesn’t seem like it would stress too much on player’s PCs. While I was running the benchmark I was getting close to or even over 200 frames when the test was going on. Only dropping when it came to rendering something and that was only for a moment.
It takes you through a player-built base and active workshops, before hopping into an Ornithopter and heading into a loading screen. Then to Harko Village where you land and it will render in NPC’s and markets, taking in the visuals there. After that, you get back into the Ornithopter and ride off into the dunes, where it takes in the farther rendering and then a sandworm appears with a large event taking place in the back. It was a beautiful scene that only made me more excited to try the game.
While I am running a 4070 SUPER, with an 11th Gen i7, and 64 GB of RAM. It seemed it was easily able to hold its own when processing the game. It seems like there shouldn’t be a major issue. While the recommended specs aren’t on Steam just yet, the specs aren’t all that heavy:
- Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 or AMD FX-6300
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- Graphic: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon R9 280
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 50G
Character Customization
Character Customization came along with the Test. This allows us to select from various presents, toggle attire, and yes, create our character. They aren’t heavily detailed but they do allow you to move things around and create a character on your own. Upon completing the character you are talking to the Reverend Mother.
You will be able to choose your home planet:
- Giedi Prime
- Chusuk
- Caladan
- Kaitain
- Ix
Your Caste:
- Bondsmen
- Na-Familia
- Pyon
And your Mentor:
- Swordmaster
- Bene Gesserit
- Mentat
- Trooper
The given choices mainly choose your starting abilities but ultimately everything will be available to the players. Then you will put your hand in the box and will be set off on your journey, at least when the game is fully released.
Final Thoughts
It seems Benchmark testing is a thing that will be coming more often in the future. This will be a good thing for all PC gamers as it will allow them to test their own rigs and hopefully upgrade where they need to before the release of a game. Whether you are a fan or not of the Dune series, this game looks interesting from just the sight of the game itself. Personally, looking forward to playing the game and trying it out myself.
Getting to experience the Dune Awakening world, or worlds if we are lucky, will be a sight to see and an experience that if done right, will only have Dune lovers, craving more in the end.
Another thing worth mentioning is participation in the demo will unlock a skin for the Frameblade. The base game of Dune: Awakening is priced at $49.99 with a base decoration that houses the iconic desert mouse for pre-order. From Books to the big screen, Dune Awakening will be available on May 20th, 2025 for PC on Steam.
