Dune: Awakening not working on PC (Tested Fixes)

Dune: Awakening is a brand-new survival MMO set in the Dune universe, and many PC players are struggling to get it running. The game may crash immediately after the intro screen or fail to launch at all, sometimes without displaying any error message.

This issue is frustrating because it’s affecting even high-end gaming rigs, not just low-end PCs. Players who eagerly awaited this Unreal Engine 5 title are understandably upset when it won’t work after installation.

Other frequent problems are:

• game freezes
• closes unexpectedly
• crashes on startup
• refuses to launch.

Fortunately, these launch and crash issues are common with new PC games and can usually be fixed by tweaking some settings or updating software.

How to fix Dune: Awakening not working on PC

You don’t have to reinstall Windows or do anything drastic. Try these solutions in order, from the easiest to the most complicated, until the game runs properly. Each fix below is proven to help players get Dune: Awakening working again.

1. Update your graphics drivers

Outdated graphics card drivers are a leading cause of game crashes. Dune: Awakening is optimized with the latest GPU drivers in mind, and NVIDIA even released a special hotfix driver to improve this game’s stability. Ensure you have the newest drivers for your GPU:

1. Download the latest driver for your GPU from the official site (NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon). NVIDIA users should install driver version 576.66 or newer, as it fixes hard lock issues seen with 576.52.
   
2. Run the driver installer and follow the on-screen prompts to update. If you use GeForce Experience or AMD Adrenalin software, you can update through those apps as well.
   
3. Once installation completes, restart your PC to apply the changes.
   
4. Launch Dune: Awakening and see if the crashing or not launching issue is resolved.
   

Updating your GPU driver ensures any known bugs are patched. For example, Funcom (the game’s developer) identified a specific NVIDIA driver as a problem and recommended upgrading it. With the newest driver, your game is less likely to crash on startup.

2. Install the latest Windows updates

Keeping Windows up-to-date is essential for new games. Important patches can fix compatibility issues or performance bugs that cause Dune: Awakening to malfunction. For instance, on Windows 11 version 24H2, a specific update KB5058499 improves stability in CPU-intensive games. Here’s what to do:

1. Press the Windows key, type “Check for updates”, and open the Windows Update settings.
   
2. Click Check for updates and allow Windows to download and install any pending updates.
   
3. If you’re on Windows 11 24H2, look under Optional updates for KB5058499 and install it (this patch specifically targets game stability issues).
   
4. After updates install, restart your PC.
   
5. Try launching Dune: Awakening again.
   

Installing all recommended Windows updates ensures you have the latest fixes and drivers from Microsoft. This can solve random crashes or freezes, and in some cases, it’s required for Dune: Awakening to run smoothly on the newest Windows builds.

3. Verify the game files on Steam

If Dune: Awakening still won’t launch, it might be due to missing or corrupted game files. Steam can automatically detect and repair any broken files:

1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
   
2. Right-click Dune: Awakening in the game list and choose Properties.
   
3. In the Properties window, go to the Installed Files tab.
   
4. Click the Verify integrity of game files button.
   
5. Wait for Steam to scan the game’s files and download replacements for any it finds corrupted or missing.
   
6. After verification, relaunch the game.
   

This process ensures you’re not dealing with a bad installation. Even one missing file can prevent the game from launching properly. Verifying through Steam is quick and often fixes startup crashes without any further effort.

4. Disable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS)

Windows has an option called Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling that can sometimes conflict with games like Dune: Awakening. Disabling this feature has helped some players improve stability. Here’s how:

1. Press Win + I to open Windows Settings and navigate to System > Display.
   
2. Scroll down and click on Graphics (or Graphics settings in some versions).
   
3. Under Graphics settings, click Change default graphics settings.
   
4. Find Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling and toggle it Off.
   
5. Restart your computer to ensure the change takes effect.
   
6. Launch Dune: Awakening and check if it runs without freezing.
   

HAGS is meant to reduce latency, but in Unreal Engine 5 games it can actually cause performance issues or crashes. Turning it off will let your GPU operate in the traditional way, which in this case can make the game more stable.

5. Enable the “Limit CPU Usage” setting in-game

Dune: Awakening includes an experimental setting to reserve one CPU core for system tasks, helping prevent total freezes. Enabling this can stop the game from maxing out your CPU during heavy loads (like shader compilation) and crashing your PC. If you can get into the game’s menu, do the following:

1. Open Dune: Awakening and go to Settings from the main menu.
   
2. Navigate to the Graphics section.
   
3. Find and enable the option labeled “Limit process CPU usage (experimental)”.
   
4. Apply the settings, then restart the game.
   

If the game won’t stay open long enough to change this, you can set it via a config file:

Open File Explorer and go to the folder:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\DuneSandbox\Saved\Config\WindowsClient 

1. Open the file Game.ini in Notepad.
   

Under the section [Settings.Video], add or change the line to:

LimitProcessCpuUsage=1 

3. Save the file and close it, then try launching the game again.
   

Turning on CPU limit ensures one core is always free for background tasks, which significantly improves system stability during gameplay. This may slightly reduce performance, but it’s worth it to stop crashes and hard freezes. Many players with high-end CPUs found this setting prevents the game from overwhelming their processor.

6. Stop overclocking and close background apps

Pushing your hardware beyond stock speeds can make Dune: Awakening unstable. If you’ve overclocked your GPU or CPU, it’s wise to revert to default settings while troubleshooting. Additionally, close any unnecessary background programs or overlays, as they can interfere with the game. To do this:

1. Disable overclocking: Open your overclocking software (e.g. MSI Afterburner) and reset your GPU/CPU to default clock speeds. If you overclock via BIOS, restart and enter BIOS (usually by pressing Del or F2 on startup) and load the default settings. Save and reboot.
   
2. Close background apps: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. In the Processes tab, look for any high-CPU or high-RAM programs not needed while gaming (web browsers, video recording tools, etc.). Select each and click End Task to close them.
   
3. Turn off overlays: Disable overlays from apps like Discord, Steam, or GeForce Experience (they often run in the background). For example, in Discord go to Settings > Game Overlay and turn it off.
   
4. Once you’ve normalized your hardware and closed extra apps, launch Dune: Awakening again.
   

Overclocking can cause system instability and crashes in demanding games, so running your PC at stock speeds removes that variable. Likewise, background applications (or overlay features) might hog resources or conflict with Dune: Awakening. By eliminating these factors, you free up maximum CPU/GPU power for the game and reduce the chances of a crash.

By following these steps, most players have managed to fix Dune: Awakening not working issues and enjoy the game. Remember to apply the fixes one at a time and test the game, so you’ll know which solution worked for you. If none of the above works, you might consider contacting Funcom support or keeping an eye out for official patches – the developers are actively releasing updates to improve stability.

FAQ

Why is Dune: Awakening not launching on my PC?

Dune: Awakening might not launch due to outdated drivers, missing updates, or corrupted game files. If your graphics driver is old or your Windows isn’t up to date, the game can fail to start. Ensuring you have the latest GPU drivers and Windows patches, and verifying the game files, usually resolves launch issues.

How do I fix Dune: Awakening crashing on startup?

To fix startup crashes, first update your graphics card driver to the newest version (NVIDIA’s 576.66 hotfix or latest, or the latest AMD driver). Next, install all Windows updates available. You should also verify the game’s file integrity on Steam and consider disabling GPU scheduling or turning off any overclocks. These steps address the common causes of crashes and have proven effective for many players.

Does Dune: Awakening work on Windows 10?

Yes, Dune: Awakening works on Windows 10 64-bit (as well as Windows 11), provided your system meets the game’s requirements. The game’s minimum specs list Windows 10 or newer as supported. Just make sure your Windows 10 is fully updated so that you have the necessary patches and drivers for the game to run smoothly.

What are the PC requirements for Dune: Awakening?

Dune: Awakening requires a 64-bit Windows 10/11 OS, a fairly modern CPU (e.g. Intel Core i5-7400 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 for minimum), 16 GB of RAM, and a graphics card around the level of a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB) or better for minimum settings. For higher settings, you’ll want an even stronger GPU and CPU. Ensure your PC meets these specs; otherwise, the game may not run or could crash frequently due to hardware limitations.