Cross-Platform Unity: Dune: Awakening Director Confirms “No Problem” for Crossplay

In a major piece of news for the community of Dune: Awakening, Game Director Joel Bylos has provided a powerful statement on the game’s future on consoles and the crucial topic of cross-platform support. In a recent interview, Bylos confirmed that from a technical standpoint, crossplay “is no problem” for Funcom, the developers of the highly anticipated survival MMO. This statement is a significant step toward reassuring PC players and prospective console gamers that they will be able to journey across the unforgiving sands of Arrakis together.

Dune: Awakening, which is currently in Early Access on PC, is slated for a console release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S sometime in 2026. While the game has drawn an impressive number of players since its launch, the absence of crossplay has been a key concern for the community. The game’s very nature—a massive, persistent world where alliances and large-scale battles are key—makes cross-platform functionality a must-have for long-term health and growth.

The Technical and Political Hurdles of Crossplay

While Bylos’s statement is a huge win for the community, he was also clear about the final barrier to a unified player base: the platform holders themselves. “It depends on what the platform holders have to say,” Bylos explained, referring to the necessary negotiations with Sony and Microsoft. This has been a recurring theme in the gaming industry, as both companies have historically had different, and sometimes restrictive, policies on crossplay.

However, the landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Crossplay is now a standard, and often expected, feature for multiplayer titles. Funcom’s experience with its previous title, Conan Exiles, and the successful implementation of crossplay in other massive MMOs like Final Fantasy XIV, suggests that the technical know-how is already in place. The main challenge will be securing the necessary agreements with Sony and Microsoft to ensure a seamless cross-platform experience.

For the Dune: Awakening community, this means that the fate of crossplay is now largely out of the developers’ hands and rests with the corporate decisions of the console giants. Nevertheless, Bylos’s candid comments signal that Funcom is committed to making it happen and is actively working toward that goal.

Why Crossplay is Crucial for a Survival MMO

For a game like Dune: Awakening, where large-scale interactions are at the core of the experience, crossplay isn’t just a nice-to-have feature—it’s essential.

• Larger Player Pool: Crossplay would unite the PC and console communities, leading to a much larger player base. This would make it easier to find groups for co-op content, fill out PvP arenas, and participate in server-wide events like spice blows and large-scale battles.
• Guild and Faction Health: The game’s intricate political system, where players can form guilds and fight for control of the desert, is dependent on a healthy and active population. Crossplay would ensure that these factions remain vibrant and competitive, regardless of what platform players are on.
• Social Cohesion: The ability to play with friends regardless of their preferred hardware is a massive quality-of-life feature. It would allow PC players to team up with their friends on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, preventing the fragmentation of friend groups.

The game’s developers are keenly aware of these benefits. The decision to launch on PC first and then bring the game to consoles in 2026 allows the team to focus on optimizing the experience for each platform before tackling the complexities of cross-platform integration. This methodical approach gives players confidence that the feature, once implemented, will be stable and reliable.

As the sands of Arrakis continue to shift, the future of Dune: Awakening looks bright. Bylos’s comments are a powerful and reassuring signal to the community that a fully unified desert is in sight, and it’s simply a matter of time before the PC and console players can truly awaken together.