If Dune: Awakening is stuttering or freezing on your PC or there are sudden FPS drops, here’s how to fix it
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Dune: Awakening is a new game, so performance issues are expected at launch. One of the most common problems right now is stuttering, along with FPS drops and random freezing. This is when the game briefly freezes or skips frames, breaking the smooth flow of motion. It can happen during exploration, combat, or even cutscenes, and it makes the game feel unplayable at times.
Many PC players are reporting these issues even with decent hardware, which shows the problem isn't always about your system specs. If you’re dealing with these issues, you’re not alone, and the good news is that they can often be fixed or reduced with a few adjustments and tweaks, which we’ll go over in this guide.
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How to fix freezing, FPS drop, and stuttering issues in Dune: Awakening on PC
If the issues do not go away on their own, even after you restart your PC or the game, then follow these methods.
Update your GPU drivers
GPU drivers play a huge role in how well your games run. Manufacturers like Nvidia, Intel, and AMD regularly release driver updates to make their graphics cards compatible with the latest games. For example, Nvidia released Game Ready drivers for Dune: Awakening a while ago, which are designed to improve performance and fix bugs linked to the game. If you play the game on outdated drivers, then you’ll eventually run into different performance issues.
To fix this, go to your GPU manufacturer's website, download the latest driver for your graphics card, and install it. You can also use the dedicated application of your GPU, like the Nvidia App, to update the drivers.
Disable upscaling
Nvidia’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR are upscaling technologies designed to increase frame rates by rendering the game at a lower resolution and then upscaling it. While they work well in many cases, sometimes they don't function properly with certain games. Instead of improving performance, they may cause stuttering, blurry visuals, or sudden FPS drops.
So, if you’re using DLSS or FSR and facing performance issues, go into the game’s graphics settings and turn them off. Then check if the game runs more smoothly. If the stuttering or freezing stops, the upscaling feature was likely the problem. However, if disabling it doesn't help, you can always turn it back on for better performance.
Lower the in-game graphics settings
Dune: Awakening lists the GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 5600 XT and CPUs like the Intel i5-7400 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 as the minimum requirements. These specs are good enough to run the game, but not at ultra settings with high FPS, even at 1080p. If your PC is close to or slightly above these specs and you’re trying to play the game on high or ultra settings, you'll most likely face stuttering, frame drops, or freezing.
To fix this, head into the in-game graphics menu and set everything to low. Restart the game and see if it runs smoothly. If it does, that means your previous settings were too demanding. From there, start increasing one setting at a time (textures, shadows, and other demanding features) and test the performance after each change. Stop once you notice the game begins to lag again. This helps you find the sweet spot for your hardware.
Check for overheating
Many PC users fail to keep an eye on the temps of their components while playing games. If your CPU or GPU gets too hot while playing, it can throttle the performance to avoid damage, which results in lower FPS, stuttering, or even temporary freezing.
To check your temps, use free tools like MSI Afterburner or HWiNFO. Run the tool, start the game, and monitor the temperatures. If the temps go above the safe levels after you start playing Dune: Awakening, you need to turn the system off and take measures like cleaning your PC, removing dust buildup, and replacing the thermal paste of your GPU or CPU. In some cases, you might need to invest in a better CPU cooler or more case fans.
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