Dune: Awakening
Funcom | 10 June | PC XBXS PS5
Dune: Awakening – Everything You Need to Know About the Upcoming Survival MMO
The spice must flow—and so must the hype. Dune: Awakening, the ambitious open-world survival MMO from Funcom, is shaping up to be one of the most exciting adaptations of the Dune universe we’ve seen in gaming. Blending survival mechanics, large-scale multiplayer dynamics, and the deep political intrigue of Frank Herbert’s legendary sci-fi world, this PC title is set to drop players into the sands of Arrakis like never before.
Whether you’re a die-hard Dune fan or just curious about the next big survival MMO, here’s everything you need to know.
What is Dune: Awakening?
Set in an alternate timeline where Paul Atreides never comes to power, Dune: Awakening presents a unique version of Arrakis—untamed, unstable, and ripe for conquest. You’ll play as a sleeper awakened on the harsh desert planet, left to survive, build, and rise among thousands of other players in a vast, persistent online world.
Expect classic Dune themes like spice, sandworms, political betrayal, and ecological survival—mixed with Funcom’s proven MMO survival expertise.
Quick Feature Rundown
- Massive Open World – Seamlessly explore a persistent version of Arrakis, filled with mystery and danger.
- Harsh Survival Mechanics – Stay hydrated, avoid deadly sandstorms, and watch out for sandworms.
- Spice Wars – Mine, fight over, and trade spice in a dynamic economy that shapes the game world.
- Build & Craft – Establish bases, craft gear, and upgrade desert vehicles.
- Dynamic PvE & PvP – Battle players, creatures, and the environment in real-time encounters.
- Faction Progression – Align with major Houses or go rogue as a smuggler.
- Deep Customization – Shape your character’s appearance, skills, and alliances.
Gameplay Deep Dive
Survival First
From the moment you awaken, Dune: Awakening throws you into survival mode. You’ll need to find shelter, collect water, and adapt to one of the most hostile environments in sci-fi. The environment itself is alive—sandworms react to vibrations, and sandstorms can reshape entire areas.
Explore and Expand
Using vehicles like ornithopters or sand bikes, you’ll traverse vast dune seas, uncover hidden ruins, spice fields, and long-forgotten research stations. Exploration rewards players with resources, lore, and strategic advantages.
Craft, Trade, and Build
Crafting plays a huge role in progression. From makeshift survival gear to powerful weapons and custom-built outposts, players can build their place in the world. Base-building is both functional and tactical—location matters, especially when avoiding worm activity or defending against raids.
Combat and Conflict
Combat combines ranged weapons, melee tactics, and environmental awareness. PvP and PvE elements are tightly woven, with control over spice fields and key locations often leading to large-scale battles. Combat can be solo, squad-based, or involve entire factions clashing over valuable resources.
Spice is Everything
Spice powers everything—from character enhancements to economic dominance. It’s a volatile, contested resource that sparks political conflict, player missions, and even the attention of NPC factions. If you want to rule Arrakis, you’ll need to control the spice.
Meet the Factions
House Atreides
Noble and idealistic, Atreides loyalists fight with honor and strategy. Expect a focus on diplomacy, structured military tactics, and governance.
House Harkonnen
Power-hungry and brutal. Harkonnen players favor overwhelming force and ruthless tactics, rewarding aggressive expansion and intimidation.
Fremen
The desert’s native warriors. Fremen characters thrive in stealth, mobility, and survival, with unique ecological knowledge and secretive advantages.
Smugglers
For lone wolves and free agents. Smugglers specialize in black market dealings, fast trades, and covert operations. Think flexibility and profit-driven gameplay.
Others: The Guild & Bene Gesserit
While not confirmed as playable, these lore-heavy factions are expected to influence major world events and possibly offer story-driven missions and trade opportunities.
The Story So Far
Rather than following the exact storyline of the books or films, Dune: Awakening charts a new path. In this alternate timeline, Paul Atreides never rises to power—leaving Arrakis wide open for new players, factions, and forces to shape its fate.
The game will feature both scripted story arcs and emergent narratives driven by players. Expect political intrigue, betrayals, power struggles, and discoveries that tie into the deeper mythos of Dune.
Final Thoughts
Dune: Awakening isn’t just another survival MMO—it’s a bold attempt to gamify one of science fiction’s most complex and beloved worlds. With its rich lore, unique take on player progression, and high-stakes conflict over spice and survival, it has the potential to become a genre-defining experience.
Whether you’re drawn to its political sandbox, the thrill of PvP battles, or the challenge of surviving on Arrakis, there’s something here for every kind of gamer.
Joel Bylos, Creative Director on Dune: Awakening talks through the games’ business model, post-launch plans and PC features.
In short, when Dune: Awakening launches on
May 20thJune 10th:
- It will not be in Early Access, this is the full launch
- It will not have a subscription
- The game will continue to be expanded through free updates, bringing new content, features, and enhancements
- There will be optional paid DLCs
Funcom has been developing and supporting live service games for a long time. All our three MMOs are still in service, with Anarchy Online turning 25 years old next year. Our survival game Conan Exiles is still in active development and being updated after eight years of DLCs, expansions, and countless free updates.
Coming to PC on 10 June. Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 release dates to be confirmed.
Find Out More
My friends, ChatGPT and Gemini, helped me write this post based on my bullet list of points and some linkage to the official site.
