Arrakis is the most dangerous planet in the universe, and next year, players will be tasked with surviving it. Funcom's upcoming open-world survival MMO Dune: Awakening will drop players into the harsh desert planet where they will begin their journey as a nameless prisoner and work to become a legendary spice hunter.
At Gamescom this past week, Funcom offered players an in-depth look at Dune: Awakening showing off many of the game's core features and gameplay mechanics. The initial gameplay reveal touched on all the different threats you'll face on the planet, from giant sandworms to the scorching sun to territorial deserters.
Much of Dune: Awakening's gameplay revolves around survival. How you choose to adapt to this harsh planet is entirely up to you though. While you can go at it alone, "working with others will always increase your chance of staying alive," the developer notes.
Once you learn the way of the Fremen, it's time to expand your potential. Combat, of course, is one way to scavenge supplies, but there are other ways to harvest and mine resources that help build bases and unlock more advanced equipment, like the blood purifiers which let you refine the blood of your enemies into drinkable water.
Dune: Awakening is very much an MMO in the sense that you'll be interacting with other players beyond just combat. A blueprint system not only lets you replicate your base in new locations but also allows you to sell your architectures to other players. The goal is to build up your guild and recruit players so that you can go after the planet's most valuable resource: Spice.
"In the deep desert beyond the shield wall hundreds of players scour the landscape, hunting for spice," the developer teases. "Every spice blow has the potential to become a heated battle with multiple guilds vying for the precious melange."
As you'll see in the video below, those who understand desert power, "can awaken Arrakis itself."
This is your Dune. A Dune where Paul Atreides was never born. Where Lady Jessica obeyed the Bene Gesserit and gave birth to a girl, and Duke Leto survived the assault on Arrakeen. As a War of Assassins between Atreides and Harkonnen rages across the planet, new factions form, old ways fade, and the Fremen... are missing. Your journey begins here, in the desert. Find the Fremen. Wake the Sleeper.
This is your Arrakis. The most dangerous planet in the universe, where the machinations of guilds and powerful houses devour the unprepared as easily as the ancient sandworms that prowl the open deserts. Face your fear, and you may find immeasurable opportunity. The path is yours to choose. Survive, scavenge, and build a home to protect yourself from enemies and the elements. Seek fortune and spice through combat, exploration, trade, and crafting. In a world shared by hundreds of other players, will you rise to lead a Great House and control the flow of spice itself?
What path will you choose?
In addition to the five-minute gameplay reveal, Funcom also offered a lengthier presentation that goes more in-depth into many of the game's mechanics.In the 26-minute video below creative director Joel Bylows takes just through an extended look at the player's journey from scavenging survivor to spice hunter.
Dune: Awakening is coming to PC in early 2025. It's also set to arrive on Xbox Series X|S and PS5, but no release date has been announced yet.