Funcom has officially announced that Dune: Awakening, the highly anticipated multiplayer survival game based on Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi universe, will launch on May 20th of this year. Inspired by both the original novels and Legendary Entertainment’s award-winning film adaptations, Dune: Awakening will transport players to the deadly world of Arrakis for an expansive open-world experience filled with danger, intrigue, and survival. Along with the launch date announcement, they have opened pre-orders for the game.
Pre-orders for the game are now open on Steam, offering three editions: Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate. Each edition includes unique rewards, with Deluxe and Ultimate versions granting players five-day early access and additional exclusive content. The Standard Edition is priced at $49.99, while the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions are available for $69.99 and $89.99, respectively. Check out a small screenshot showing the different perks in each edition below:
To help with celebrations of the launch announcement, Funcom has released a behind-the-scenes look at the game’s 90-minute digital soundtrack, composed by award-winning musician Knut Avenstroup Haugen. Recorded with a full orchestra at London’s iconic AIR Lyndhurst Studio, the soundtrack is featured in the Ultimate Edition. Check out the video with a sneakpeek below:
Alongside the soundtrack reveal, Creative Director Joel Bylos shared a video outlining the business model and post-launch plans for the game. Most notably:
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Dune: Awakening will launch as a full release, not in Early Access.
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There will be no subscription fees.
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Future content will be delivered through free updates.
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Additional content will follow a traditional DLC model.
Funcom, known for its strong track record with live-service games such as Conan Exiles and Anarchy Online, intends to support Dune: Awakening with ongoing content and feature updates for years to come. Which is a very good sign for players and enjoyers of the Dune franchise or survival game genre.
The Deluxe and Ultimate Editions include a season pass that unlocks four DLCs over time, beginning at launch. Players who opt for these editions will also receive in-game bonuses such as Sardaukar armor, Paul Atreides’ stillsuit from the 2021 film, digital artbook and soundtrack, color patterns, and the Caladan Palace Set. All pre-orders come with a universal color pattern and the Terrarium of Muad’Dib, an exclusive in-base decoration. Here is an image highlighting the bonus loot from the Ultimate Edition of the game.
For PC players, Dune: Awakening will launch with support for NVIDIA DLSS 4, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS 2. Razer Chroma RGB and Sensa HD Haptics are also supported for an even deeper immersive experience.
System requirements have been released, with the minimum GPU being an RTX 3070, and 16GB of RAM recommended. Players can prepare ahead of launch by downloading the Character Creator & Benchmark Mode on Steam, which also unlocks the exclusive Frameblade knife skin.
Will you be playing this game? Are you a fan of the survival genre? Will this beat Rust or Ark? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! As usual, stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more video game news!