As we approach the release of Dune Awakening, publisher and developer Funcom wishes to clarify some important details regarding the game’s launch, particularly its economic model. Given that it is presented as a large-scale MMO, certain practices are expected, and it was time to learn more about them. The first point to remember is that May 20th will indeed mark the full game’s release, not just the Early Access phase as some might have thought. No subscription will be required, and the business model will follow a relatively conventional pattern, including free updates, paid DLCs, and likely microtransactions to encourage impulse purchases. This practice is, in fact, quite common and logical, especially since Funcom has expertise in this area, having successfully managed MMOs such as Anarchy Online, which remains active (and will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year), as well as Conan Exiles, which continues to receive free updates.
Funcom also announces the availability of pre-orders for Dune Awakening, offering several editions: standard, deluxe, and ultimate. The standard edition is priced at 49.99€, while the deluxe edition (69.99€) and the ultimate edition (89.99€) both provide players with a five-day head start and exclusive items. Additionally, through the deluxe and ultimate editions, Dune Awakening includes a Season Pass that will grant access to four DLCs over time, starting with the first one at launch.
In the Deluxe edition, players will also receive the menacing armor of the Sardaukar, the elite military force that pursues players in the game. The Ultimate Edition includes all the features mentioned above, plus Paul Atreides’ iconic suit from the 2021 film, a digital artbook, a digital soundtrack, unique color patterns, and the Caladan Palace set featuring buildings, placeable items, and decorations. Preordering any edition, including the Standard Edition, grants players a universal color pattern for vehicles, weapons, and armor, as well as Muad’Dib’s Terrarium, an integrated base decoration housing the iconic desert mouse. This completes all available information.
