Funcom is preparing the ground. A few weeks before the official release of Dune: Awakening, the Norwegian studio is offering players a sneak peek into Arrakis’ dunes with an open beta that promises to be extensive and robust. From May 9th to 12th, 2025, Frank Herbert’s universe, revisited by Denis Villeneuve and Legendary Entertainment, will open for a weekend of exploration, survival, and political engagement, without any restrictions. Unlike previous testing phases, this large-scale beta removes the embargo: there is no need for an NDA, allowing everyone to share their discoveries, stream their adventures in sandstorms, and recount their encounters with colossal creatures on the desert sands.
Funcom has provided extensive access: the beta will enable players to experience the first 20 hours of gameplay, covering the core of the first act of this science fiction epic. This offering will allow adventurers to harvest their initial spices, familiarize themselves with survival mechanics in a desert that is both visually stunning and perilous, and begin to grasp the political dynamics within Arrakis through the Landsraad system. The official game release is still scheduled for June 10, 2025.
