A few days before the early access release of Dune Awakening, which was scheduled for June 5th (with a full release on June 10th), Funcom held a livestream lasting over two hours to offer viewers an in-depth look at their survival MMO, inspired by Frank Herbert’s universe and Denis Villeneuve’s films. During this extended video, the developers concentrated on areas that remained largely inaccessible during May’s public beta. Viewers were given access to a more thorough exploration of the Hagga basin, showcasing the planet’s diverse landscapes, ranging from the dense O’odham forests to the steep cliffs of Jabal Eifrit, including the abysses of the Hagga fault.
PvE, PvP, and Geopolitical Stakes
Beyond the classic elements of the genre – harvest, craftsmanship, base building – Dune Awakening introduces genuine social and political progression. Players can pledge allegiance to great houses such as the Atreides or Harkonnens, participate in the creation of advanced technologies, and confront imperial installations in high-level missions. The Landsraad, the political heart of the Dune universe, is fully integrated into gameplay, allowing each player to influence major decisions affecting the balance of power on Arrakis. Whether through PvE actions or PvP campaigns, power mechanics will offer unprecedented depth to the genre. Players can also train in the disciplines of the Imperium’s great schools: Mentats, Bene Gesserit, Swordmasters, and more. These influences will provide distinct playstyles, enriched by a vast arsenal of weapons, Holtzman shields, and exotic technologies.
Funcom has confirmed the launch schedule:
Steam Preload: Available from June 4th
Dune Awakening, a survival MMO inspired by Frank Herbert’s Dune universe and Denis Villeneuve’s films, will enter early access on June 5 for Deluxe and Ultimate Editions. Funcom recently hosted a 2-hour livestream revealing more details about the game, including previously unseen areas such as the Hagga basin. The stream showcased diverse landscapes ranging from O’odham forests to Jabal Eifrit’s cliffs and the Hagga fault abysses. The game expands beyond traditional survival MMO elements by incorporating social and political progression. Players can align with great houses like Atreides or Harkonnens, engage in technology development, and take on high-level imperial missions. The Landsraad, the political center of the Dune universe, is fully integrated into the game, allowing players to influence major decisions impacting Arrakis’s power balance through both PvE and PvP actions.Distinct playstyles can be developed by training in the Imperium’s schools, such as Mentats, Bene Gesserit, Swordmasters, among others. These are complemented by a wide range of weapons, Holtzman shields, and exotic technologies. Steam preload will become available starting June 4th.
