Funcom, the developer behind the highly anticipated Dune: Awakening, has provided an exciting update on the game’s business model and post-launch strategy. The studio confirmed that the game will fully launch on May 20, bypassing the Early Access phase. This multiplayer survival game, inspired by Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi novel and its subsequent movie adaptations, will not require a subscription, despite being categorized as an MMO.
Instead of a subscription, Funcom plans to expand Dune: Awakening through free updates, which will include new content and features. The company will also adopt a traditional business model by offering optional DLCs. Funcom highlighted its commitment to long-term support, citing its ongoing efforts with other MMOs like Anarchy Online and Conan Exiles, which continue to receive free updates, DLCs, and expansions years after their initial release. "Dune: Awakening will be no exception, and it will continue to expand with free updates bringing new content, features, and enhancements," Funcom stated.
The standard edition of Dune: Awakening is priced at $49.99. For those looking for more, the Deluxe Edition at $69.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $89.99 both offer a five-day head start and a variety of unique items. The Deluxe and Ultimate Editions include a Season Pass that grants access to four DLCs, with the first available at launch. The Deluxe Edition also includes the armor of the Sardaukar, the game's elite military force. The Ultimate Edition encompasses all of the above, plus Paul Atreides’ iconic stillsuit from the 2021 film, a digital artbook, a digital soundtrack, unique color patterns, and the Caladan Palace Set, complete with building pieces, placeables, and decorations.
Pre-ordering any edition of the game comes with a universal color pattern applicable to vehicles, weapons, and armor, along with the Terrarium of Muad’Dib, an in-base decoration featuring the iconic desert mouse.
The Dune: Awakening Ultimate Edition. Image credit: Funcom.
Funcom also detailed Dune: Awakening's PC features and system requirements. The game supports advanced technologies like Nvidia’s DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, AMD’s FSR, and Intel’s XeSS 2. Here are the system requirements for playing Dune: Awakening on a PC:
Minimum:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (or newer)
- Processor: Intel Core i5-7400, AMD Ryzen 3 1200
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB), AMD Radeon 5600XT (6GB)
- Storage: 60 GB available space
Recommended:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (or newer)
- Processor: Intel Core i7-10700K, AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (8GB), AMD Radeon 6700XT (12GB)
- Storage: 75 GB available space
For a deeper dive into Dune: Awakening, check out IGN’s final preview of the game.
