Enter the Shifting Sands: Dune: Awakening Lands on PC This May

Dune: Awakening, Funcom’s ambitious MMO survival title, is officially set to launch on PC on May 20. While versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S are also in the works, no release dates have been confirmed for those platforms yet.

A New Twist on the Dune Universe

In this unique reimagining of the Dune lore, Paul Atreides never existed. Players will instead step into the shoes of a prisoner sent to the desert planet of Arrakis, tasked with uncovering the fate of the vanished Fremen. As you struggle to survive in the harsh landscape, you’ll eventually pledge your loyalty to either the Atreides or the Harkonnen, shaping your path in this vast sci-fi sandbox.

Pricing and Pre-Order Bonuses

Dune: Awakening will be available for $50. Pre-ordering grants you a distinctive base decoration known as the Terrarium of Muad’Dib, a nod to the iconic Dune setting. This item can be displayed in your in-game headquarters once you establish yourself on Arrakis.

Character Creator and Benchmark Tool

Before launch, players can grab a free character creator and benchmark tool. Not only will this allow you to save and import your custom character into the full game, but it will also test your system’s performance to ensure optimal gameplay. While Funcom hasn’t disclosed final hardware requirements yet, the game’s Steam page indicates a 64-bit processor and operating system as a minimum specification.

Downloading the character creator also unlocks a Frameblade Knife via a special code you’ll receive at launch—a fitting weapon for traversing Arrakis’ perilous landscapes.

Ever-Changing Desert World

One of Dune: Awakening’s standout features is its constantly shifting open-world desert that resets every week, unveiling fresh areas to explore and hidden rewards to discover. Players will also encounter server-wide politics in the form of Landsraad decrees, where choices made by Atreides- or Harkonnen-aligned factions can alter the entire game world.

Solo or Multiplayer—You Choose

Although this is an online multiplayer experience, those who prefer to play solo can still immerse themselves in the story without feeling pressured to engage in PvP. The player-versus-player component remains purely optional, giving you control over how you interact with the community.

Beta Sign-Ups and Reimagined Survival Mechanics

You can register for the beta test on the official Dune: Awakening website for a chance to explore Arrakis before the masses. Funcom has hinted at reviving characters who perished in the classic Dune novels and is devoted to “rethinking” survival game conventions, promising a fresh spin on established mechanics.

Whether you choose to tame the sands alone or band together under a banner, Dune: Awakening offers an expansive, evolving world that challenges you to carve out your destiny on the iconic desert planet. Keep an eye on official channels for more information as May 20 approaches.