Funcom, the developer behind Dune: Awakening, has provided an exciting update on the game's business model and post-launch strategy, confirming that the much-anticipated release on May 20 will be a full launch, not an Early Access release. This multiplayer survival game, deeply inspired by Frank Herbert's iconic sci-fi novel and its film adaptations, will not adopt a subscription model despite its classification as an MMO.
Instead, Funcom plans to enrich Dune: Awakening with free updates that will introduce new content and features, adhering to a traditional business model that includes optional DLCs. This approach mirrors the ongoing support Funcom has provided to its other long-standing MMOs like Anarchy Online and Conan Exiles, which continue to receive free updates, DLCs, and expansions long after their initial release. Funcom assures that Dune: Awakening will follow suit, continuously expanding with free updates that bring new content, features, and enhancements.
The standard edition of Dune: Awakening is priced at $49.99, while the Deluxe Edition at $69.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $89.99 offer players a five-day head start along with various exclusive items. The Deluxe and Ultimate Editions include a Season Pass that unlocks four DLCs over time, with the first DLC available at launch. The Deluxe Edition also includes the armor of the Sardaukar, the feared military force within the game. 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, which includes building pieces, placeables, and decorations.
Pre-ordering any edition of the game rewards players with a universal color pattern applicable to vehicles, weapons, and armor, as well as the Terrarium of Muad’Dib, a special in-base decoration featuring the iconic desert mouse.
Funcom has also detailed Dune: Awakening's PC features and system requirements, noting that the game supports Nvidia’s DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, AMD’s FSR, and Intel’s XeSS 2 technologies. Here are the system requirements:
Dune: Awakening PC System Requirements:
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 what Dune: Awakening has to offer, check out IGN's final preview of the game.
