Funcom, the developer behind Dune: Awakening, has provided an exciting update on the game's business model and post-launch plans, confirming that the much-anticipated release on May 20 will be a "full launch," not an Early Access phase. This multiplayer survival game, inspired by Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi novel and its cinematic adaptations, will not require a subscription despite its classification as an MMO.
Instead of a subscription, Funcom plans to enhance Dune: Awakening through free updates that will introduce new content and features. The studio will also adhere to a traditional business model by offering optional DLCs. Funcom cites its successful management of other long-running MMOs like Anarchy Online and Conan Exiles, which continue to receive free updates, DLCs, and expansions well 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 assured.
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 exclusive items. The Deluxe and Ultimate Editions include a Season Pass that unlocks four DLCs over time, starting with the first at launch. The Deluxe Edition also features the armor of the Sardaukar, the elite military force that hunts players in the game. The Ultimate Edition encompasses all of the above and adds Paul Atreides’ iconic stillsuit from the 2021 film, a digital artbook, a digital soundtrack, unique color patterns, and the Caladan Palace Set with various building components and decorations.
Pre-ordering any edition grants players a universal color pattern applicable to vehicles, weapons, and armor, as well as the Terrarium of Muad’Dib, an in-base decoration featuring the famous desert mouse.
Funcom has also detailed Dune: Awakening's PC features and system requirements. The game supports Nvidia’s DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, AMD’s FSR, and Intel’s XeSS 2 technologies, ensuring a high-quality gaming experience.
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.
