Funcom, the developer behind the upcoming multiplayer survival game Dune: Awakening, has provided an exciting update on its business model and post-launch strategy. The game, inspired by Frank Herbert's iconic sci-fi novel and its subsequent film adaptations, is set for a full launch on May 20, rather than an Early Access release. This means players can dive into the full experience right from day one.
Despite being labeled as an MMO, Dune: Awakening will not require a subscription. Instead, Funcom plans to keep the game evolving with free updates that introduce new content, features, and enhancements. The studio will also adhere to a "classic business model" by offering optional DLCs. This approach mirrors their successful strategy with other long-standing MMOs like Anarchy Online and Conan Exiles, which continue to receive free updates, DLCs, and expansions years after their initial launch.
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 offer additional perks. Both premium editions grant players a five-day head start and several unique items. The Deluxe and Ultimate Editions include a Season Pass that unlocks four DLCs over time, with the first available at launch. The Deluxe Edition also features the Sardaukar armor, an elite military force's gear that players will encounter in the game. The Ultimate Edition goes even further, adding 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 rewards players with a universal color pattern that can be applied to vehicles, weapons, and armor, along with the Terrarium of Muad’Dib, an in-base decoration featuring the iconic desert mouse.
Funcom has also outlined Dune: Awakening's PC features and system requirements. The game will support advanced graphical technologies like Nvidia's DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, AMD's FSR, and Intel's XeSS 2, ensuring a visually stunning experience for players.
Minimum System Requirements:
- 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 System Requirements:
- 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 look into what Dune: Awakening has to offer, check out IGN's final preview of the game.
