Funcom, the developer behind the highly anticipated Dune: Awakening, has recently shed light on the game's business model and post-launch strategy. The studio confirmed that the game's release on May 20 will mark its full launch, not an Early Access period. This multiplayer survival game, inspired by Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi novel and its movie adaptations, will not require a subscription, despite being categorized as an MMO.
Instead of a subscription, Funcom plans to enrich Dune: Awakening with free updates that will introduce new content and features. The game will adhere to a traditional business model, offering optional DLCs for those interested in additional content. Funcom highlighted their commitment to ongoing support by referencing their track record with long-standing 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 seeking more exclusive content, the Deluxe Edition at $69.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $89.99 are available. Both premium editions offer a five-day head start and several unique items. The Deluxe and Ultimate Editions include a Season Pass, which unlocks four DLCs over time, with the first available at launch.
The Deluxe Edition includes the armor of the Sardaukar, the elite military force that players will encounter in the game. The Ultimate Edition encompasses all the Deluxe Edition content, plus Paul Atreides’ iconic stillsuit from the 2021 film, a digital artbook, a digital soundtrack, unique color patterns, and the Caladan Palace Set, which features building pieces, placeables, and decorations.
Pre-ordering any edition of Dune: Awakening grants players a universal color pattern applicable to vehicles, weapons, and armor, along with the Terrarium of Muad’Dib, an in-base decoration housing the iconic desert mouse.
Funcom also detailed Dune: Awakening's PC features and system requirements. The game supports advanced graphics technologies such as Nvidia’s DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, AMD’s FSR, and Intel’s XeSS 2.
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 dive into Dune: Awakening, check out IGN’s final preview of the game.
