Dune: Awakening Dev Confirms Full Launch Date, No Subscription, 'Optional' DLCs Planned

Funcom, the developer behind the eagerly anticipated multiplayer survival game Dune: Awakening, has recently shed light on its business model and post-launch strategy. In a significant update, they've confirmed that the game's release on May 20 will be a "full launch" rather than entering Early Access, marking an exciting milestone for fans of Frank Herbert's iconic sci-fi universe and its cinematic adaptations.

Contrary to expectations for a game labeled as an MMO, Dune: Awakening will not require a subscription. Instead, Funcom plans to keep the game evolving through free updates that introduce new content and features. This approach follows a "classic business model" that includes optional DLCs, ensuring players can enjoy ongoing enhancements without additional mandatory fees.

Funcom emphasized their commitment to long-term support, drawing parallels with their existing titles like Anarchy Online and Conan Exiles. These games have benefited from years of free updates, DLCs, and expansions, and Dune: Awakening is poised to follow suit. "Dune: Awakening will be no exception, and it will continue to expand with free updates bringing new content, features, and enhancements," Funcom stated, promising a rich and continuously expanding game world.

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 additional perks. Both the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions provide a five-day head start and unique items. The Season Pass, included with these editions, unlocks four DLCs over time, with the first available at launch.

Players opting for the Deluxe Edition will receive the armor of the Sardaukar, the game's elite military force that hunts players. The Ultimate Edition includes everything from the Deluxe Edition, along with 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 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 iconic desert mouse.

Funcom has also detailed the PC features and system requirements for Dune: Awakening. The game supports advanced graphics technologies such as Nvidia's DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, AMD's FSR, and Intel's XeSS 2, ensuring a visually stunning experience.

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 Dune: Awakening, check out IGN's final preview, which offers more insights into what players can expect from this thrilling survival game set in the expansive universe of Dune.