Let's take a look at everything we know about Dune Awakening, the latest game based on the iconic sci-fi franchise that adds an MMO element to the mix.
We've seen a number of Dune games pop up over the last few years, thanks to the huge popularity of the movie franchise. While the series itself is based on the famous book series, video games have jumped on the IP of late. In 2025, however, we have what might be the most ambitious Dune game to date, as Awakening takes aim at the MMO genre.
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Dune Awakening Release and Platforms
Dune Awakening will release globally on PC on June 10th, 2025. However, fans who pre-purchase either the Deluxe or Ultimate edition will get five days of early access instead. The game will cost around $50 for the base edition and will not require a subscription to play. However, it will offer a season pass and "DLC," which we assume is similar to a cash shop found in WoW.
Pro Tip: On April 15th, Dune Awakening was delayed by a month to June. The developers noted that the closed beta has been great, but has also shown that the game needs some more time in the oven.
On PC, there are three versions of the game available to purchase:
- The base Edition
- Deluxe Edition - June 5th head start, season pass, armour
- Ultimate Edition - Everything in the Deluxe edition, plus digital artbooks, soundtracks, building sets, and armour sets
The game will launch on PC first, and it will also be released on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S; however, a full release date is yet to be confirmed at this time. Due to the size and scale of the game, it won't release on the previous generation of consoles.
Dune Awakening MMO Gameplay and Survival Aspect
When speaking about the gameplay of Dune Awakening, the game's director Joel Bylos said, "Dune Awakening is a survival game, first and foremost, where you must search for water, search for shelter, and walk softly on the sand to avoid the sandworms. In addition to this, you'll be doing it online with thousands of other players." For anyone who is used to publishing Funcom, it sounds a lot like their other game, Conan Exiles.
Dune Awakening is going to be broken down into three key gameplay pillars. Survive, Explore, and Discover. These are pretty cool for an MMO, and the game's website sets these out pretty well.
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Survive - Immersing yourself in the Fremen's knowledge. Hide in the shadows to avoid the blazing sun. Create stillsuits and extract moisture from foes to maintain hydration. Construct shelters to protect against deadly sandstorms and remain vigilant about sandworms.
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Explore - An expansive realm filled with both beauty and peril. Soar, ascend, and dash across Arrakis utilising legendary Dune technology like ornithopters and suspensor belts. Explore the lively hubs of Arrakeen and Harko Village, where you can connect with fellow players to socialise and trade.
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Discover - a dynamic desert that invites endless exploration. Coriolis storms continually reshape the Deep Desert, transforming familiar landscapes into perilous, uncharted territories. Weekly, players compete to be the first to discover new locales, threats, and rewards.
Dune Awakening Classes and Roles
One key aspect of Dune Awakening is that your class is not locked, allowing you to change and explore later. This plays into two of the keys above (Explore and Discover). The game starts you off as an abandoned, unnamed entity in the world. At launch, we have five classes to choose from:
Pro tip: Dune Awakening is not like WoW, and does not conform to the triad class system of a healer, tank, and DPS.
- Swordmaster: Melee combat and all-out aggression
- Bene Gesserit: Mastery of manipulation, make enemies work for you, and taunt them from afar
- Mentat: The scout class, stay in the shadows, recon camps, and snipe
- Trooper: The most standard "soldier" role, focuses on mid-range combat and demolition
- Planetologist: A focus on resource gathering as the main front line class. Works as the ideal PvE class
Dune Awakening Survival aspects and guilds
Dune Awakening emphasises group and social play. Joining a guild and working towards a goal will be a huge part of how Dune works. We would liken this to how New World attempted to push players to focus on building a community.
Survival is also a key area of focus for the game, with water being a resource as important as the money in your pockets or the shirt on your back. In an Interview with PC Gamer, Joel Bylos added that "Sandworms themselves are a giant threat in the world. If you walk on sand, they will come. If you create vibrations, they will come. So you have to think about how you approach traversal in the game world. And obviously, water. Those are our three key."
It sounds like a great start to us, and with betas and new details coming out weekly, we'll be sure to put out more content as the game gets closer to release.
