Dune: Awakening drops you right into the heart of Arrakis — yeah, that brutal desert planet from the classic Dune universe. It’s an open-world survival MMO where the heat, the sandworms, and the politics can all kill you if you’re not careful.
It’s being made by Funcom, the same folks behind Conan Exiles and Age of Conan, so they know a thing or two about survival games. This time, though, they’re mixing in deep exploration, intense resource battles, and a whole lot of Dune-style scheming. It’s shaping up to be something really special.
In the game’s timeline where Paul Atreides was never born, Dune: Awakening offers a fresh narrative canvas while staying true to the universe’s gritty themes of power, spice, and survival. Players will fight to control spice-rich territories, craft advanced technology, and form alliances — or rivalries — with others across a persistent, shared world.
With increasing community buzz, growing interest from fans of both Dune and survival games, and multiple gameplay showcases leading up to launch, the anticipation is real.
In this guide, we’ve got you covered with all the key details — when Dune: Awakening is coming out, where you’ll be able to play it, whether you can team up with friends across platforms, what kind of PC you’ll need, and of course, the newest trailers showing off what the game actually looks like in action.
Contents
- 1 Dune: Awakening Release Date
- 2 Platforms & Editions
- 3 The Deluxe Edition contains:
- 4 The Ultimate Edition contains:
- 5 Cross-Play & Cross-Progression
- 6 Cross-Progression Status
- 7 Developer Comments & Roadmap
- 8 Gameplay Overview
- 9 Open-World Exploration
- 10 Character Customization
- 11 PvP and PvE Dynamics
- 12 Comparisons to Similar Titles
- 13 Server Structure: Worlds, Seiches, and the Deep Desert
- 14 Visiting Friends Across Servers
- 15 Guilds and Social Features
- 16 System Requirements (PC)
- 17 Official Trailers & Gameplay Videos
- 18 Community Reception & Hype
- 19 Gameplay Mechanics & Combat
- 20 Technical and Development Concerns
- 21 Final Thoughts
- 22 FAQ Section
Dune: Awakening Release Date
Dune: Awakening is slated for a full release on June 10, 2025, exclusively on PC via Steam. Players who purchase the Deluxe or Ultimate Editions will gain early access starting June 5, 2025, providing a five-day head start before the official launch.
The game will be available to play on Steam at 16:00 CEST / 10 a.m. EDT on June 5 and June 10.
Pre-loading for the game will be available to all pre-order customers 24 hours before head start on June 4. However, it’s important to note that pre-ordering the Standard Edition does not grant early access.
The game will be launched for Windows at start, then we expect future releases for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Previously, the game was scheduled for release on May 20, 2025. After closed beta testing, which occured on May 9-12, 2025, it seems like the developers found many bugs to fix, so Funcom delayed the launch to June 10, 2025. This launch helped developers get the necessary feedback from players to bring us a better game version.
Platforms & Editions
If you own any edition available, you will receive two unique rewards when the game is available.
- Terrarium of Muad’Dib – This detailed in-base decoration houses our favorite desert mouse as he goes about his life. Muad’Dib may be wise in the ways of the desert, but also of the terrarium.
- Sunset Dye Global Swatch – A unique color pattern that can be applied to weapons, vehicles, and armor.
The Deluxe Edition contains:
- Season Pass: Includes 4 DLCs. The first of these will contain several placeables inspired by the wildlife of Arrakis, including Shai-Hulud himself. The 3 next DLCs will be released later.
- Sardaukar Bator Armor: The menacing armor worn by the Sardaukar, the elite military force that players find themselves hunted by in the game.
- Pre-order only: 5-day head start, Terrarium of Muad’Dib, and Sunset Dye Global Swatch
- One copy of the base game
The Ultimate Edition contains:
- Season Pass: Includes 4 DLCs. The first of these will contain several placeables inspired by the wildlife of Arrakis, including Shai-Hulud himself. The 3 next DLCs will be released later.
- Sardaukar Bator Armor: The menacing armor worn by the Sardaukar, the elite military force that players find themselves hunted by in the game.
- Dusk Rider Sandbike Swatch: A unique color pattern for your sandbike
- Blue Dasher Ornithopter Swatch: A unique color pattern for your ornithopter
- Caladan Palace Building Set: Building pieces and placeables from the 2021 film
- Dune 2021 Film Stillsuit: The stillsuit worn by Paul Atreides’ in the film
- Digital Artbook: A 50-page artbook full of artworks from the game’s development
- Digital Soundtrack: 90 minutes of music from the game
- Pre-order only: 5-day head start, Terrarium of Muad’Dib, and Sunset Dye Global Swatch
- One copy of the base game
Cross-Play & Cross-Progression
As of now, Dune: Awakening does not support cross-platform play. The game is launching exclusively on PC via Steam on June 10, 2025, with console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S planned for a later date. Funcom has not officially confirmed whether cross-play will be available when the console versions are released.
However, Creative Director Joel Bylos commented this:
“Making the world feel seamless and connected has always been one of our goals… the overland map lets us keep expanding Arrakis for years to come.” — Joel Bylos, Creative Director, Dune Awakening Direct #2.
Cross-Progression Status
Similarly, cross-progression—allowing players to carry their progress across different platforms—has not been confirmed. As far as we know, the current focus is on the PC release, and they have stated that discussions about cross-progression will occur closer to the console launch.
Developer Comments & Roadmap
While Dune: Awakening currently lacks cross-play and cross-progression at launch, Funcom has confirmed a robust post-launch roadmap that may pave the way for broader platform support in the future.
- Major Free Updates: New story content and systems (e.g. guild tools, progression loops).
- Optional DLCs: Each major free update will be paired with a premium DLC containing substantial content.
- Season Pass: Access to the upcoming DLCs at a discount.
Gameplay Overview
You’ll start your adventure in Dune: Awakening with just the basics — think scraping together water, building a shelter, and crafting whatever gear you can find. From there, the game follows a four-stage path: Survive, Protect, Expand, and eventually, Control.
As you level up, you’ll unlock the ability to form guilds, get involved in political power plays, and compete with others for control of the ultimate prize on Arrakis — spice.
Open-World Exploration
Arrakis is a vast, open-world environment featuring diverse biomes, dynamic weather conditions, and environmental hazards like sandstorms and sandworms. Players can explore various regions, including PvE zones and the Deep Desert, which offers PvP opportunities and weekly map alterations due to Coriolis storms.
Character Customization
Speaking of customization its really deep, players can choose their Homeworld, Mentor, and Caste. These choices influence starting abilities and interactions within the game world. For instance, selecting a Bene Gesserit mentor grants access to unique skills like “The Voice.”
PvP and PvE Dynamics
Dune: Awakening balances PvE and PvP elements. Players can engage in co-op missions, dungeons, and battle AI enemies.
There are PvP zones where you can engage in combat with other players and also fight for territorial control. PvP is optional and becomes accessible after a certain progression, ensuring that new players can have time to adapt to the game.
Comparisons to Similar Titles
Sure, Dune: Awakening has some things in common with games like Rust, ARK, or Conan Exiles — you’ve got base building, gathering resources, and all the survival stuff. It’s not just about surviving — it’s about carving out your place in a living, breathing world.
Server Structure: Worlds, Seiches, and the Deep Desert
- Worlds: Each region (e.g., North America, Europe, Australia) hosts multiple “worlds,” which are collections of servers. Players select a world upon joining, determining their broader community.
- Seiches: Within each world, there are multiple instances called “seiches.” For example, the starting area, Hagga Basin, consists of several seiches, each supporting up to 40 concurrent players. A queue system manages access if a seich is full, allowing hundreds of characters per world as players log in at different times.
- Deep Desert: This is a shared, 576 km² PvP-heavy endgame zone where all players in a world converge. It supports 500–900 players across a 3×3 server grid, with each grid cell accommodating up to 100 players.
- Social Hubs: Cities like Arrakeen and Harko Village serve as gathering points for trading, socializing, or relaxing. These hubs are accessible via ornithopter on the overland map and are shared spaces for players.
Visiting Friends Across Servers
Dune: Awakening allows players to visit friends on different seiches within the same world:
- How It Works: Friends from your Steam list appear in the in-game friends menu. Selecting “Visit Friend” teleports you to the nearest trade post in their seich.
- Capabilities: You can participate in all content (contracts, story steps, group activities) except claiming new land for bases. If granted permission, you can build on a friend’s base, and progress carries back to your home world.
- Limitations: Land claims are restricted to your home seich to maintain database stability and prevent overcrowding.
Guilds and Social Features
The game fosters social play through flexible group and guild systems:
- Groups: Temporary parties of up to four players, ideal for short-term activities like exploring the Hagga Basin.
- Guilds: Larger communities of up to 32 players, with hierarchical structures including leaders and officers. Guilds can pledge allegiance to major houses (Atreides or Harkonnen) once a member progresses far enough in faction alignment. Joining a guild aligned with a different house overrides your personal allegiance, ensuring unity.
System Requirements (PC)
Minimum Requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit or newer
- CPU: Intel Core i5-7400 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1060 (6 GB) / AMD 5600XT (6 GB)
- DirectX Version: 12
- Storage: 60 GB
- Network: Broadband internet connection
Recommended Requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit or newer
- CPU: Intel Core i7-10700K / AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3070 (8 GB) / AMD 6700XT (12 GB)
- DirectX Version: 12
- Storage: 75 GB
- Network: Broadband internet connection
Official Trailers & Gameplay Videos
The first trailer was released two years ago. It showcases Arrakis’s brutal and awe-inspiring world, where survival is just the beginning.
Join @Funcom‘s Chief Creative Officer Joel Bylos and Executive Producer Scott Junior as they dive deep into the making of Dune: Awakening.
Watch the gameplay video to discover the in-game mechanics of Dune: Awakening and uncover the secrets of Arrakis. Here you’ll see the character creation, beginner quests, how gathering and surviving elements work, and the most anticipated game’s aspect – combat.
Community Reception & Hype
Gameplay Mechanics & Combat
Many players didn’t like the game’s combat mechanics. As one of the Reddit users mentioned “The combat looks absolutely atrocious. The animations, the impact of the attacks (or the lack thereof), the sound design… basically everything.”
Given the Dune universe’s emphasis on melee combat due to technological constraints, some fans are disappointed by the game’s apparent focus on ranged weaponry. A commenter highlighted, “In Dune, melee is one of the most fundamental and widespread use of weaponry… That seems to differ from the game.”
The game’s decision to diverge from established lore, such as the removal of the Fremen, has sparked debate. One user remarked, “It kind of feels like without the Fremen on Dune, we’re all just playing as the imperialistic ‘bad guys’.”
Plus, in this timeline Paul Atreides was never born—that information has been both praised for its creativity and critiqued for roaming from the original narrative.
Technical and Development Concerns
One Redditor stated, “Funcom has a real pattern of abandoning their old game in favor of their newer gold goose.”
The game may also face cheating problems, just like in previous Funcom games. A user warned, “You will see cheats within a week… Funcom is very sloppy with their coding.” This highlights fears about game security and fair play.
The shift in how Dune: Awakening is being described — from a “Survival MMO” to an “open-world multiplayer survival game” — has definitely left a lot of players scratching their heads. It’s caused some confusion about what to expect but there’s a hope that player’s’ feedback from the recent beta will help shape the final version.
Final Thoughts
Dune: Awakening is looking like one of the boldest survival MMOs we’ve seen in a long time. The only downside right now is that there’s no cross-play or cross-progression at launch, which might be a bummer for players who like to switch between platforms. Still, if Funcom sticks to its roadmap — with big free updates and solid DLC drops — this game has the potential to become something really special in the genre.
FAQ Section
When does Dune: Awakening come out?
Dune: Awakening is scheduled to release on June 10, 2025 for PC via Steam. Console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S are expected to follow at a later date.
Is there cross-play in Dune: Awakening?
As of launch, Dune: Awakening does not support cross-play between platforms. Funcom has indicated that cross-play may be considered in future updates, depending on platform policies and technical feasibility.
What platforms is Dune: Awakening available on?
The game will initially launch on PC (Steam), with versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S currently in development.
Can I play Dune: Awakening solo?
Yes, you can play solo. While Dune: Awakening is designed as an MMO, it supports solo playstyles, especially in PvE zones. However, joining a group or guild may be beneficial for accessing higher-tier content and surviving in PvP regions.
Is Dune: Awakening a true MMO?
Yes, Dune: Awakening is a persistent, open-world MMO with survival mechanics. It features large shared servers, real-time player interactions, a dynamic economy, and both PvE and PvP gameplay elements.
