Dune Awakening: Everything we know so far about the new Dune MMO

Dune: Awakening is almost here, having just closed its latest Beta test ahead of its PC launch. That's right, sci-fi fans, our time has almost come. The desert planet of Arrakis is set to be transformed into an expansive (literal) sandbox where you're free to build your own base in a world shared with other players, and its concept, scale, and customization are already giving us plenty of reasons to get excited despite Dune Awakening's 3-week delay to June 10. This doesn't include the five-day "head start" period beginning June 5, and yes, that's the same day the Switch 2 launches...!

Dune Awakening is the latest game from Conan Exiles developer Funcom, the studio behind some of the best MMORPGs, so we're expecting an impressive survival experience. The game sees us crash landing on Arrakis, originally sent here to look into a mysterious disappearance, but it soon becomes clear that something much more sinister is going on. As you seek out the truth, you'll rise up solo or with the help of other players you meet while exploring the vast desert planet.

While it's a bummer that this new game has been delayed a few weeks, our Dune Awakening preview from January attests to the mechanical complexities it will offer up. From crafting to survival and base building, Dune Awakening is shaping up to be a very dynamic MMO. Here's everything we know about the new Dune game, from its recent delay to gameplay information and more.

Dune: Awakening release date

The Dune Awakening release date has been delayed to June 10, 2025, with a "head start" or Early Access period from June 5.

This delay pushes Dune Awakening three weeks back from its initial target of May 20, as Funcom expresses a desire to "give it more time to cook" following feedback from beta testing. Meanwhile, PS5 and Xbox players will have to wait even longer for a Dune Awakening console launch, as that will be coming at a later, unspecified date.

The original release date was announced in a trailer that dropped on February 20, 2025, which was later followed by an update on the post-launch plans for Dune Awakening with creative director, Joel Bylos. The delay came some weeks later, on April 15, mere weeks before its intended launch date, as Funcom pushed to buy itself more time.

"This is not a decision we take lightly," the developer posted on social media. "We know everyone is very excited to get playing, but these three extra weeks will give us the time needed to make improvements that will lead to a better gameplay experience from day one."

Dune: Awakening platforms 

Dune: Awakening will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. However, as we mentioned above, currently, only PC players can access the game on June 10, 2025.

Because of the sheer scope of this game, it makes sense that it would be on current-gen consoles only, as last-gen consoles may struggle to handle the visuals and sheer size of it. For PC players, we also know that the standard edition of the game will cost $49.99 when it does launch, with the slightly more expensive Deluxe Edition and Ultimate Editions available for pre-order.

Dune: Awakening Beta

There have been plenty of closed Betas for Dune: Awakening. However, the most recent Beta test closed on May 12. This was the largest Beta that Dune: Awakening held, and featured a ton of content, such as the first 20 hours of the game and most of the Act 1 story.

However, as we mentioned above, the Beta is closed now, and there isn't another one currently scheduled either. Considering how close we are to the PC launch, we doubt that another Beta will be announced either. However, if you want to put yourself forward for any potential Beta tests (you know, just in case), you can sign up at the official Dune: Awakening website right here.

In the meantime, we had a crack at the Beta ourselves and have created a handy guide on all the Dune Awakening tips that we wish we had known sooner. Be sure to check that out so you avoid all our mistakes!

Dune: Awakening trailer - Watch it here

Dune: Awakening — Story Trailer - YouTube

Watch On

So far, we've enjoyed several Dune: Awakening trailers. However, Funcom recently shared a new teaser, giving us a deeper look at the game's upcoming story. Not only is the clip above visually stunning, but it also treats us to just over two minutes of in-engine footage.

In the trailer, we learn that we'll be playing as some kind of agent who is tasked to find the Fremen and "wake the Sleeper". While those details aren't really explained in the teaser, we do see plenty of action on Arrakis. From the harsh desert, high-powered sci-fi tech weapons, and a giant sandworm in the final shots, it looks terrific, and personally, we can't wait to dive in!

Dune: Awakening gameplay

According to creative director Joel Bylos (via Twitter), 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."

Case in point: it's a survival MMO. Dune: Awakening is being developed and published by Funcom, a studio best known for another survival game called Conan Exiles. During Level Infinite's "Into the Infinite" Showcase as part of Gamescom 2024, we saw a proper look at Dune: Awakening's gameplay. In the clip above, you'll see plenty of features from past Funcom games in play here.

Like Conan Exiles, you can play politics and form alliances in your never-ending quest for influence. "Spice is power" in Dune: Awakening, so, along with trying to avoid sunstroke and dying of thirst, it will be up to you to explore the vast map of Arrakis and fight for the galaxy's most precious resource. In the trailer, we also saw that players will be taking on the role of prisoners who are now trying to forge their own way.

As you work to make your mark and survive Arrakis, you'll have plenty to keep you busy. There is base building, a large variety of Dune Awakening vehicles, guilds, exploration, crafting, and so much more for you to dig your sci-fi teeth into. Basically, this has all the makings to be one of the best space games in history, so we're excited to see what new features are heading our way before Dune: Awakening's 2025 release.

Now, the thought of managing hunger and thirst on Arrakis for Dune is daunting as hell. We know that Funcom was inspired by action RPG Valheim's water gauge, so we might expect a similar thirst meter in Awakening. There are also stillsuits to think about here. These special full-body suits capture all bodily fluids and filter the impurities out, so that they're portable, so that should be an interesting feature to play with in Awakening.

Perhaps you'll be able to upgrade your stillsuit in order to increase your water retention? The Dune: Awakening Steam page gives us some more gameplay clues:

• "Build shelters against sandstorms, maintain your stillsuit, and master the old ways to walk even the deepest deserts. Avoid or be devoured by the colossal sandworms that dwell beneath the sands."
• "Hunt for spice blooms and deploy your harvester, then protect it from opportunistic raiders and rival factions"
• "Tailor every aspect of your character. Consume spice to conquer your senses and acquire powerful abilities. Hone your craft to become sought out for the finest creations. Construct your fortress in the style of your choosing"
• "Head into unmapped sectors and be the first to discover secrets and riches before the coriolis storms once again shift the sands and alter the landscape."
  

From the Beta, we also know that there are Dune Awakening Character Creation choices that include things such as your Homeworld, Caste, and Mentor for different buffs and abilities when you start. So we're curious how our choices change our interactions with NPCs.

We know that these choices will play a big role in our Dune Awakening skills, abilities, and skill trees. But, since Dune: Awakening is an open-world MMO, it seems like Arrakis will constantly shift and change in front of your eyes.

Dune: Awakening survival systems

Not only is the new Dune title a sprawling MMORPG, but it straddles the genre boundaries to double as a survival game. This makes sense, given the harsh conditions of the planet of Arrakis and its reputation, according to the game's Steam page, as "the deadliest planet in the universe."

In an interview with PCGamer, Funcom creative director Joel Bylos explained the survival mechanics of Dune: Awakening in greater detail.

"We're very focused on a few tight core survival mechanics. Like shelter: sandstorm shelter," he said. "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 [systems]."

It's not just Freman-chomping sandworms, freak sandstorms, and the scarcity of water that you've got to contend with. Arrakis boasts a worrying host of environmental threats, such as extreme temperatures and quicksand to navigate around.

Bylos says this is done deliberately to keep the player on their toes. "We want them to be continually thinking," he told PCGamer. "If I'm going across the open sand, I have to think about the sandworms. If there's a sand storm coming, I have to know where there's shelter nearby. If I haven't built something I need to know where I can hide where I can get away from the sandstorms. So we're trying to create this tension."

We also know that sand crafts will play a large role in the game, with crafting being another core component of the survival genre. Gathering spices will also give you new abilities and boosts, so expect a lot of looting and harvesting when you play Dune: Awakening.

Dune: Awakening Shigawire Reels

The official Dune: Awakening Twitter has been sharing small glimpses of the game's story and world lore via what they call Shigawire Reels. These short clips give you a taster of various elements we can expect to see in this "alternate timeline" version of the Dune universe (via PCGamer).

Here are the Shigawire Reels available to check out so far:

• Staying alive on Arrakis (sandstorms, stillsuits, and more)
• Environment, structures, and transport
• Night and day cycles
• Trading and resources
• Safety in numbers
• Desert mice lore

Whether these Shigawire Reels contain actual game footage or not, Dune: Awakening is certainly shaping up to be a heavily detailed MMORPG already.

Dune Awakening news

Below is a list of the most important and latest Dune: Awakening news stories and updates. So, if you want to be completely up to speed on the upcoming game, be sure to check these pages out.

• As 'knife meta' dominates Dune Awakening's beta weekend, the MMO's developers promise they've finally fixed it in a new build
• I'm still scratching the surface of Arrakis in Dune: Awakening, but it's already doing at least one thing better than Villeneuve's films
• Dune Awakening finally drops the veil with proper gameplay footage ahead of the survival MMO's early 2025 launch
• The new Dune MMO pushes players through four phases of survival
• Dune Awakening aims to be a true survival MMO - first by making you survive Arrakis, then by making you survive politics
• Dune survival MMO had to go to the author's family to get permission to cut "ridiculous" sandwalking and the book's extremely explosive shields

While we wait for news on Dune: Awakening, why not dip into some of the best survival games around to test your will to live? Or check out lists of upcoming Xbox Series X games and upcoming PS5 games to watch out for in the near future.