Dune: Awakening is an upcoming multiplayer survival game from Funcom. Set to release on May 20, 2025, this third-person, exploration, and survival title aims to refine some of the long-established mechanics of the genre while providing a deep and rich lore-filled experience for players. I was recently given access to a beta version of Dune: Awakening that represents the first 20-25 hours of gameplay. After navigating the harsh terrain of Arrakis over the past 13 days, and as a fan of the franchise, I’m hopeful that this offering from developer Funcom will capture the essence of the title’s namesake.
Set on Arrakis, beta players were given access to the game’s first three zones, Hagga Basin South, Eastern, and Western Wermilius Gap, to explore. This represents only a fraction of the game zones, 12 in total, and will be where players spend the first 20 or so hours of their play time. While I can only imagine the challenge of basing a game on a desert planet while attempting to create a variety of landscapes and map layouts, I was quite impressed at how the terrain and landscape are shaping up in Dune: Awakening.
One of the most impressive elements of world design that was immediately felt is the terrifying nature of the planet itself, from blazing heat to the treacherous Shai-Hulud (sand worms) that lay below the surface throughout the desert areas of the Hagga Basin South. Thirst is a constant concern, forcing you to continually move forward in search of your next water source.
“I was quite impressed at how the terrain and landscape are shaping up in Dune: Awakening.”
Funcom has done an excellent job of leveraging verticality in and amongst the desert dunes of Arrakis, and the result is a world I wanted to explore. Thanks to a climbing mechanic not unlike a certain Breath of the Wild, much of the world is reachable from the very start and leads to some nail-biting moments of almost running out of stamina before reaching the top of the next plateau. It also leads to some truly breathtaking moments of viewing the landscape sprawled out before you.
All of this is contrasted nicely by many moments of close corridor exploration and combat amongst derelict ships long since abandoned by their original owners or natural cave formations found throughout the map. Dune: Awakening features an exceptionally well-crafted world and speaks to Funcom’s understanding of the world they are trying to create for players.
While I didn’t get to experience this too much in my time with the beta, Dune: Awakening is leaning into the multiplayer aspects of the game and will include social hubs where hundreds of concurrent players will be able to interact. While initially it looks like you’ll need to discover the social hubs once marked on the map, you’ll be able to pay for transport via trading posts throughout the world. While I hesitate to use the words MMO-lite, there are mechanics here that seem reminiscent of the genre that would be welcome in a multiplayer, survival title.
Shifting now to game mechanics, the character creator reminds me a lot of The Secret World Legends, another title from the developer, though much more refined. There are several races to choose from, along with a host of sliders and presets to work with. There is enough here to allow players to create a custom-looking character without overwhelming them with every conceivable setting imaginable. It’s functional and allowed me to create a character within a few moments that I was quite happy with.
Combat is another mechanic that Funcom is hoping to evolve for the genre, and it’s reflected in a few different ways in Dune: Awakening. For starters, there are multiple ways to engage in combat with four different class paths available during character creation. While there was an option to choose a class that leveraged the power of Voice and another that leaned hard into the use of melee weapons, I opted for the time-tested soldier class.
“Dune: Awakening features an exceptionally well-crafted world…”
As such, gunplay is fast and responsive, allowing you to leverage some basic cover mechanics and shoulder swapping while aiming. In some ways, it feels reminiscent of The Division but not quite as sophisticated. This isn’t a critique, though, as gunplay in Dune: Awakening feels fast and fluid. Melee, by contrast, is methodical and much more based on parry, dodge, and timing attacks. While I’ve not spent time with the other classes, I would venture to say that Dune: Awakening is going to offer a nice variety of combat options for players to work with.
While PVP is available, it isn’t something I experienced during my playtest. From what was stated in the briefing, PVP will be optional in select areas on the map, which will be marked out for players. As someone who enjoys coop gameplay, this was a welcome surprise.
Crafting and base building offer some unique and in-depth tool sets that make logical sense within the context of the lore. At its core, these systems are based on a tiered research system that progresses based on the resources you have available and the story progression. The further you explore the world, the more advanced the resources and thus the crafting and base building become.
I enjoyed both of these mechanics. Crafting specifically, while tiered, felt as though there was still a lot of variety within each level of technology that allowed you to build out your character the way you wanted. For instance, there isn’t a single set of armour at the copper stage of development, but instead multiple sets, each with their own set of stats and advantages. This helped things feel constantly fresh and interesting.
Base building is quite robust, though it mechanically feels a bit clunky at the moment. While there is a rotation and snap mechanic at play, I often found myself unable to rotate a wall the way I wanted. Additionally, while there is a lot of freedom to create and modify structures, the amount of controls required to do so can feel a bit confusing at first. I hope to see this streamlined or at least better explained by launch. It’s a robust system, though, that has a lot of potential.
As for traversing the world of Dune: Awakening, along with the climbing mechanic, players will have access to a variety of mobility enhancements to work with. For instance, the soldier class gets a grappling hook early on, allowing you to pull yourself forward or up to reach new areas. Additionally, players will have access to and the ability to craft a wide range of vehicles.
For the beta test, I was given access to the sandbike blueprint, which was a game-changer for navigating the world. Interestingly, once crafted, the bike can be modded to either include a second seat or a storage container, which in turn allows you to carry more resources back to your base. It’s a nice addition to the game that is most welcome.
Dune: Awakening is shaping up to be a solid multiplayer survival title. While I was initially concerned about how to make a planet full of sand engaging, I have to say that Funcom has done an incredible job with the world and lore. It feels like Dune in all the right ways, and I cannot wait to dive back in. Available on May 20th for $49.99, Dune: Awakening is a title worth considering.
