The highly anticipated Dune: Awakening , developed by Funcom, is an ambitious open-world survival MMO that plunges players into the treacherous and mesmerizing world of Frank Herbert’s Dune . Blending survival mechanics, deep RPG elements, and large-scale factional warfare, the game promises a unique experience where players must navigate political intrigue, harsh deserts, and the ever-present threat of giant sandworms.
- Surviving the Desert: Core Gameplay Mechanics
a) Harsh Environmental Survival
Arrakis is a planet of extreme danger—scorching heat, deadly sandstorms, and a lack of water shape every decision. Players must:
Manage hydration and stamina – Water is the most precious resource; dehydration can be fatal.
Navigate sandstorms – These dynamic weather events can bury settlements or expose hidden relics.
Avoid sandworms – The iconic Shai-Hulud lurks beneath the dunes, reacting to vibrations from footsteps and vehicles.
b) Base Building and Territory Control
Players can establish bases in designated zones, but the shifting sands mean no location is permanently safe.
Modular construction – Build shelters, moisture farms, and defensive outposts.
Territory wars – Clans fight over spice-rich regions, with destructible structures adding to the chaos.
- Factions and Politics: Choose Your Allegiance
The game features major Dune factions, each offering unique perks and storylines:
House Atreides – Focused on diplomacy and advanced technology.
House Harkonnen – Brutal and resource-focused, specializing in warfare.
Fremen – Masters of desert survival, with skills in stealth and sandworm riding.
Spacing Guild & Bene Gesserit – Shadowy manipulators with hidden agendas.
Players can switch allegiances, but betrayal carries consequences.
- Spice Harvesting: The Key to Power
Melange (spice) is the most valuable substance in the universe, granting:
Enhanced abilities – Temporary boosts to perception, strength, or prescience.
Economic dominance – Used as currency for rare blueprints and equipment.
Worm attraction – Harvesting spice risks triggering a sandworm attack.
- Combat & Stealth: Blades, Guns, and Mind Games
Combat is a mix of melee, ranged, and supernatural abilities:
Sword duels – Precision-based melee combat inspired by Dune ’s shield technology (fast attacks penetrate shields).
Lasguns & explosives – Risky against shields (can trigger nuclear explosions).
Bene Gesserit skills – Voice commands can manipulate enemies.
Fremen stealth – Camouflage in dunes and silent takedowns.
- Dynamic World Events & PvPvE
The world evolves based on player actions:
Sandworm migrations – Alter the landscape, uncovering or destroying bases.
Spice wars – Large-scale faction battles over control of extraction sites.
NPC intrigue – AI-driven characters may betray or aid players.
- Vehicles & Sandworm Riding
Ornithopters – Flight-based traversal (limited by fuel).
Sand bikes – Fast but risky (vibrations attract worms).
Sandworm taming (Fremen-exclusive) – Temporarily ride Shai-Hulud for raids. - Character Progression & Crafting
A deep skill tree allows specialization in:
Ecology – Survive longer in the deep desert.
Engineering – Build advanced tech like stillsuits and shields.
Combat arts – Master the Weirding Way or Harkonnen brutality.
Crafting includes:
Custom stillsuits – Improve water retention.
Crysknives – Melee weapons from worm teeth.
Spice-enhanced gear – Powerful but addictive.
- The Mystery of the Waking Dream
A cryptic narrative thread—The Waking Dream —hints at visions of alternate timelines, possibly linking to Dune’s deeper lore. Players may uncover:
Ancient ruins – Containing forgotten tech.
Prophecies – Affecting faction missions.
