"Dune: Awakening Set for Full Launch, Optional DLCs Planned"

Funcom, the developer behind the highly anticipated multiplayer survival game Dune: Awakening, has recently provided an update on the game's business model and its post-launch strategy. The studio confirmed that the game will have a full launch on May 20, rather than entering Early Access as some might have expected. Inspired by Frank Herbert's iconic sci-fi novel and its movie adaptations, Dune: Awakening will not follow a subscription-based model, despite being categorized as an MMO.

Instead, Funcom plans to expand Dune: Awakening through free updates that will introduce new content and features. The game will adhere to a traditional business model, offering optional downloadable content (DLCs) for players who wish to enhance their experience further. Funcom emphasized its commitment to long-term support, pointing to its history with other MMOs like Anarchy Online and Conan Exiles, which continue to receive free updates, DLCs, and expansions well after their initial release. "Dune: Awakening will be no exception, and it will continue to expand with free updates bringing new content, features, and enhancements," Funcom stated.

The standard edition of Dune: Awakening is priced at $49.99. The Deluxe Edition, available for $69.99, and the Ultimate Edition, priced at $89.99, offer players a five-day head start along with several unique items. Both the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions include a Season Pass that unlocks four DLCs over time, with the first becoming available at launch.

Players opting for the Deluxe Edition will also receive the armor of the Sardaukar, the elite military force that hunts players in the game. The Ultimate Edition includes all the content from the Deluxe Edition, plus Paul Atreides’ iconic stillsuit from the 2021 film, a digital artbook, a digital soundtrack, unique color patterns, and the Caladan Palace Set, which features building pieces, placeables, and decorations.

Pre-ordering any edition of the game grants players a universal color pattern that can be applied to vehicles, weapons, and armor, as well as the Terrarium of Muad’Dib, an in-base decoration featuring the iconic desert mouse.

The Dune: Awakening Ultimate Edition. Image credit: Funcom. Funcom also shared details about Dune: Awakening's PC features and system requirements. The game supports Nvidia’s DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, AMD’s FSR, and Intel’s XeSS 2 technologies, enhancing graphical performance for a variety of hardware setups.