Funcom has announced the release date for Dune: Awakening, the open-world multiplayer survival game set on the desert planet of Arrakis. Players can prepare for their journey now with the newly launched Character Creation & Benchmark Mode, available on Steam. Dune: Awakening is set to launch on Steam on May 20th.
Inspired by Frank Herbert’s iconic science fiction novel and the acclaimed film adaptations, Dune: Awakening is being developed by Funcom’s experienced team to appeal to both Dune fans and players of survival games.
A new trailer accompanied the release date announcement, showcasing gameplay and setting the stage for the epic experience that awaits players on Arrakis.
The base game will be priced at $49.99, with pre-orders opening soon. Players who pre-order will receive the Terrarium of Muad’Dib, an in-game decoration featuring the iconic desert mouse.
Players who download the Character Creator & Benchmark Mode will receive a code for an exclusive Frameblade knife skin to be redeemed at launch. Created characters can be saved and imported into the full game when it releases.
The Character Creator allows players to customize their in-game appearance and background. Players can define their looks, choose their home planet, caste, and mentor, selecting from options like Swordmaster, Bene Gesserit, Mentat, or Trooper. These choices influence starting abilities, but players will eventually gain access to all Schools and can combine abilities from different paths.
The Benchmark Mode not only allows players to create their characters but also to test their hardware’s performance and compatibility. It also offers a preview of in-game environments and encounters, including ornithopter flight and a meeting with a sandworm.
Dune: Awakening is described as Funcom’s most ambitious survival game to date, set on the dangerous planet of Arrakis. The game aims to immerse players in an experience inspired by both Herbert’s novel and Denis Villeneuve’s films, allowing them to progress from survival to a position of influence on the planet.
The game’s release on May 20th will allow players to experience the struggle for survival and control of Arrakis. The early access to character creation and the benchmark tool allows players to prepare ahead of the official launch.
