Dune Awakening is an upcoming MMO that combines grittiness and a creative survival style. Adapting from the book series, the world’s ecology, religion, and prophesy have influenced its development. It promises to be a socially interactive large-scale multiplayer world while surviving in an open desert world. Let’s take a look at how the game is patterned after the film and novel.
How Dune Influenced Gameplay
Dune got its start in 1965 from American author Frank Herbert, who wrote the two separate serial novels Dune World and Prophet of Dune. The book series grew popular after Herbert produced The Dune Chronicles. Later in 2021, Dune: Part One, was released under co-producer, Denis Villeneuve, and co-writers, Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth. Its success brought $407.7 million to fund Dune: Part Two in 2024.
These books and movies have brought such demand for more that soon we will have Dune Awakening. First, for those who have read and watched it, gamers will have the chance to strive to survive on the most dangerous planet in the universe. Players will have to build shelters on the harsh sands of Dune. They also have to keep their still suits working perfectly, learn the way of the desert, and, above all else, never go near the colossal sandworms that rule the planet.
What Is The Goal?
Dune Awakening will include biological testing stations, fallen spaceships, and a vast, unforgiving desert with changing landscapes. All of this may seem like too much as players strive to control the most valuable substance in the universe: spice. In the novels, movies, and games, it’s all about Spice Melange. The goal of the game is to survive, deploying harvesters to gather it and then protect what you have from raiders and other hostile factions.
Dune Awakening is set up on five main points: survival, politics, exploration of a changing landscape, close and range combat, and customization. It will also feature a crafting system, skill tree, backstory, and appearance. The developers were inspired and got their information from visiting the set of Dune: Part One. Denis Villeneuve and Frank Herbert derived from the movie’s images to create the planet’s environment. Creative director Joel Bylos helped develop structures and the Overland Map.
A Pattern To Follow
Funcom has implemented Dune Awakening with elements from both the original novel and the recent films. The game’s developers have worked closely with Legendary Entertainment and Herbert’s estate to provide a source for the game’s worldbuilding. All aspects of the game were drawn from the movie images, even down to the musical score, which was written by Hans Zimmer.
It is also important to note that Awakening’s developers did not work with any of the creators of the HBO series, Dune: Prophecy, which was released in December 2024. The game promises to stay accurate to Dune’s lore, giving Awakening as close as you can get to living in the movie.
What’s Coming?
The last thing Dune fans had was Dune: Part Two directed by Denis Villeneuve. The science-fiction sequel grossed over $500 million when it only cost $190 million to produce. The movie franchise will continue with Dune 3 as it’s in development of Villeneuve’s Dune trilogy.
Fans of Dune will be able to walk on the sands of Arrakis, the planet known as Dune, on May 20th. The game has a new promise as it will have original elements that haven’t been fully released. Still, it will be the closest opportunity for players to experience one of the most iconic science faction planets ever conserved. If you want to see how well the game will work on your console or PC, we recommend taking Dune Awakening’s benchmark test.
