Funcom, the developer behind the highly anticipated Dune: Awakening, has provided an exciting update on the game's business model and post-launch strategy, confirming that the release date of May 20 will mark the game's "full launch," bypassing an Early Access phase.

Drawing inspiration from Frank Herbert's iconic sci-fi novel and its cinematic adaptations, Dune: Awakening is set to redefine the multiplayer survival genre. Notably, despite its classification as an MMO, the game will not require a subscription. Instead, Funcom plans to enrich the gaming experience through a series of free updates that will introduce new content and features, adhering to a "classic business model" that includes optional DLCs.

Funcom's commitment to supporting their titles post-launch is evident in their track record with long-standing MMOs like Anarchy Online and Conan Exiles, which continue to receive free updates, DLCs, and expansions years after their initial release. The developer assures that Dune: Awakening will follow suit, with ongoing expansions delivering fresh content, features, and enhancements to players.

The standard edition of Dune: Awakening is priced at $49.99, while the Deluxe Edition ($69.99) and Ultimate Edition ($89.99) offer players a five-day head start and exclusive items. Both the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions include a Season Pass, unlocking four DLCs over time, with the first available at launch.

Players opting for the Deluxe Edition will receive the armor of the Sardaukar, the feared military force within the game's narrative. The Ultimate Edition encompasses all Deluxe Edition content, plus Paul Atreides' iconic stillsuit from the 2021 film, a digital artbook, a digital soundtrack, unique color patterns, and the Caladan Palace Set, complete with building pieces, placeables, and decorations.

Pre-ordering any edition of Dune: Awakening grants players a universal color pattern applicable to vehicles, weapons, and armor, along with the Terrarium of Muad'Dib, an in-base decoration featuring the desert mouse.

The Dune: Awakening Ultimate Edition. Image credit: Funcom.

Funcom has also detailed the PC features and system requirements for Dune: Awakening, emphasizing its support for advanced graphics technologies like Nvidia’s DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, AMD’s FSR, and Intel’s XeSS 2.

**Dune: Awakening PC system requirements:**

**Minimum:**

OS: Windows 10 64-bit (or newer)
Processor: Intel Core i5-7400, AMD Ryzen 3 1200
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB), AMD Radeon 5600XT (6GB)
Storage: 60 GB available space

**Recommended:**

OS: Windows 10 64-bit (or newer)
Processor: Intel Core i7-10700K, AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (8GB), AMD Radeon 6700XT (12GB)
Storage: 75 GB available space

For a deeper dive into what Dune: Awakening has to offer, check out IGN's final preview of the game.