Dune: Awakening tasks players with surviving Arrakis & building an empire

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In early January, Funcom showcased one of the initial hands-on previews for its upcoming venture, Dune: Awakening. Similar to Conan Exiles, this project is a multiplayer survival game, but instead of a generic universe, it’s based on Frank Herbert’s beloved Dune science fiction series. However, Funcom is known for pushing boundaries, and so, Dune: Awakening won’t be just another survival experience on Arrakis. While survival will indeed be an aspect, the game promises to offer more than that, and it’s shaping up to be a challenging yet captivating journey. But what truly sets it apart is the intrigue that unfolds once you’ve survived and found power – this is where the real excitement lies.

A universe without the Kwisatz Haderach

In collaboration with Legendary Pictures and the Herbert Estate, Funcom has carefully crafted Dune: Awakening within the expansive universe of Dune. Given their experience in navigating intellectual property constraints, they worked hand-in-hand with both parties to adapt the Dune world for their game. Here’s a unique element that underpins Dune’s narrative: This game explores an alternative timeline, visualized within the powerful psyche of Paul Atreides. In this alternate reality, Paul was not born but rather Lady Jessica, acting upon the guidance of the psionic Bene Gesserit sisterhood, gives birth to a daughter for Duke Leto Atreides instead.

In an alternate reality where Paul never exists, doesn’t visit Arrakis, and doesn’t become the Kwisatz Haderach or Fremen leader, things are significantly different. The Atreides and Harkonnens fight for control over the spice mining rights on Dune. The Fremen are either exterminated or forced to flee, leaving the fate of the planet uncertain. In this scenario, the player assumes a crucial role in the Bene Gesserit scheme. They have the opportunity to shape their own destiny and influence that of Arrakis. To achieve this goal, their character is transported aboard a spaceship that crashes on Arrakis, marking the start of their struggle to endure the planet and ascend to power.

Survival in the harshest lands

Funcom has revealed that Dune: Awakening will feature various broad and expanding gameplay domains. The initial segments encompass survival, battle, and crafting, which were showcased during the preview. After a comprehensive and fulfilling character customization process, you select your origin, such as the planet of birth, social class, and preferred class specialty. Blademasters excel in close-quarters combat, Bene Gesserits possess mental powers that weaken enemies, Mentats specialize in technology and mild psychic abilities, and Soldiers are proficient in firearms and explosives. Initially, you will develop strength in one class, but there’s an option to learn the skill trees of other classes later on.

In this phase, players will master creating weapons, clothing, ammunition, and other supplies. You’ll also learn to construct bases and navigate the treacherous terrain of Arrakis, avoiding the harmful effects of direct sunlight. Raiders often hide in rocky formations with their makeshift camps filled with discarded junk, seeking shelter from the sun. Clearing these camps not only provides you with additional resources for your base but also allows you to extract water from the blood of your enemies using a machine, which can help keep you alive. You can choose to consume the blood raw, but be warned, doing so may make you ill. However, in extreme situations, it might be necessary. Essentially, these are decisions that you must make.

Hurrying quickly among the jagged cliffs was crucial since you might have surmised, colossal sandworms inhabit this area. Traversing open sands far from rock structures will likely lure a worm’s attention if you don’t swiftly flee to safety. A seismograph alerts you when one is perilously near. It’s unfortunate that, should you be consumed, it’s not just game over; instead, you risk losing all of your equipment including your current weapons and attire. I found this penalty a tad excessive, so here’s hoping they reduce it. Fortunately, keeping an eye on the map also made it relatively simple to avoid the worms during previews, so perhaps this was Funcom’s way of suggesting that I had earned having my gear transformed into sandworm excrement.

I’m glad to inform you that you won’t have to walk for eternity. Soon enough, you’ll encounter settlements and start accepting mercenary jobs from the Atreides or Harkonnen. These tasks will lead you to construct vehicles, broadening your travel options. Yes, we did test-drive an Ornithopter, and let me tell you, it’s more than just stylish; it’s a lifesaver too! As long as you store it securely when not in use, it can protect you from becoming food for the worms. Keep in mind that vehicles might also be at risk of being worm food.

In this game, you’ll encounter dungeons too, some even requiring you to delve into the darkest recesses. One such dungeon I got a sneak peek of was an underground lab on Arrakis, trying to grow plants capable of surviving its harsh environment. Unfortunately, their experiment went awry and a horde of deranged scavengers are now lurking within. However, these misfits possess resources essential for crafting, so I’ve found myself navigating through them with a mix of stealth and firepower.

In the game Dune: Awakening, battles follow the rules of the universe. Shields are used to deflect various types of gunfire, but they can only be bypassed when an adversary is firing their weapon, lowering their shield, or getting close enough for a stealthy attack with a slow blade. However, they’ll evade if you try to attack without stunning them first. To succeed in hand-to-hand combat, finesse is key. The rules apply equally to your character and the use of shields, including the risk of being stabbed. Additionally, you can utilize your class abilities to emerge victorious. For instance, Bene Gesserits have the power to make enemies stand still or lose track of them, Blademasters excel in close-quarter combat, and Soldiers have advanced firearm techniques. As a Mentat, you can deploy an auto turret, build an energy fortification, or enhance your headshot accuracy. Each class offers unique advantages and intricate skill trees to explore.

Expanding to wider spheres

The game we’ve been discussing is only a single aspect of the Dune: Awakening equation – learning how to survive independently. Following this, you will progress to surviving alongside others, expanding your influence to form alliances with various groups and clans. This collaboration will enable you to amass power that would be unattainable on your own. You’ll become involved in forging alliances with factions and making your mark on Arrakis. You’ll also learn strategies such as harvesting spice, expanding commercial and technological influence, and engaging in the fundamental aspects of organizational play.

In the climax of Dune: Awakening, when you’ve amassed power, the challenge is determining how to maintain it. You’ll find yourself navigating around rival groups eager to exploit the spice and seize control on Arrakis, much like you. This may require engaging in conflicts with other factions or simply ensuring you have enough spice aboard your harvester and carrier Ornithopter before a sandworm arrives. Funcom aims for the endgame to be a struggle over socio-economic dominance and survival.

Bend like the sands

Funcom’s vision for Dune: Awakening appears to be incredibly ambitious, yet the gameplay we’ve seen so far hints at promising potential. It’s evident that the developer is applying lessons from their years of managing Conan Exiles and similar games. However, I’m curious about how smoothly the initial part of the game will play out, given survival is a key aspect of Dune: Awakening. This early section seems to be just one piece of a larger puzzle that Funcom has taken on, as the game appears to be incredibly complex. The question remains whether this initial learning and low-level survival game will captivate us enough to reach the next level. Will the expanded spheres beyond the ground game justify the journey? Time will tell, but Dune: Awakening seems poised to explore uncharted territories, and the rich timeline Funcom has created looks intriguing as it unfolds.

These observations stem from an early demonstration and preliminary version of the game, as provided by the publisher. The strategy game, Dune: Awakening, is slated for release on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC platforms around the year 2025.

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2025-01-30 18:29