It’s been about a year and a half since we first got wind of it Dune: Awakening, the massively multiplayer online survival game set on the planet Arrakis. On Friday, Funcom released a story-focused trailer at Summer Game Fest, teasing that the game will focus on an alternate telling of Paul Atreides’ story – but we’ll have to wait until Gamescom in August 2024 for a gameplay trailer.
The game lets players enter the world of Dune (well, at least the world of Arrakis) in first person, where they traverse the desert, use the land, and depend on the other inhabitants to survive and thrive. Players can join House Atreides or the Harkonnen, or live a quieter life as a craftsman or trader, but unfortunately they can’t kill or ride sandworms.
The game uses the simultaneously desolate and claustrophobic setting of the desert to push players to their limits: you must avoid the sun, dodge sandworms, craft tools and find water wherever it is (and yes, that includes enemies) . bodies). But it’s not all treacherous walks through Arrakis. Vehicles include thopters, thumpers and sand bikes, and the Stem is at your disposal if you need to influence your enemies in some way.
While previous Dune games (very successful, mind you) have leaned on real-time strategy to encapsulate the atmosphere of the books and films, Dune: Awakening promises the most immersive experience yet. We’ll have to see if it delivers on that promise when it releases on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.