Home News Dune: Awakening Dev Says Its Release Date Is 'The Full Launch,' and While There's No Subscription, There Will Be 'Optional' DLCs

Dune: Awakening Dev Says Its Release Date Is 'The Full Launch,' and While There's No Subscription, There Will Be 'Optional' DLCs

Author : Nora Update : Apr 23,2025

Funcom, the developer behind the eagerly awaited Dune: Awakening, has provided an exciting update on the game's business model and post-launch plans, confirming that the game will launch fully on May 20, bypassing the Early Access phase. This multiplayer survival game, inspired by Frank Herbert's iconic sci-fi novel and its movie adaptations, will not require a subscription despite its classification as an MMO.

The game will follow a "classic business model" with free updates and optional DLCs, much like Funcom's approach with its other long-standing MMOs such as Anarchy Online and Conan Exiles. These games have continued to receive free updates, new content, and expansions well after their initial release. Funcom assures that Dune: Awakening will receive the same treatment, with ongoing free updates that will bring new content, features, and enhancements to keep the game evolving.

Priced at $49.99, the standard edition of Dune: Awakening offers a comprehensive gaming experience. For those seeking more, the Deluxe Edition at $69.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $89.99 provide additional perks. Both editions grant players a five-day head start and exclusive items. The Deluxe Edition includes the armor of the Sardaukar, the elite military force that hunts players in the game. The Ultimate Edition goes further, adding Paul Atreides’ iconic stillsuit from the 2021 film, a digital artbook, a digital soundtrack, unique color patterns, and the Caladan Palace Set, which includes building pieces, placeables, and decorations.

Pre-ordering any edition rewards players with a universal color pattern that can be applied to vehicles, weapons, and armor, along with the Terrarium of Muad’Dib, an in-base decoration featuring the iconic desert mouse.

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

Funcom has also detailed the PC features and system requirements for Dune: Awakening. The game supports advanced graphics technologies such as Nvidia’s DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, AMD’s FSR, and Intel’s XeSS 2, ensuring a visually stunning and smooth gameplay experience.