Dune: Awakening is an ambitious open-world survival MMO set in the treacherous and iconic world of Arrakis, drawn from Frank Herbert’s Dune universe. Developed by Funcom, the game promises to deliver a dynamic blend of survival mechanics, player-driven politics, and large-scale PvP and PvE gameplay. Here’s a comprehensive look at everything we know about this highly anticipated title.
World and Setting
Arrakis, known for its unforgiving deserts and the ever-present threat of sandworms, is brought to life with remarkable detail and innovation.
- Deep Desert: The central zone of the game, designed as a vast and evolving landscape.
- Connected via server meshing, ensuring a seamless experience across nine servers.
- PvP-enabled, where players vie for resources, territories, and strategic control points.
- Rich in spice, the universe’s most valuable resource, though extraction is perilous.
- Imperial Testing Stations: Scattered remnants of past research, these offer unique resources and lore.
- Coriolis Storms: A weekly planet-wide storm reshapes the Deep Desert, acting as a server reset mechanic every Tuesday night.
Gameplay Mechanics
Dune: Awakening embraces a balanced progression system and versatile gameplay, allowing players to tailor their experiences.
- Progression: Players level up through combat, crafting, exploration, and quests.
- Intel Points: Unlock technologies in the tech tree.
- Ability Points: Train and enhance archetype-specific skills.
- Archetypes: Initial classes include Bene Gesserit, Swordmaster, Trooper, and Mentat, with flexibility to explore other archetypes later.
- Crafting: Players can create weapons, armor, tools, and consumables, with some items requiring rare Imperial Permits.
- Spice Harvesting: A challenging activity akin to MMO raids, requiring teamwork, strategy, and specialized equipment like ornithopters and spice crawlers.
Combat
True to the lore, combat in Dune: Awakening emphasizes tactics and precision.
- Shields and Slow Blades: Shields provide defense but require slow, deliberate blade strikes to penetrate.
- Ranged Weapons: Seven types of ranged weapons offer variety, with some bypassing shields through poison or fire.
- Thumpers: Tactical tools that attract sandworms, useful for both offense and defense.
Sandworms
The legendary sandworms are a constant threat, driven by a fully-realized AI system.
- React to vibrations, including shields and vehicles in the Deep Desert.
- “Anti-Tease” mechanics prevent players from exploiting sandworm pathing, ensuring a consistent challenge.
- Death by sandworm results in the loss of all carried items, making them the ultimate hazard.
Landsraad and Political Intrigue
The Landsraad is a player-driven political system shaping endgame activities.
- Faction Competition: Players align with major houses, such as Atreides or Harkonnen, competing for influence and control.
- Dynamic Objectives: Weekly tasks, including territory control and resource delivery, earn votes for factions.
- Server Rule Changes: The faction with the most votes determines server rules for the following week, adding dynamic gameplay.
- Balance Mechanism: A potential third faction could ensure no single house dominates.
Ornithopters
These iconic flying vehicles redefine traversal on Arrakis.
- Crucial for crossing the expansive Deep Desert in about 15 minutes.
- Integral to spice harvesting operations and potentially tied to political contributions in the Landsraad.
Other Features
- Death Mechanics: Resource loss on death in PvP zones, but equipped gear remains safe. If eaten by a sandworm, you lose everything equipped also…
- Spice Consumption: Grants special abilities with long-term consequences.
- Cartography: Players can map the Deep Desert and sell these maps, creating a player-driven economy.
Development and Monetization
The developers are committed to staying true to the Dune lore while delivering a dynamic and evolving player experience.
- Post-Launch Updates: Regular updates will introduce new content for the Deep Desert and Landsraad systems.
- Monetization: Expected to follow Funcom’s model, with cosmetic items but no pay-to-win mechanics.
Conclusion
Dune: Awakening is shaping up to be a groundbreaking MMO, blending survival mechanics with a rich, player-driven world. With its deep connection to the Dune universe, intricate systems, and dynamic world-building, the game has the potential to redefine the genre.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow the development of this exciting title!
