The world of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic, Dune, is expanding. Developed and published by Funcom, Dune: Awakening is bridging MMOs and the Survival game genre all while prioritizing bringing the lore of the franchise to life. At a closed-door presentation at PAX East 2024 in Boston presented by the developers, we looked at the game’s core game loop and building mechanics. We also asked questions about the game’s server structure and dedication to bringing in new players. Here is everything we’ve learned from PAX East about Dune: Awakening and the most ambitious take on Arrakis we’ve seen yet.
Bringing the MMO to the Survival Game
One of the important things about Dune: Awakening is that players will never have to experience a larger clan on the server kicking over their sand castle nor feel the pressure of having to be logged on at all times. While the core of the game is focused on the Survival genre when it comes to individual player mechanics like keeping your water meter filled and avoiding long periods of time in open sands, PvP is contained to certain zones.
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Instead of locking players into dedicated PvP and PvE servers, Dune: Awakening has zones dedicated to PvP experiences that allow players to opt into that play style. Those who don’t want to fight others can stay in the PvE areas. The focus on allowing players to play how they want is one of the key ways that Funcom has worked to make the Survivor genre more MMO in scope. With hub cities dedicated to factions and player trading systems for blueprints of builds and other items, it’s easy to see how a connected MMORPG experience will play out without the grind of a true survival game or fear of losing your buildings like in games like Ark or Rust.
Additionally, to help control the server density of players per any given area, Funcom will be using server layering in Dune: Awakening. During the presentation we saw at PAX East, this was done to help with loading but also to address the common survival game issues of physical map space where players can build. Additionally, the lack of direct PvP for the whole server or the ability to endlessly control areas on the map makes full server wipes unnecessary to maintain player balance.
But that doesn’t mean that Funcom isn’t thinking about that key component of Survival games. Instead, they’ve worked it in the mechanics of the Deep Desert, the most unhospitable area of any server. During the Shifting Sands, which will happen in set intervals, Arrakis’ landscape will be reshaped, and the slate will be wiped clean for those who have chosen to build in that area and take advantage of its resources.
One of the other key gameplay factors that smooth some survival game edges is the choice to drop the player into a tutorial area. Instead of just dropping you on a beach to be killed by any passerby who knows the spawn points and is on a mean streak, you’re dropped into a cave system and show your way out by learning different key elements of survival in the game. This smooths out the survival learning curve and gives every player a good start. What you do with that, is up to you.
But while the game is honing in on the MMO component when it comes to community and the choice between PvE and PvP, it’s going all-in on Survival when it comes to grinding materials to build. One of the best examples is the spice collection. Spice is something that you need, but getting it relies on eruptions. When they happen, the entire map will see it, meaning you will have to combat other players all while monitoring your own noise production, hoping a sandworm doesn’t end your run.
The Worm Is King
On that note, the Sandworm is the most terrifying creature in Dune. Of course, Funcom has taken this point seriously and made it the most terrifying thing in the game. While the basics of Survival game death mechanics are at play, like respawning and going back to your body to collect your equipment, the Sandworm voids that. If you’re not careful and decide to go head to head with the mighty worm in Dune: Awakening, the developers have made it clear that you won’t win. Instead, you’ll be swallowed whole, and your equipment, body, and any vehicle you’re using will be gone forever.
This adds lore-based stakes to traversing Arraksis. To avoid being swallowed by the sandworm, you’ll have to make a run for rocky ground or carefully monitor just how much noise you’re making. While you won’t have to dance in the sand like you’ve seen in the movies, you do have to be aware of the type of vehicle you use, how far you travel on it, and understand the importance of constant movement.
The Building is All About Community
While you can play and build in Dune: Awakening as a solo player, the building systems are perfect for the community. This is because players can put up blueprints without possessing the necessary materials. From here, you can copy, save, and sell or reuse your blueprints. But more importantly, the blueprint allows any people you’re playing with to complete your designs. Why is this important? Not every player is a builder, and not every builder is a gatherer.
By allowing players to build settlements cooperatively, the burden of gathering material and building with it is spread among the guild or party. This allows people who are creative builders to do so and those who would rather grind materials to do their part. To top it all off, when it comes to crafting large equipment like vehicles, a modular structure allows each one to be unique. You can add a second seat to a sand bike or specialize it differently. The modular crafting structure allows the player to make unique items and focus on what they need at the time. Make it faster, make it quieter, make it stronger. It’s up to you.
Dune: Awakening will also feature dynamic events like ships being shot down to the planet’s surface. In those explosive crashes, you’ll have the chance to find one-of-a-kind blueprints and rare materials to craft. That said, everyone on the map will be aware of them and like with Spice, you may have to battle to keep what you find.
Funcom Puts Lore At The Heart of Dune: Awakening
One thing is clear from the presentation that the press got the chance to see: Funcom cares about the world that Frank Herbert created in his Dune series, not just the way that Denis Villeneuve has adapted it. While certain aesthetic choices regarding vehicles and clothing will prompt a moment of recognition for the film fans playing, the attention lore runs deeper. It even branches off from what we’ve seen to do something new.
One of the stark departures is how Arrakis’ environment is depicted. Clear from the beginning tutorial space, it isn’t a barren wasteland. It’s inhabited by flora reminiscent of what you’d see in the American Arizona desert. It’s a detail that is called out in Herbert’s work and rendered in Funcom’s world. Aesthetically, it makes sense. The use of flora also encourages interaction with the land to craft items and ultimately find water in the smallest of plants.
But the landscape is only one element; combat is another. From what we got to see about Dune: Awakening’s core game loop, there is attention to detail when it comes to weapons. The designers take into account the world’s use of propulsion versus explosive weaponry. It’s a small note but goes a long way to highlight how the development team has sought to bring Herbert’s world to life. Additionally, each skill tree will have different abilities based on in-universe skills that help you in fights. For one, there are Mentats.
In the lore, Mentats were developed to replace computers and thinking machines. They control technology, and in the game, it’s a powerful skill line that allows you to throw out a drone to attack from a distance. Additionally, there is, of course, a Bene Gesserit skill line. However, it’s not locked behind gender. When asked about that element, the developers explained that per Herbert’s work, Bene Gesserit’s skills can be learned by anyone of any gender beyond just Paul. While it may come as a break from expectations given those with exposure to the films, it’s an element that allows every player to explore one of Dune’s biggest pieces of lore.
On the topic of lore, you can also use blood bags to take water from your defeated enemies’ bodies. Equipped with a Freman water pack, you fill it by collecting and drinking water and blood if you’re in a pinch. Additionally, the traversal mechanics include free climbing like Conan: Exiles, which can be made easier by crafting and equipping a Suspensor. This allows you to break your fall and move vertically across obstacles. When it comes to crafting, players will also get a chance to pilot an Ornithopter and other ground vehicles, all of which are modularly designed.
But if you’re new to Dune, don’t worry. Dune: Awakening can be a gateway into the universe. With the character creation offering the player a massive amount of lore and story detail, you can come to the game as a newcomer to the franchise or as a veteran and get the same enjoyment for different reasons. At least, from what we’ve seen so far, which includes the iconic hand-in-the-box moment.
Character Creator Pushes The Small Details
Finally, no MMO would be complete without a character creator. While the Dune: Awakening character creator wasn’t shown in full detail, we got to see presets for Harkonnen characters and the simple variety of hair textures the game has. Additionally, you can adjust everything on your character’s face and, at a more granular level, the age of your tattoos. Again, this is a small detail, but on a sun-ravaged planet, the variance of tattoo vibrancy helps the character creator maintain a level of immersion that works.
Additionally, in this section, you get the chance to choose your House loyalty, your backstory, and your training specialties from a mentor (which includes Mentat, Trooper, Swordmaster, and Bene Gesserit Acolyte). All specialties impact how NPC characters interact with you in different settings.
Ultimately, the 30-minute presentation of Dune: Awakening’s core game loop was far beyond impressive. With an eye for lore details and a dedication to intriguing gameplay, Funcom seems to be on the right track with blending genres. With the best components of both MMOs and Survival games on display, Dune: Awakening just became a must-play for me.
