Funcom has officially launched Dune: Awakening, its highly anticipated multiplayer survival game set in the expansive and unforgiving universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune. Available now on PC via Steam, the title invites players to explore the dangerous deserts of Arrakis while battling environmental hazards, crafting equipment, and engaging in political and military struggles against other players and factions.
Players who pre-purchased the Deluxe or Ultimate Editions gained access five days early, allowing Funcom to report a notable peak concurrent player count of 117,087 on Steam prior to the full release. With the gates now open to all purchasers, expectations are high for continued growth in player activity. Early feedback has been positive, with the game currently holding an 89 percent user rating on Steam. Funcom has confirmed that console editions for PlayStation and Xbox are in development and scheduled for release in 2026.
Unlike many online survival titles, Dune: Awakening follows a straightforward buy-to-play model without ongoing subscription fees or microtransactions. Optional downloadable content, such as the Wildlife of Arrakis DLC, is available through the Season Pass, which includes four scheduled expansions, the first of which is already released. The remaining content drops are planned for Q4 2025, Q1 2026, and Q2 2026, alongside periodic free updates introducing new features and gameplay enhancements.
First announced with a cinematic trailer, the game recently made its launch debut during the Summer Game Fest showcase. A new supercut video highlighting various trailers has also been published to celebrate today’s launch.
Set in the lore-rich world of Dune, as envisioned by both Frank Herbert’s novels and Denis Villeneuve’s cinematic adaptations, Dune: Awakening tasks players with surviving not only the planet’s brutal environment but also political intrigue and faction warfare. Players can craft an array of equipment, build vehicles such as ornithopters, and choose allegiances with the Atreides or Harkonnen houses, directly shaping the game world’s balance of power across persistent multiplayer servers.
Key Features of Dune: Awakening:
- Massive open-world survival gameplay set on Arrakis.
- Fully persistent multiplayer servers supporting hundreds of players.
- Crafting systems for weapons, armor, vehicles, and more.
- Environmental threats including sandworms and deadly sandstorms.
- Political faction systems featuring Atreides and Harkonnen alliances.
- Optional Season Pass DLC, starting with the Wildlife of Arrakis pack.
- Free regular updates planned post-launch.
- Console versions for PlayStation and Xbox expected in 2026.
Dune: Awakening is available now on PC via Steam.
