Dune: Awakening, the upcoming survival MMO for PlayStation 5, recently debuted an extended gameplay preview at Gamescom, thrilling fans with a 25-minute dive into its expansive and harsh world. Scheduled for release in 2025, the game is based on the iconic science fiction universe created by Frank Herbert and promises to blend intense action with deep strategic elements.
The newly released footage provides a substantial look at the early stages of the game, focusing on an initial tutorial. Players begin their journey on Arrakis, a planet infamous for its valuable but dangerous spice and extreme desert conditions. The tutorial serves as an introduction to the game’s mechanics and the hostile environment that players will navigate.
Funcom, the game's developer, has imported its free-form climbing system from Conan Exiles, but with enhancements suitable for Dune's sci-fi setting. This improved system allows for dynamic and fluid movement across the rugged landscapes of Arrakis, employing devices like jump packs and grappling hooks. Additionally, the inclusion of suspensor belts offers a unique method of traversal, adding to the depth of exploration and combat.
Survival is a core element of Dune: Awakening. Players must carefully manage exposure to the planet’s brutal heat and protect themselves from sunstroke. Water, a scarce resource, must be harvested from plants and the bodies of fallen enemies. This mechanic emphasizes the survival aspect of the game and adds a layer of strategic resource management that players must master to succeed.
Combat in Dune: Awakening is described as a blend of third-person shooting, melee fighting, and special abilities. This combination, referred to by the developers as "combined arms," ensures that players must be tactically astute and versatile. Engaging enemies will require a balance of skillsets, from sharpshooting to close-quarter combat, adapting to various threats the game presents.
