Business Model, System Requirements, and Post-Launch Plans

Greetings Sleepers,

We have a lot of news to share today, so get your spice coffee brewing!

We’re excited to reveal that pre-orders will begin next week, on March 24th! On that day, we will also reveal the contents and pricing of the game editions.

For you to make an informed decision before purchasing we’ve collected some essential info in today’s article. After all, the best way to survive Arrakis is to be prepared.

Business Model and Post-Launch Plans

Joel, Creative Director on Dune: Awakening, sat down with us to guide you through Dune: Awakening’s business model and post-launch plans.

In short, when Dune: Awakening launches on May 20th:

• It will not be in Early Access, this is the full launch

• It will not have a subscription

• The game will continue to be expanded through free updates, bringing new content, features, and enhancements

• There will be optional paid DLCs

Funcom has been developing and supporting live service games for a long time. All our three MMOs are still in service, with Anarchy Online turning 25 years old next year. Our survival game Conan Exiles is still in active development and being updated after eight years of DLCs, expansions, and countless free updates.

Dune: Awakening will be no different. With these games, launch is only the beginning, and we look forward to working closely with our community for many years to come.

System Requirements

Today, we’re also happy to share Dune: Awakening’s system requirements.

Minimum:

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit (or newer)

• Processor: Intel Core i5-7400, AMD Ryzen 3 1200

• Memory: 16 GB RAM

• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB), AMD Radeon 5600XT (6GB)

• Storage: 60 GB available space

Recommended:

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit (or newer)

• Processor: Intel Core i7-10700K, AMD Ryzen 5 2600X

• Memory: 16 GB RAM

• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (8GB), AMD Radeon 6700XT (12GB)

• Storage: 75 GB available space

Remember, you can also download the Character Creator & Benchmark Mode on Steam not only to create a character you can import at launch, but also to test how your system performs running Dune: Awakening at various settings.

PC Features

Dune: Awakening will feature several exciting features at launch:

• NVIDIA’s DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation: Dune: Awakening will be one of the first games to feature this cutting-edge technology, enhancing the game’s majestic visuals and providing ultimate performance.

• AMD’s FSR: The latest open upscaling and advanced frame generation tech from AMD will also be available at launch. 

• Intel’s XeSS 2: Experience faster, smoother gameplay with higher image quality and a more connected playing experience with Intel® Xe Low Latency (XeLL).

• Razer Chroma RGB and Razer Sensa HD Haptics: Experience unparalleled immersion with the Razer Kraken V4 Pro headset, synced lighting and intelligent haptic feedback. Plunge your entire room into an Arrakis sunset and feel the hum of your ornithopter’s seat with the Freyja Gaming Cushion’s full dynamic range.

PC Settings

Below you will find all the most important PC settings that will be available at launch.

Settings

• Remappable keyboard & mouse controls

• Better support for AZERTY/QWERTZ and ESDF users

• Subtitles on/off

• Subtitle backgrounds

• Optional chat indicators or chat bubbles in social areas

• Optional loadout hotbar, mini-radial or radial wheel

• Controller rumble on/off

• Screenshake on/off

• Motion blur on/off

• FOV adjustment

• Framerate limiter

• Ultrawide HUD option (21:9 and 32:9)

• Multiple audio channel sliders

• Multiple sensitivity sliders

General Gameplay 

• Controller support

• Dialogue system with path highlights

• Audio SFX to support key actions/events

• Tutorials with highlighted text

• Tutorial repository for reviewing unlocked or missed tutorials

• Emotes system

• Help popups on several menus to explain specific features or game mechanics

Live Gameplay Stream – Monday March 24th

We have a big livestream coming your way, March 24th at 6PM CET / 1PM EST! 

Tune in and watch senior developers play the game live, answer community questions, and provide more insight into the game and its development. Among others, award-winning composer Knut Avenstroup Haugen will be there to talk about the music in Dune: Awakening, and World Director Jean-François Gagné will show and talk about the incredible open world of Arrakis.  

The livestream will be hosted by Senior PR Manager Natascha Röösli and will air on Funcom’s Twitch channel and Steam.

May 20th is Almost Here!

We hope all this information helps! Launch is approaching faster than a heighliner on a spice run and we can’t wait to continue expanding the game after that. The vastness of Arrakis awaits.

Until next time, Sleepers.