[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/techloot.co.uk\/gaming\/dune-awakening-preview-surviving-the-sands-of-arrakis\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/techloot.co.uk\/gaming\/dune-awakening-preview-surviving-the-sands-of-arrakis\/","headline":"Dune Awakening Preview \u2013 Surviving the Sands of Arrakis","name":"Dune Awakening Preview \u2013 Surviving the Sands of Arrakis","description":"As one of the most anticipated games of 2025, Dune Awakening is shaping up to be a revolutionary entry in the survival multiplayer genre. Funcom recently hosted an exclusive hands-on event in Oslo, Norway, where selected journalists and influencers got the first chance to experience the game. With a unique approach that blends elements of…","datePublished":"2025-02-01","dateModified":"2025-03-09","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/techloot.co.uk\/author\/radoslav\/#Person","name":"Radoslav Jokic","url":"https:\/\/techloot.co.uk\/author\/radoslav\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/techloot.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/111-150x150.jpg","url":"https:\/\/techloot.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/111-150x150.jpg","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Tech Loot","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/techlootio.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/techloot-footer-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/techlootio.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/techloot-footer-logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/techloot.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot_46.jpg","url":"https:\/\/techloot.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot_46.jpg","height":819,"width":1642},"url":"https:\/\/techloot.co.uk\/gaming\/dune-awakening-preview-surviving-the-sands-of-arrakis\/","video":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1S-l7NySFsI#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1S-l7NySFsI","name":"Dune: Awakening \u2013 Survive Arrakis Trailer","description":"Rise from survival to dominance on the most dangerous planet in the universe. Arrakis is a test that few humans survive.\n\nWishlist now: https:\/\/store.steampowered.com\/app\/1172710\/Dune_Awakening\/\n\n#duneawakening #dune\n\nRise from survival to greatness and challenge the power of an Imperium in Dune: Awakening, a multiplayer survival game on a massive scale. Survive the sandworm, craft your ornithopter, build a fortress, and ascend to power on an open world Arrakis shared with hundreds of other players.\n\nJoin us on Arrakis\nTwitter: https:\/\/twitter.com\/DuneAwakening\nFacebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DuneAwakening\nInstagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/duneawakening\/\nTikTok: https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@duneawakening\nDiscord: https:\/\/discord.gg\/duneawakening\nBluesky: https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/duneawakening.com","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/1S-l7NySFsI\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/1S-l7NySFsI\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/1S-l7NySFsI\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/1S-l7NySFsI\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/1S-l7NySFsI\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2024-03-04T17:24:34+00:00","duration":"PT2M12S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1S-l7NySFsI","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCKkpgwjdJ-ohfG0YcqAt9Bw#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCKkpgwjdJ-ohfG0YcqAt9Bw","name":"Funcom","description":"Funcom is a critically acclaimed developer and publisher of PC and console games. Since 1993, Funcom has developed and published over 25 game titles across several genres and gaming platforms. Most notable of these is the open-world multiplayer survival games, Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles, and the MMOs The Secret World, and Anarchy Online. Dune: Awakening is out now on Steam!","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/FMgWlL7miUNqYjaLN2ovHxC8lVsTbHIHxZntvL1DcOm92JZcmqgZEvPb0SsylnU26YzOQsJo=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1S-l7NySFsI#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1S-l7NySFsI#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1S-l7NySFsI&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1S-l7NySFsI#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":2268052}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1S-l7NySFsI#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":11780}]},null],"about":["Gaming"],"wordCount":711,"keywords":["#Arrakis","#DuneAwakening","#DuneGame","#Funcom","#MMO","#MMORPG","#OpenWorld","#SciFiGaming","#SurvivalGames","gaming","RPG"],"articleBody":"As one of the most anticipated games of 2025, Dune Awakening is shaping up to be a revolutionary entry in the survival multiplayer genre. Funcom recently hosted an exclusive hands-on event in Oslo, Norway, where selected journalists and influencers got the first chance to experience the game. With a unique approach that blends elements of Frank Herbert\u2019s Dune series with survival mechanics, this game is positioning itself as a standout experience in the MMO landscape.A Unique Take on ArrakisCreative Director Joel Bylos detailed Funcom\u2019s vision for Dune Awakening, explaining how the game is influenced primarily by Dune, Dune Messiah, and Children of Dune. However, working with an active Hollywood film franchise meant that Funcom had to follow specific restrictions, such as not being allowed to show Fremen or reveal any spoilers related to Dune: Part 3. According to Bylos, these constraints led to creative opportunities: \u201cConstraints lead to freedom and [thinking] around corners.\u201dUnlike traditional MMORPGs, Dune Awakening is marketed as a multiplayer survival game, dropping the \u201cmassive\u201d tag to avoid the grind-heavy expectations of the genre. Instead, Funcom is focusing on an open-world experience where survival, political intrigue, and faction warfare take center stage.The Five Pillars of Dune AwakeningImage Credit: FuncomFuncom has designed Dune Awakening around five core gameplay pillars that define the experience:Survival: Players must constantly manage water, shelter, and protection from sandworms.Political Survival: Align with one of 25 great houses and influence global decrees that can reshape the world (e.g., enabling full-loot PvP).Infinite Exploration: A dynamic world map that shifts weekly due to coriolis storms, uncovering hidden structures and dungeons.Combined Arms Combat: A mix of melee and ranged combat, emphasizing tactical decision-making.Customization and Expression: Players have full control over base-building, character progression, and crafting.Hands-On Gameplay: The First Steps on ArrakisImage Credit: FuncomOur hands-on session focused on the early survival phase, where players start in a damp cave and must carve their way out. From the outset, Dune Awakening immerses players in its harsh desert environment, forcing them to scavenge for resources while learning crafting and survival mechanics.The early game is heavily tutorial-driven, ensuring that players understand the fundamentals before venturing into the open desert. The objectives include learning to:Gather essential materials (stone, metal, and water).Construct a base from scratch.Craft essential survival tools and weapons.Build the first vehicle to navigate the harsh terrain.One standout feature is the base duplication tool, allowing players to copy an existing structure and relocate it. However, this tool only saves the layout, meaning players must still gather materials to reconstruct their bases. This system encourages strategic resource management but could be refined to be more user-friendly.Combat: A Work in ProgressImage Credit: FuncomCombat in Dune Awakening blends ranged and melee mechanics, but in its current form, it still needs refinement.Shields play a major role, with enemy NPCs almost always having them. Players must find ways to overload shields using projectile attacks or execute heavy melee attacks to bypass them.Dynamic abilities, like flying knee attacks, add flair to combat, but some interactions feel clunky.Players start without shields, making early fights against armed enemies frustrating.While Funcom has ambitious plans for combat balance, the current build still requires polish to ensure that both ranged and melee playstyles feel equally rewarding.Base Building & ExplorationImage Credit: FuncomBuilding a base in Dune Awakening offers a lot of freedom, but there are still some limitations in the current version:\u2705 Freely construct structures from scratch.\u2705 Unlock new crafting stations over time.\u2705 Create respawn points to minimize setbacks.\u274c No object snapping, making precise placement tricky.\u274c Limited rotation controls, requiring players to reposition manually.Beyond base-building, exploration plays a massive role. The ever-changing map introduces new dungeons, structures, and points of interest after each coriolis storm, making long-term engagement more appealing.A Promising Future for Dune AwakeningFuncom is crafting a worthy adaptation of Dune, staying true to Frank Herbert\u2019s vision while introducing innovative gameplay mechanics. While the game still needs combat improvements and quality-of-life refinements, its survival systems, political intrigue, and exploration mechanics make it one of the most anticipated releases of 2025.Expected Release: Later in 2025 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Gaming","item":"https:\/\/techloot.co.uk\/gaming\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Dune Awakening Preview \u2013 Surviving the Sands of Arrakis","item":"https:\/\/techloot.co.uk\/gaming\/dune-awakening-preview-surviving-the-sands-of-arrakis\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]