Dune: Awakening Drops June 10, But You Can Start Playing On PC Early

The wait is almost over, Dune: Awakening is finally here. After months of teasers, livestreams, and a three-week delay to fix bugs found during beta testing, the survival MMO is officially launching 10 June 2025.

Following a brief delay to address beta feedback, the game is now officially set to launch on 10 June 2025, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. However, players who pre-order the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition will receive early access starting June 5.

If you're even a bit into survival games or the Dune universe, Awakening is one you’ll want to keep on your radar. It’s the first time players will get to explore Arrakis in an open-world format, and it’s massive not just in scale, but in ambition.

Inspired by Denis Villeneuve’s cinematic Dune and built by Funcom (of Conan Exiles fame), this game drops you into a hostile world where you’ll have to fight for survival, power, and, of course, spice.

You don’t play as Paul Atreides or follow the movie storyline. In fact, Paul doesn’t exist in this timeline. Instead, you create your own character and navigate a version of Arrakis where the power vacuum has left the Houses and the players in constant flux. That means more room for original stories, faction politics, and new rivalries to emerge.

You start small, learning to survive the harsh environment like the Fremen do: managing hydration, staying out of deadly sandstorms, and avoiding sandworms that can swallow you whole. The game blends survival mechanics (like temperature management and crafting), with MMO systems like PvP zones, base-building, trading, and faction warfare.

Before you dive into the Deep Desert, make sure your setup can handle the heat. Here’s what you’ll need:

Minimum Requirements

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit (or newer)

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

• Memory: 16 GB RAM

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

• Storage: 60 GB available space

• DirectX: Version 12

• Other: SSD required, Broadband Internet

Recommended Specs

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit (or newer)

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

• Memory: 16 GB RAM

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

• Storage: 75 GB available space

• DirectX: Version 12

• Other: SSD required, Broadband Internet

Whether you’re harvesting spice or battling in PvP zones, you’ll want those frame rates steady. And yes, SSD is a must.

What’s New and What We’ve Seen

Funcom recently livestreamed a deep dive into mid-to-endgame gameplay, including a first real look at the whole Hagga Basin. This vast region encompasses lush oases, rugged cliffs, and treacherous canyons. Beta players had only seen a quarter of this zone until now, and the livestream made one thing clear: Awakening isn’t just about surviving; it’s about exploring and shaping a living world.

We also got confirmation of some of the core mechanics and game systems:

The map is divided into safer PvE areas and contested PvP zones. PvE players can mine spice, explore ancient crash sites, and trade in relative peace. PvP fans, on the other hand, can engage in large-scale battles and political conquest in the Deep Desert.

Choose your alliances carefully. You can support House Atreides, House Harkonnen, or other factions and influence the Landsraad, the governing body of Dune. Expect sabotage, alliances, and betrayals that ripple across the server.

It’s not just a currency; it’s a way of life. Spice enhances your abilities, powers trade, and draws attention. But mining it is dangerous; it attracts sandworms, and rivals won’t hesitate to attack.

Design your own bases using a unique blueprint system, and even sell your designs in-game. Whether it’s a basic hideout or a fortress in the desert, your builds can shape the player economy and serve as trade hubs, war bases, or spice depots.

If you’re one of the early birds with Deluxe or Ultimate editions, you’ll get access starting 5 June. This head start not only gives you an edge in claiming land and resources, but also lets you experience the game before the masses arrive on 10 June.

Funcom’s been refreshingly transparent throughout development, frequently opening beta weekends and making real changes based on community feedback. The May beta event helped test server stability and fine-tune systems, such as combat balance and faction mechanics.

TL;DR: Should You Play?

If you’re into deep survival mechanics, massive multiplayer dynamics, or just want to walk the dunes of Arrakis and dodge sandworms, Dune: Awakening is worth checking out. Early Access starts 5 June. Global release is 10 June. Get your stillsuit ready.