Dune: Awakening Launches May 20 with Free Character Creator and Benchmark Tool Available Now
Funcom has announced May 20, 2025 as the release date for Dune: Awakening, its open-world survival MMO set on Arrakis. The game launches on Steam for $49.99, with pre-orders opening soon and including the Terrarium of Muad’Dib (a decorative base item). Players can now a free Character Creator & Benchmark Mode on Steam to design their avatar and test PC performance ahead of launch.
Key Features & Pre-Launch Details
Character Creation:
- Customize appearance, home planet, caste, and starting mentor (Swordmaster, Bene Gesserit, Mentat, Trooper).
- Starting abilities vary by mentor, but all schools unlock later for hybrid builds.
- Created characters carry over to the full game.
Benchmark Mode:
- Tests hardware compatibility while showcasing cinematic scenes (ornithopter flights, sandworm encounters).
- Grants an exclusive Frameblade knife skin for participants.
Pre-Order Incentives:
- Terrarium of Muad’Dib: An in-base decoration featuring the iconic desert mouse.
- Early access to character creation ensures players hit the ground running on launch day.
Gameplay Overview
Dune: Awakening blends survival mechanics with Frank Herbert’s lore and Denis Villeneuve’s cinematic visuals. Players start as scavengers on Arrakis, battling thirst, sandstorms, and rival factions while vying for control of spice. Endgame focuses on base-building, political intrigue, and confronting colossal sandworms.
Why This Matters
As Funcom’s first major project since Conan Exiles, Dune: Awakening targets both survival fans and Dune enthusiasts. The character creator’s flexibility and hybrid class system aim to avoid rigid role locks, while the benchmark tool addresses performance concerns common in large-scale MMOs.
Time will tell if Dune: Awakening can find an audience, but given the popularity of survival games (Valheim, Enshruded, etc), it has a decent chance of success.
