The world of Dune is the perfect sandbox, pun intended, to immerse yourself in the role of a wandering desert scavenger in search of spice. Frank Herbert added just enough detail to create a vivid picture while allowing space for imagination to run wild.
Dune: Awakening, the upcoming title from Funcom, aims to scratch a similar itch by dropping players on the swirling sands of Arrakis. You will need to use your wits, scavenged items, and spice to build your way to the top. The best part is that you can choose your favorite faction and play with, or against, your friends.
Dune: Awakening Allows Players to Choose Their Origins to Create Their Future
MMOs are all about building yourself and your guild to reign supreme on the map. Dune: Awakening offers similar opportunities but with slight twists. In conversation with VG247, Joel Bylos, Creative Director of the title, shared how he sees players interacting with the world and each other to create their unique stories on Arrakis.
The first order of business for any new arrival on Arrakis is to build their base and find a guild to join. Going solo is also an option, but MMOs are always easier with a group. Both House Harkonnen and House Atreides can be approached to complete missions and earn their loyalty. Each faction has its own hub that is designed to include subtle references to their lore.
The idea is that you want to use those spaces to show off the character of the factions [… ] We wanted to create a space for players to roleplay.
Bylos goes on to say they have created a bar, Hanovars, which features a subtle nod to their early whale fur business. Funcom is going all in when it comes to staying faithful to the universe of Dune in Awakening, and Bylos has even told his team, “make your designs fit Dune, do not make Dune fit your designs.”
Immersiveness Goes Beyond Superficial References in Awakening
The game is going to feature a lot of features that will appeal to gamers as well as fans of the movies and books. Players will be able to take part in dynamic fights in the middle of the raging Coriolis storms on the southern half of the planet. These storms will wipe away any structures built in the area every week, but thankfully the blueprint system allows players to recreate them in a few clicks.
Gamers who do not wish to enter the fray can also make a living by trading designs and blueprints on the CHOAM Exchange. As with all Dune media, spice is going to be at the center of the narrative. Along with being the resource players will be fighting for, it is also going to evolve in-game abilities.
With a robust system for PvP and guild building, the game has the potential to become an immersive MMO for fans of the series and survival games. There’s still a lot of time before the game releases, but what we have seen so far from the team is truly impressive.
Which House would you side with in the game? Let us know in the comments below!
