Dune Awakening Confirms $50 Base Price, Includes DLC, and Launches Directly Without Early Access

Before you know it, the May 20th launch date for survival MMO Dune: Awakening will be here. If you’ve been curious about Funcom’s monetization plans, you can stop wondering. The studio has revealed all the details in an announcement made last night, complete with an accompanying video.

Dune: Awakening will soon be available for pre-order at a base price of $49.99. There will be no subscription fee or early access launch, though creative director Joel Bylos notes that “some editions” will grant players a head start on May 15th. This approach, he explains, will help Funcom “balance the server load.” Additionally, new servers will open on May 20th for players who prefer a fresh start.

Post-launch, Dune: Awakening will offer optional DLCs with each major game update. These can be purchased individually or as part of a season pass. Funcom also promises multiple free updates, leveraging its experience with live service games, as seen with titles like Anarchy Online and Conan Exiles. Notably, the studio doesn’t mention The Secret World or Age of Conan, which is an interesting omission.

The announcement also includes the game’s minimum and recommended PC specifications, alongside details about PC-specific features. Additionally, the developers will be hosting a livestreamed play session on Monday, March 24th, at 1:00 p.m. EDT.