Funcom, the developer behind the highly anticipated Dune: Awakening, has provided an exciting update on the game's business model and post-launch strategy. The studio has confirmed that the game will have a full launch on May 20, rather than entering Early Access. This multiplayer survival game, inspired by Frank Herbert's iconic sci-fi novel and its movie adaptations, will not require a subscription despite its classification as an MMO.

Instead of a subscription model, Funcom plans to enhance Dune: Awakening through free updates that will introduce new content and features. The game will also follow a traditional business model by offering optional DLCs. Funcom's commitment to ongoing support is evident in their long-running MMOs like Anarchy Online and Conan Exiles, which continue to receive free updates, DLCs, and expansions years after their initial release. "Dune: Awakening will be no exception, and it will continue to expand with free updates bringing new content, features, and enhancements," Funcom stated.

The standard edition of Dune: Awakening is priced at $49.99. For those looking for more, the Deluxe Edition at $69.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $89.99 offer additional perks, including a five-day head start and several unique items. The Deluxe and Ultimate Editions include a Season Pass that unlocks four DLCs over time, with the first available at launch.

The Deluxe Edition also includes the armor of the Sardaukar, the elite military force that players will encounter in the game. The Ultimate Edition encompasses all the benefits of the Deluxe Edition and adds Paul Atreides' iconic stillsuit from the 2021 film, a digital artbook, a digital soundtrack, unique color patterns, and the Caladan Palace Set, which features building pieces, placeables, and decorations.

Pre-ordering any edition of Dune: Awakening grants players a universal color pattern applicable to vehicles, weapons, and armor, along with the Terrarium of Muad'Dib, an in-base decoration that houses the iconic desert mouse.

Funcom has also detailed the PC features and system requirements for Dune: Awakening. The game supports advanced graphics technologies such as Nvidia's DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, AMD's FSR, and Intel's XeSS 2.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit (or newer)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-7400, AMD Ryzen 3 1200
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB), AMD Radeon 5600XT (6GB)
• Storage: 60 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit (or newer)
• Processor: Intel Core i7-10700K, AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (8GB), AMD Radeon 6700XT (12GB)
• Storage: 75 GB available space

For a deeper dive into Dune: Awakening, check out IGN's final preview of the game.