By After an extensive, extensive wait, Dune: Awakening is finally set to debut on May 20. Funcom has provided some definitive information on what the launch of this survival MMO will entail, and in summary, you can anticipate a full 1.0 release without early access, accompanied by a single purchase price of $50 with no additional subscription fees.
“The essential details regarding Dune: Awakening’s launch are that we will not have an early access phase, nor will there be a monthly subscription,” says creative director Joel Bylos in a video outlining the game’s monetization model. “We will provide regular free updates, featuring new content, enhancements, and quality of life improvements. In addition to these free updates, optional DLC will be available.”
Dune: Awakening — Monetization Model & Post-Launch Plans Explained – YouTube
Major free updates will enrich the narrative while “introducing new content and features,” and every update will be paired with a paid DLC pack. The pricing for these has yet to be disclosed; however, the Dune: Awakening Deluxe Edition, which includes a season pass pledging four DLC packs alongside additional bonuses, is listed at $70, or $20 above the standard edition.
Both the Deluxe and Final Editions offer early access to the game – notably, this is the other type of early access, where players enjoy five days of gameplay prior to the official launch. Bylos emphasizes that this “also allows us to ensure proper server load balancing as players join the game at launch for an optimal experience.”
Funcom’s previous survival title, Conan Exiles, was in early access for a year before its official launch in 2018; however, Dune: Awakening will break that trend. In a Steam blog, Funcom references Exiles to illustrate that it is “still actively being developed and receiving updates even after eight years of DLCs, expansions, and numerous free updates,” asserting that “Dune: Awakening will follow a similar path.”