Dune Awakening’s Monetization Strategy Seems Promising, Especially for Those Who Recall the Hassle of Subscription Fees

Exciting updates about Dune Awakening have just surfaced online, thanks to Funcom’s recent update about the game’s roadmap after it officially drops. Additionally, they’ve released the PC specs on the game’s Steam store page for players to prepare themselves.

In a brief video, Joel Bylos, Funcom’s chief creative officer, walks us through what to expect after the game’s launch on May 20 this year. He shared that Dune Awakening won’t require a subscription like many other MMOs. Instead, they’ll offer optional paid DLC packs that will be launched alongside complimentary updates.

These free updates promise enhancements like quality of life improvements, new features, fresh story content, and all the essential elements that keep a live service game thriving. As for the paid DLCs, specifics remain under wraps, but players can either purchase them individually or as part of a season pass featuring multiple offerings in one go.

Bylos also humorously mentioned that certain versions of the game will allow players early access on May 15. This early start isn’t just a perk; it’s also meant to help balance server loads for a smooth launch, ensuring fans avoid the common MMO pitfall of a rocky start.

Alongside this video, the Steam post shared the minimum and recommended PC specs:

Minimum Requirements:

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

Recommended Requirements:

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

Beyond the specs, the post revealed some intriguing PC features, such as NVIDIA’s DLSS 4, marking Dune Awakening as one of the pioneering games to implement it upon full release. It also includes AMD’s FSR, Intel’s XeSS 2, Razer Chroma RGB, and Razer Sensa HD Haptics to make the experience even more immersive.

Personally, I appreciate this business model—no subscription fees make it easier to jump back into the game whenever I fancy, much like my occasional returns to Guild Wars 2. So, I’m all for it. Plus, more details are on the horizon, with a gameplay stream teased for March 24 in the Steam blog.

Curious to see what the desert has in store for you? Let us know if you’ll be joining the fray when the sands of Dune Awakening open up on May 20—or five days earlier if you’re one of the lucky ones!