Funcom asked us to "let them cook," and after last night's impressive Dune: Awakening showcase, it’s clear the developers delivered something special. With early access just around the corner, the team at Funcom hosted a livestream that gave fans an in-depth look at the game’s mid-to-endgame content, offering a sweeping tour of the Hagga Basin to highlight the sheer scale and diversity players can expect. From the "lush O’odham" to the ominous Hagga Rift, and the towering rock formations of Jabal Eifrit, the variety of terrain on display was nothing short of breathtaking.

Drawing inspiration from Denis Villeneuve and Legendary Entertainment’s acclaimed film adaptations, Dune: Awakening marks the first time Arrakis has been realized as an open-world experience. Until now, even beta players have only explored approximately 25% of the Hagga Basin. This latest stream offered a rare glimpse into the full scope of the environment, showcasing the vastness and ecological diversity of this iconic desert world.

“Before even considering the vast dunes and dangers of the Deep Desert, players will experience a full-scale survival game,” teased Funcom.

Players will rise through the ranks of either the Atreides or Harkonnen factions, construct powerful strongholds, tackle Imperial Testing Stations, craft advanced schematics, and traverse the desert using a range of vehicles. The “Landsraad” system also enables every player—whether they prefer PvE or PvP—to contribute meaningfully to their faction’s overall progress, reinforcing the game’s cooperative core.

Dune: Awakening is a sprawling open-world survival MMO set on the most treacherous planet in the universe. Players must master the harsh desert environment by learning from the Fremen, while expanding their capabilities through combat, spice harvesting, building, and trade. Originally slated for an earlier release, the game was pushed back by three weeks to address issues uncovered during beta testing, with the final launch date set for June 10, 2025, across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Early access players, however, can jump in five days early starting June 5.

“As a longtime fan of Dune, it also just feels so good to explore and learn more about a world that I’m quite fond of, and Funcom has clearly put a ton of effort into worldbuilding and lore,” we noted in IGN's Dune: Awakening closed beta impressions preview.

“There are little details that have a massive impact on gameplay. I won’t go into spoilers, but this kind of attention to detail touches just about every aspect of the world, including the factions and characters you meet along the way, which should be a treat for any fan of the setting.”

For more information, check out the official breakdown of the MMO's business model and post-launch plans.