Dune Awakening’s Approach to Monetization Appeals to Those Who Recall Subscription Fees

Exciting updates about Dune Awakening have just surfaced, delivered by Funcom’s latest brief on the game’s post-launch strategy. On top of that, we’ve got a detailed look at the PC requirements straight from the game’s Steam store page.

Joel Bylos, the chief creative officer, narrates a short video outlining what players can expect after the game officially launches on May 20 this year. In a surprising move, Bylos revealed that Dune Awakening will sidestep the conventional subscription model typical of many MMOs. Instead, players will enjoy a mixture of free updates and optional paid DLC packs, giving everyone something to look forward to without putting a dent in the wallet.

These free updates promise enhancements to game mechanics, fresh features, riveting story content, and a slew of other elements designed to keep the game vibrant. As for those tempting DLCs, while specifics are still under wraps, they’ll be offered as standalone purchases or bundled into a season pass for optimal value.

Bylos threw in another interesting nugget: players who opt for a certain game version can dive into the action as early as May 15. This early access isn’t just a perk—it helps the team maintain server stability, ensuring a smooth launch. And let’s face it, nothing derails an MMO quicker than server woes on day one.

In tandem with the video, the Steam post broke down the nitty-gritty of the PC specs players need to know:

Minimum Requirements:

• OS: Window 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 of available space

Recommended Specs:

• 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 of available space

Additionally, the post teased some exciting PC-specific features. Players can enjoy NVIDIA’s DLSS 4, making Dune Awakening one of the pioneering releases to use it, alongside AMD’s FSR, Intel’s XeSS 2, and enhancements like Razer Chroma RGB and Razer Sensa HD Haptics. So, if you’re gaming on PC, you’re in for a treat with these cutting-edge tools to enhance both visual and gameplay experience.

What are your thoughts on this business model? Personally, I appreciate having fewer subscriptions given how many we all seem to juggle these days. The convenience of buying a game outright and dipping back in whenever you want is a big advantage—one of the reasons I keep returning to Guild Wars 2. All in all, I’m on board with this approach. And it looks like we have even more to look forward to, with a gameplay stream set to drop on March 24, as hinted at the end of the Steam blog post.

Are you planning to hit the dunes on May 20, or maybe get a head start five days earlier? Let us know in the comments!