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The recent Dune Awakening Direct - Episode 2 featured a wealth of fascinating information concerning Funcom’s upcoming MMO. There’s a great deal to be excited about in this alternate timeline of the Frank Herbert classic novel and films. With visuals inspired by the recent films, players will explore the vast, unforgivable planet of Arrakis in this upcoming MMO.
Fans already knew the timeline would be an alternate one that lacks Paul Atreides; this was revealed during the Summer Game Fest cinematic. However, over the 30-minute-long presentation of Dune Awakening Direct - Episode 2, far more information was given to players.
Here’s what we learned about the MMO rumored to release in 2024.
Important takeaways from the Dune Awakening Direct - Episode 2
1) Creative Director explains why he went with an alternate history
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The developers of Dune Awakening explained exactly why they made the choices they did for Direct Episode 2. Paul Atreides casts a gigantic shadow over the whole of Arrakis and is such an important figure. To give players some facet of agency and just be one of Paul’s underlings, they decided to go with a timeline, a history, where Paul Atreides did not exist.
Specifically, this involves a choice by Lady Jessica, in 10171 AG. She chose to have a son, which brings about Paul. However, in this timeline, she chooses to have a daughter. Most of the events still play out in a similar manner; however, some things have changed: now Lady Jessica is tied to the Bene Gesserit and has been trained as a Truthseer.
As an example, she uncovered Doctor Yueh’s treachery before it took place. This storyline promises to give players far more agency, and won’t just shoehorn them in underneath Paul Atreides in Dune Awakening. We also learned that after the Battle of Arrakeen, once the Atreides successfully fended off the Harkonen, the Emperor decreed that the war could continue on the surface only. However, the spice must continue to flow.
2) Jessica Atreides’ daughter has many of the same benefits as Paul Atreides, but not all of them
Lady Jessica’s daughter, in many ways, is similar to Paul Atreides. She was trained as a Bene Gesserit, a Mentat, and had Sword Master teachers. However, Ariste (Lady Jessica’s daughter) doesn’t have the same struggle, the same end-goal that Paul did. Her goal from birth is to marry the Harkonnen heir to create their Kwisatz Haderach.
Both characters struggle, but the Creative Director made sure to highlight that the two Atreides characters were significantly different in their struggles and goals. Their lives are quite different.
3) Lea Talbot discusses the spiritual journey players will go through in Dune Awakening
In the original Dune narrative, Paul Atreides uses the Fremen prophecy of the Messiah to benefit himself and others around him. However, that’s not possible with Paul not being part of this upcoming survival MMO. The spiritual journey will be different than fans recall, which did leave some people frustrated.
Since you're not controlling Paul Atreides, it’s going to be important to really get into the chaotic world of Arrakis, instead of avoiding the conflict. The player is not the Messiah of Dune. Lea stated that the player will experience the religious and spiritual journeys of many people they come across, and this promises to offer something unique in this franchise, in Dune Awakening.
The political environment is different, a more unstable one. There’s no real clear dominant power on Arrakis, which changes things significantly. She highlighted one faction, a cult, the Mascaret—a group that has twisted, and even perhaps perverted, the Fremen way of life.
4) Producer Nils Ryborg shows off character creation
The Dune Awakening developers made it clear that character creation has a wide assortment of options, though you can also just pick a preset if you’d rather not go through the hassle. From arm/leg thickness, neck length, skin tone, and even adding Vitiligo to your skin, there are some interesting options and body types. You can even affect your age, making an older character if you prefer.
You also get to choose who you are and where you come from. The Reverend Mother will ask the player a series of questions, affecting how you interact with the people of Arrakis. You can choose a homeworld, what caste you’re in, and your mentor type. The mentor is important, as it gives you an ability you can use once you’re in-game, instead of dialogue options.
However, this doesn’t mean you’re stuck in one class. You can combine multiple archetypes into one character, provided you find the right teachers. It’s really interesting to see that you can become whatever you want to be in Dune Awakening.
5) Where are the Fremen?
One of the core parts to the story, as we understand it in Dune Awakening, is that the Fremen are gone. Imperial propaganda will tell the citizens that the Fremen have been exterminated, and are no more. That may or may not be the case. Players will be exploring the places where Fremen walked, and lived, to investigate this mystery.
Players will learn more about the Fremen, their rites, and their cultural impact. The Creative Director refused to say if the Fremen were actually still alive, that it’s going to be up to players to find out for themselves. The absence of the Fremen is quite interesting though - they were an important faction on Arrakis. It will be interesting to see how that all plays out.
While Dune Awakening doesn’t have a particular release date, it does offer something unique when it comes to survival MMOs. It has a clear story for players to follow and will take them on a unique journey in the familiar world of Arrakis, though an alternate history from what we know as fans of the franchise.
