As the gaming world eagerly anticipates the release of "Dune: Awakening," Joel Bylos, the Creative Director at Funcom, sheds light on what makes this new title a groundbreaking entry in the realms of MMOs and survival games. Based on the richly detailed and treacherous universe of Frank Herbert's Dune, "Dune: Awakening" aims to merge the best elements of sandbox survival games with the expansive, interactive nature of a massively multiplayer online game.
Redefining Genre Boundaries
"Dune: Awakening" is described by Bylos as an "Open World Survival Massively Multiplayer Online game," a classification that has intrigued and spurred much speculation among the gaming community. Bylos explains the deliberate choice to distinguish the game from traditional MMORPGs: "We're very deliberate in our communication about Dune: Awakening to use MMO but not MMORPG. Games like World of Warcraft and Elder Scrolls Online have defined a type of progression and core game loops that typify the modern MMORPG. Dune: Awakening walks a different path."
This path veers away from the conventional quest-driven progression of MMORPGs, focusing instead on a crafting and building-driven progression system that encourages exploration and interaction in a vast, open-world setting.
A Deeply Immersive Experience on Arrakis
Players begin their journey on Arrakis, a planet famed for its vast deserts and life-threatening sandworms. The game environment promises to be dynamic and responsive, with cataclysmic storms that alter the landscape, unveiling new challenges and resources. "Our Arrakis is made up of different and separate maps, some larger than others, providing a variety of environments from bustling villages to the lawless deep desert," says Bylos.
Survival Is Just the Beginning
Survival on Arrakis involves more than battling the elements and hostile creatures; water conservation and resource management play crucial roles. Players must navigate these challenges while building their strength and influence through strategic crafting and alliances. "The survival genre has exploded in recent years, and with this explosion has come a myriad of different approaches to server and multiplayer setups," Bylos remarks. "Dune: Awakening" aims to stand out by incorporating a server structure akin to MMOs, supporting vast multiplayer interactions across its open world.
As "Dune: Awakening" continues to develop, both longtime fans of the Dune series and newcomers to the universe have much to look forward to. The game promises not only to bring Arrakis to life but also to offer a fresh perspective on multiplayer gaming.
Curious to learn more about what makes #DuneAwakening an MMO and what the server structure is like?
— Funcom (@Funcom) June 22, 2024
In our new blog, we dive even deeper and go through what makes this game different than other survival games.
📰 https://t.co/ao0aYtKSwb pic.twitter.com/HayLujZna7
Get Involved Early
For more insights and a deeper dive into the making of "Dune: Awakening," visit the official developer blog here: What Makes Dune: Awakening an MMO?
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By Ronny Fiksdahl
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