A new trailer titled Beauty of Arrakis for Funcom’s upcoming open-world survival MMO, Dune: Awakening, gives a tour of the desert planet. “Beauty of Arrakis” is a short 3-minute trailer. Still, it does provide some majestic scenes showing off grand vistas, desert storms, life after the sun goes down, ornithopter flight through canyons, and places of interest throughout the planet. Nearly all of which appear to be gathered from in-engine rendered footage.
Per: Funcom
“Witness the Beauty of Arrakis
Embark on a journey across Arrakis in a new video.
Greetings Sleepers,
Check your literjon, strap on your stillsuit, and venture into the sands with us to witness the harsh beauty and spellbinding majesty of Arrakis in our latest video: Beauty of Arrakis.
While Arrakis is principally a desert planet, its vast surface is home to many unique locations and diverse environments full of secrets to uncover. In this video, we show off a few of these locations. Soar through the shadows of the Hagga Rift, and wander across the red sands of the Vermillius Gap to the gnarled vegetation of the O’odham.
This video shows only a glimpse of what you will explore on Arrakis, by foot, in groundcars, and from the cockpit of ornithopters.
Multiplayer survival on the most dangerous planet in the universe awaits, Sleepers. Early this year, you will taste the spice.”
The new trailer has some strong Horizon vibes regarding its desert visual designs, but that isn’t bad given the praise that franchise has received for its definitive look. Funcom has put effort into maintaining the established familiarity with Arrakis as seen in its cinematic portrayals, along with those depicted in past fan-favorite games as well. Players will experience MMO survival mechanics combined with crafting and strategy to rise from merely surviving the harshness of Arrakis and become a force of the desert, but in this world, Paul Atreides never existed, and Lady Jessica and Duke Leto have pursued other life paths. Furthermore, this is a very different Arrakis with the Fremen having mysteriously vanished.
Per Funcom:
“More than just survival, Dune: Awakening offers a large-scale, persistent and highly immersive world with social hubs bustling with other players, server-wide politics and intrigue, and a cinematic storyline that will leave you at the edge of your seat.
The Fremen have vanished. Paul Atreides was never born. Lady Jessica obeyed the Bene Gesserit and gave birth to a girl. Duke Leto Atreides survived the assault on Arrakeen and is now locked in a brutal conflict with the Harkonnen over Arrakis and its precious spice.
In this unique but still familiar take on the iconic sci-fi universe of Dune, you begin as a prisoner sent to Arrakis to uncover the mystery of the Fremen’s disappearance. Following in the footsteps of the mysterious desert tribe, you will learn the true meaning of desert power as you rise from a nameless survivor to becoming an agent of the Atreides or the Harkonnen.
Alone, with friends, or any of the hundreds of players you share Arrakis with, can you survive the most dangerous planet in the universe?”
Dune: Awakening is planned for an early 2025 release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.