Making a name for itself as an MMO, Dune: Awakening is broadening its horizons further as they give players on Arrakis a new way to play. Starting from September 22, Dune: Awakening will get a dedicated single-player mode without any multiplayer content, allowing players to fully focus on the story of mystery and conflict on the desert planet, without the need to interact with other players.
Coinciding with the single-player mode, Dune: Awakening will release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S with the new mode and all other updates coming on the same day. Whilst the console launch will be simultaneous with the new update, cross-play will not be available, meaning players are locked to only engaging with players on the same platform as them. The only exception to this will be for XBOX gamers who can play with those who own the game on Windows PC Store.
The single-player update also sees the release of the fifth and final Act of Dune: Awakening Book One, the narrative and cinematic adventure that survivors get to play through. Initially, Dune: Awakening launched with two Acts, with the following two released later. The final Act promises a “dramatic conclusion”, but developers Funcom say there are “many more hours of cinematic storytelling” to come in the future.
When playing in single-player mode, players are locked to that setting and can’t transfer that character to a multiplayer server. However, all NPCs remain available, as does the Deep Desert region along with all its content, and even the endgame Landsraad which usually sees multiplayer factional conflict is simulated instead by the game, to keep things “competitive and engaging.”
The end of Dune: Awakening‘s first major saga goes live on September 22, where the game will be playable with friends or solo for the first time on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders are live now on consoles, with several editions of the game offering bonus content to those die-hard Dune fans.
Funcom are always listening to player feedback, even making major pivots towards PvE content when players pushed back on their PvP offerings. For more coverage on Dune: Awakening and other breaking gaming news, check back often to GameObserver.
