In February 2024, there were finally initial details about the gameplay of Dune: Awakening. Now it is clear why everything in the game is different from the Dune books and films. And it actually comes down to a single decision.
What is different in the game than in the films? At the beginning of 2024, the developer studio Funcom announced that Dune: Awakening takes place in a slightly different reality than the films and books. According to the developers, exactly one single decision was made differently. This led to the reality of Dune: Awakening.
What exactly that decision was, they left open at the time for spoiler reasons. However, the decision was supposed to lead to the War of Assassins, a conflict that predates the events of the film, becoming the centerpiece of the game.
You can read more about it here:
Warning – Spoilers: The following will mention storylines from the Dune books and films.
What decision was made differently? In the story trailer shown at Summer Game Fest, it is finally revealed which decision is meant: main character Paul Atreides is never born in Dune: Awakening – because his mother decides to follow her instructions and give birth to a girl.
The trailer tells the events from Paul’s perspective, who refers to the occurrences as a vision:
What does this mean for the world of Dune? Paul Atreides becomes the Messiah of the Fremen over the course of Dune 2. The people worship him and free themselves under his leadership from the rule of the emperor.
Without Paul, this does not happen. The Fremen are completely wiped out during the expanding War of Assassins. There will also be no God Emperor Leto in the distant future.
However, according to the trailer, Paul’s father does not die either. He remains alive and in power. Presumably, he will continue to lead his house accordingly. What this has to do with Dune: Awakening, you can read here:
What’s next for Dune: Awakening? Immediately after the trailer, Geoff Keighley announced that there would be more information about the game at gamescom 2024. This means about 2.5 months until new input.
We spoke with the developers during the gameplay reveal at the beginning of the year. Among other things, it was about riding sandworms and especially the release. Everything we currently know about a possible release date can be read here: Dune: Awakening Release – What do we know? MeinMMO asked the developers
