A select number of creators have been able to play and show footage of an early build for Funcom’s highly anticipated desert survival game, Dune Awakening. We got to see what to expect in the early hours on Arrakis, how the survival mechanics work, the opening story, and how the developers approached designing points of interest in the game.

You crash-land on a planet in the middle of nowhere. A voiceover on the radio tells you where to go and warns that your current location is not safe. This is because you are in the sandworm’s territory, a massive beast that burrows underground and is attracted by noise. As you walk over the sand, you see a vibration meter at the bottom of your screen. The faster you run, the more tremors you create, increasing the chance that the sandworm hears you and tries to eat you.

While following the main story missions, you come across a laser-cutting tool, which will be the primary way you harvest resources. When equipped, it displays a line you need to follow on the material you want. Doing this breaks it down, allowing you to pick it up. Since you are in the desert, another crucial resource is water. It is scarce, so collect it whenever you find some. If you run low, you can move around in the shade or at night to drain less of your water meter compared to being in direct sunlight.

The developers spoke about the structures you find around Arrakis. These are places where you will encounter enemies and unique loot. Funcom wanted each location to feel like it was built with a purpose. Every point of interest has a name and its own lore, which can be found in item descriptions of objects you discover in these areas. If you crave extra story details or world-building, make sure to inspect everything you find.

Were you among the first players to try Dune: Awakening? Let me know in the comments.