In the latest Dune: Awakening newsletter, the Funcom team recaps convention appearances with the game, along with cosplay, reveals, and more.
The team attended TwitchCon in California. They also went to the Tokyo Game Show back in September, showing as part of the Level Infinite booth. There, they hosted panels with the game's producers, a gameplay presentation with full Japanese voiceover, and a Q&A. Finally, Brazil Game Show had a Funcom booth in the main hall, with a theater with cozy settings for a gameplay presentation, as well as some access to hands-on gameplay experiences.
If you're interested in those experiences, you can check out the newsletter for more on each of those stops, but it's the reveals and the Q&A that have the most new info. There’s a screenshot of a Harkonnen Light Ornithopter, fast crafts that will help you get away quickly from sandstorms or even enemies.
In answering community questions, we get some info on how shields will work in the desert. The team also confirms third person POV, but there will be some items that let you take a first person view where the mechanics will be helpful, like using binoculars or a sniper scope. Since they did show off an ornithopter, there's also an important question on if there's anything to stop people from stealing your vehicle. There will be special permission settings to restrict access to your vehicle. You can steal vehicles from NPCs though.
One question asks if there are levels. The answer dives into progression in the game, and how you'll be able to gain experience, along with skill points and tech points. This is an important answer, particularly if you're not used to the way survival game mechanics work. Steven got into the journey with Creative Director Joel Bylos last month.
Related:
Inside Dune Awakening - Part 1: Joel Bylos on the Journey System, Archetypes, and Finding the F--K Yeah Moments
Alas, there will be no sandworm riding at launch, but the Dune: Awakening team is aware that people want it. If it comes down the line, “We want to make sure it’s as impactful as the cinematic moment it's inspired by in the Dune movies,” so any development will be careful and deliberate.
