Dune: Awakening sounds like an extremely ambitious offering from Funcom, the developer behind Conan: Exiles. It's still early days, but it has been promised for PS5, and each new sliver of information has us more excited to visit Arrakis.
IGN's Destin Legarie saw a brief behind-closed-doors demo of the game and came away with some exciting tidbits. Apparently, the desert section of the map alone is larger than the entirety of Exiles, with Funcom suggesting players will spend 30-50 hours levelling in this area. Further, each real-world week, Arrakis' infamous sandstorms will sweep through with such severity that any player-made structure in this survival sandbox world not protected by a shield will be washed away.
The official description for this feature is as follows: "Cataclysmic Coriolis storms regularly alter the landscape, uncovering new valuable resources and sweeping away player-built outposts. When the dust settles, the race is on. Scout the fresh new land and uncover the secrets of the sands." Legarie said that in the section he was shown, a player journeyed to a newly uncovered radioactive crash site, showcasing verticality and the ability to climb any geometry in the game.
Again and again, the survival aspect was emphasised. Death is devastating, with players losing everything they were carrying, regardless of the cause. Sandworms cannot be fought, only avoided or distracted. Open world PVP means you could become a refreshing drink for a thirsty player if you don't keep your wits about you. Dehydration, heatstroke, and an ignoble end await those who can't secure enough water.