Unveiling the Power of Unreal Engine 5 in Dune: Awakening

A presentation for Dune: Awakening explained why developer Funcom chose Unreal Engine 5 for its open-world survival MMO. The Dune: Awakening Direct was released shortly after Dune: Part Two, the highly anticipated sequel to Denis Villeneuve's film based on Frank Herbert's novel.

Unreal Engine 5 was announced in 2020 as a new frontier for video game graphics. Over the years, tech demos have showcased its capabilities, but only recently have games utilizing the engine started to be released. Dune: Awakening was revealed in 2022, following the availability of Unreal Engine 5, during Gamescom Opening Night Live. Although the initial CGI trailer provided limited information, Funcom has now shared gameplay footage and more details about the game.

Funcom Discusses the Benefits of Unreal Engine 5

Chief Creative Officer Joel Bylos praises Unreal Engine 5 during the Dune: Awakening Direct event, highlighting its flexibility and impressive graphics. Funcom is utilizing Lumen for lighting and Nanite for rendering, which are well-known features of the engine. Greig Fraser, a cinematographer for the Dune movies, even used Unreal to plan and visualize challenging scenes.

Even though only a few triple-A video games made in Unreal Engine 5 have been launched, many big studios have already started using it. Games like STALKER 2, Hellblade 2, and Avowed are set to be released this year, all developed in Unreal Engine 5. In addition, CD Projekt Red has announced that they are moving away from their own REDEngine, which was used for The Witcher 2 and 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, and will be using Unreal Engine 5 for their upcoming projects.

dune-awakening - When questioned about the status of development, Bylos stated that closed beta tests have been "running for several months" and that more people are gradually being invited to see what Dune: Awakening has to offer

Game developer Bylos mentioned that closed beta tests for Dune: Awakening have been ongoing for several months. More players are gradually being invited to experience the open-world survival MMO. The idea of such a massive multiplayer online game has been a long-held dream, dating back to the success of vanilla World of Warcraft. Over the years, the MMO genre has seen its fair share of letdowns, with The Day Before being a recent example. Despite being marketed as an MMO, a developer later revealed that it never truly fit the genre. As a result, anticipation for Dune: Awakening is mixed, with players cautiously optimistic about Funcom's ambitious goals and impressive graphics.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the advantages of Unreal Engine 5 for creating immersive open-world experiences, as exemplified by Funcom's choice for their upcoming Dune: Awakening MMO. The engine's advanced features, such as Lumen and Nanite, enable stunning graphics and dynamic lighting, enhancing the gameplay experience. The adoption of Unreal Engine 5 by reputable studios like CD Projekt Red and the upcoming releases of triple-A titles developed with it demonstrate the engine's capabilities and the potential for innovation in the gaming industry.

However, the article also acknowledges the challenges faced by the MMO genre, as exemplified by The Day Before's failure to deliver on its promises. This raises cautious optimism among players regarding Dune: Awakening. Despite the impressive graphics and promising gameplay footage, the success of the game ultimately hinges on Funcom's ability to execute on their ambitious vision and address the pitfalls that have plagued the MMO genre in the past.