As the sands of Arrakis shift in anticipation, MMO fans are eyeing Funcom’s Dune Awakening with one burning question: will this ambitious survival epic hit Xbox Game Pass? With the PC release looming and consoles waiting in the wings, there’s plenty of speculation-but no concrete answers.
Dune Awakening promises to drop players straight into the unforgiving deserts of Frank Herbert’s universe, combining open-world survival with MMO scale. The game is shaping up to be a dream for fans of both the books and survival sandboxes, but players hoping to leverage their Game Pass subscription may need to temper their expectations-for now, at least.
As of this writing, Funcom has not announced Dune Awakening for Xbox Game Pass. There’s no mention on official channels, nor does the Xbox store indicate any subscription support at launch. That aligns with Funcom’s established pattern—neither Dune: Spice Wars nor Conan Exiles debuted on Game Pass, but both eventually made their way on board after launch. Spice Wars hit Game Pass two months after exiting early access in November 2023, while Conan Exiles took nearly three years, arriving with its enhanced edition.
However, Dune Awakening differs in a key way: it’s launching as a full release, not in early access. This could pave the way for a timelier Game Pass arrival, perhaps coinciding with its console launch. Funcom’s previous moves suggest a post-launch window is possible, especially if the game’s player base stabilizes and the studio seeks to expand its reach.
Still, there’s no official word on timing—or even a guarantee it’ll happen. Game Pass deals often hinge on factors like player retention, update cadence, and the popularity of previous entries. It’s also worth noting that competitors in the MMO space, from The Elder Scrolls Online to ARK: Survival Evolved, have used Game Pass to boost player numbers after their initial hype cycles.
For those making plans: if you’re holding out for a day-one Game Pass launch, you’ll likely be waiting at least until the console versions arrive, if not longer. That said, Funcom’s recent history leaves the door open for a post-launch or enhanced version addition. In the meantime, Arrakis remains as unpredictable as ever—both in gameplay and subscription strategy.
TL;DR: Dune Awakening is not confirmed for Xbox Game Pass at launch. Funcom’s past titles arrived on the service months or years after debut; expect a similar pattern here, with a potential Game Pass announcement tied to the console release or a future enhanced edition.
Source: Funcom via GamesPress