Funcom’s new video for the open-world survival MMO explores what it would be like in a timeline imagined by Paul Atreides, who was never born.

Fans of the Dune universe and Legendary Entertainment’s blockbuster film franchise know that its heroic main character, Paul Atreides, has the ability to see all possible futures, setting the stage for Funcom’s highly anticipated open-world survival MMO, Dune: Awakening. After much community speculation and wishlists surpassing one million on Steam, Funcom premiered a new cinematic trailer at this week’s Summer Game Fest, revealing a stunning alternate timeline that promises to put the future of Arrakis in the hands of the player. The trailer features the voice of Paul Atreides as he contemplates a spice vision of a world in which he was not born. A vision of Dune: Awakening.

While visually inspired by the award-winning cinematography created for Denis Villeneuve’s masterpiece film series, Dune: Awakening will take place in an alternate timeline to that of the books and movies. Players will experience a game that stays true to the beloved world of Dune, while creating the opportunity to surprise players with a narrative that hinges on a key decision that will reimagine the future of Arrakis.

In Dune: Awakening, Jessica Atreides never gave birth to Paul, choosing instead to obey the Bene Gesserit’s orders to have a daughter. She names her Ariste Atreides, a character players will meet in the game. This pivotal decision sets off a chain reaction that fundamentally changes the situation on Arrakis, ultimately leading to the survival of Duke Leto Atreides and a war of assassins between the Harkonnens and the Atreides. This is the Arrakis that players will be dropped into in Dune: Awakening; one torn by war between two great houses, the Fremen missing after being hunted, and at the center of it all: the spice that must flow.

Joel Bylos, Funcom’s Creative Director, wrote in the press release that it’s exciting and relieving for them to be able to share details of the alternate timeline. It’s a pebble that will start an avalanche of exciting possibilities for players when they land on Arrakis in Dune: Awakening, which has no release date yet but is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and PC.

Source: Gematsu