Dune: Awakening vs Far Cry 5

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
• Setting: Arrakis (Alternate Timeline)
• Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5 (2026), Xbox Series X/S (2026)
• PC Release: 2025-06-10
• Unique Feature: A blend of deep survival crafting with a persistent MMO structure, featuring a player-driven political system and a world physically changed by weekly Coriolis storms.

• Perspective: First-Person
• Multiplayer: Cooperative (2 player online for campaign), Far Cry Arcade (Solo, Co-op, PvP)
• Setting: Hope County, Montana, USA (Fictional)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia

• Other Players: As an MMO, the primary 'companions' are other players. Players can form official Guilds (representing minor houses) to build massive bases, harvest spice together, and wage large-scale PvP warfare.
  Human

• Guns for Hire (Humans): Each specialist has unique skills: Nick Rye (plane/bombing runs), Grace Armstrong (sniper support), Jess Black (stealth/bow), Hurk Drubman Jr. (RPG), Adelaide Drubman (helicopter gunner/transport), Sharky Boshaw (flamethrower/explosives).
  Human
• Fangs for Hire (Animals): Boomer (dog) tags enemies and fetches items. Peaches (cougar) is a stealthy attacker. Cheeseburger (bear) is a tank that draws enemy fire.
  Various Animals (Dog, Cougar, Bear)

• Schematics: Found in points of interest, looted from enemies, or traded on The Exchange. Essential blueprints for crafting all items.
• Spice: Harvested from spice blows in the open desert. The game's most important resource for wealth, power, and character progression.
• Lore Databanks: Scattered across Arrakis in abandoned research stations and ancient ruins. They provide insight into the game's alternate timeline and the deep history of Dune.

• Perk Magazines: Found throughout Hope County, often in buildings or Prepper Stashes.
• Prepper Stashes: Hidden caches requiring environmental puzzle-solving to access. Contain money, resources, and perk magazines.
• Vinyl Crates: Regional collectibles found in specific areas, part of a side mission.
• Vietnam Lighters (John's Region): Found in Holland Valley.
• Comic Books (Faith's Region): Found in Henbane River.
• Bobbleheads (Jacob's Region - Cheeseburger): Found in Whiterock Mountains.
• Whiskey Casks (DLC - Hours of Darkness): Found in the Hours of Darkness DLC map.

• Survival
• Sci-Fi
• Open World
• Crafting
• Base Building
• Political Intrigue
• Faction Warfare
• Exploration
• MMO

• Cults
• Religious Extremism
• Rural America
• Resistance
• Survival
• Freedom
• Anarchy
• Family

• Melee Weapons: Daggers, Swords
  Close-quarters combat weapons, including the iconic Crysknife. Essential for fighting in tight spaces and when stealth is required.
• Ranged Weapons: Pistols, Rifles
  Standard projectile firearms for engaging enemies from a distance. Effectiveness varies based on range and enemy type.
• Heavy Weapons: Lasguns, Flamethrowers
  High-powered weapons for dealing significant damage. Lasguns are extremely powerful but can cause a catastrophic explosion if they hit a shield.
• Explosives: Grenades, Demolition Charges
  Used for area-of-effect damage, breaching structures, or creating tactical advantages in combat.

• Standard Firearms: Various (Pistols, Rifles, SMGs, Shotguns, Sniper Rifles, LMGs, Bows)
  A wide array of conventional firearms. Can be customized with scopes, suppressors, extended magazines, and paint jobs.
• Melee Weapons: Melee (Blunt, Edged, Improvised)
  Includes items like baseball bats, shovels, pipes, knives, and brass knuckles. Some can be thrown.
• Explosives & Throwables: Gadget/Consumable
  Grenades, dynamite, Molotov cocktails, C4, proximity mines, throwing knives, and bait.
• Special Weapons: Heavy/Unique
  Includes Flamethrowers, Rocket Launchers, Grenade Launchers, and unique quest/collectible related weapons.

• Stillsuit: The most critical piece of gear. Primarily provides thirst reduction by recycling moisture. Different tiers of stillsuits can be crafted, offering better efficiency and some protection.
• Combat Armor: Craftable sets of armor that provide physical damage resistance against creatures and other players. Can be aligned visually with faction styles, such as the Sardaukar Bator Armor from the Deluxe Edition.
• Environmental Gear: Specialized gear designed to offer protection against environmental hazards beyond dehydration, such as the intense heat of the desert or specific storm effects.

• Clothing Items: Primarily cosmetic; defensive stats are derived from Perks rather than clothing items directly. Players can customize tops, bottoms, headwear, and gloves.
• Outfits: Pre-set cosmetic outfits that change the player's full appearance. Some unlocked through progression or special editions.

• Faction Armor Sets: Players can craft and wear armor that reflects their political allegiance, such as armor in the style of House Atreides or House Harkonnen.
• Cosmetic Outfits: Various cosmetic items are available, including the iconic stillsuit from the 2021 film 'Dune' (part of the Ultimate Edition), allowing for visual customization without affecting stats.
• Dyes: Players can use dyes to change the color of their gear and vehicles, allowing for further personalization. The 'Sunset Dye Global Swatch' is a pre-order bonus.

• Tops, Bottoms, Headwear, Gloves: Player can choose from a variety of clothing items in these categories to customize their character's appearance. Unlocked through gameplay, challenges, or purchase with in-game currency.
• Full Outfits: Complete outfits that change the player's entire look. Some are tied to specific game editions or events.

Players can learn skills from various iconic schools of the Dune universe. This includes mastering the persuasive 'Voice' of the Bene Gesserit, the lightning-fast calculations of a Mentat, or the deadly blade techniques of a Swordmaster. Progression is also tied to discovering and crafting schematics for better gear, weapons, tools, and base components.

Players earn Perk Points by completing challenges, finding Perk Magazines, and completing Prepper Stashes. These points are spent on various Perks categorized into Survivalist, Renegade, Assassin, Prepper, and Leader, enhancing abilities like health, weapon handling, stealth, crafting, and companion effectiveness.

The world is divided into several large zones. The Hagga Basin is a vast, persistent PvE-focused map where players build their permanent bases. The Deep Desert is an even larger, seamless PvPvE map that is periodically scoured and reshaped by massive Coriolis storms, revealing new resources and points of interest. There are also social hubs like Arrakeen and Harko Village where players from many servers can interact peacefully.

• Ornithopter ('Thopter): Air Vehicle
  An essential flying machine with flapping wings, used for fast transportation across the vast deserts of Arrakis and for scouting from the air.
• Sandbike: Ground Vehicle
  A fast, nimble one-person ground vehicle used for quick traversal over dunes. It's one of the first vehicles a player can craft.
• Spice Harvester: Industrial Vehicle
  A massive, slow-moving factory on tracks used to automatically gather spice from the sand. Its rhythmic vibrations are a dinner bell for nearby sandworms.
• Groundcar: Ground Vehicle
  A multi-person, durable ground vehicle, slower than a sandbike but offering more protection and transport capacity.

• Cars, Trucks, ATVs, Motorcycles: Land Vehicle
  A wide variety of civilian and militarized ground vehicles for traversal and combat. Some can be customized and equipped with weapons.
• Boats and Seaplanes: Water/Air Vehicle
  Used for traversing Hope County's rivers and lakes. Includes armed patrol boats and versatile seaplanes.
• Airplanes and Helicopters: Air Vehicle
  Various types of propeller planes and helicopters, some armed, for fast travel, combat, and accessing remote areas.
• Special Vehicles: Unique Land/Air Vehicle
  Includes customized vehicles like the 'Widowmaker' semi-truck, tractors, and unique vehicles found in DLCs.

• Grizzly Bear / Black Bear: Bear
  Hostile Wildlife / Fangs for Hire (Cheeseburger)
• Cougar: Feline
  Hostile Wildlife / Fangs for Hire (Peaches)
• Wolf / Alpha Wolf: Canine
  Hostile Wildlife
• Dog: Canine
  Neutral Wildlife / Fangs for Hire (Boomer)
• Moose / Deer / Elk / Caribou: Ungulate
  Neutral Wildlife (Hunting Resource)
• Wolverine / Badger / Skunk: Mustelid / Mephitidae
  Hostile Wildlife
• Eagle / Turkey Vulture / Turkey: Bird
  Hostile (Eagle) / Neutral Wildlife
• Various Fish Species: Fish
  Neutral Wildlife (Fishing Minigame)

• Player Character: Protagonist
  A fully customizable character who survives a 'thopter crash on Arrakis. Players forge their own path, choosing to align with factions, build an empire, or simply survive the desert.
• Duke Leto Atreides: Faction Leader (NPC)
  The head of House Atreides. In this alternate timeline, he survives the initial Harkonnen betrayal, continuing to lead his house and fight for control of Arrakis.
• Baron Vladimir Harkonnen: Faction Leader (NPC)
  The cruel and cunning leader of House Harkonnen, the primary antagonist faction vying for control of the spice trade.
• Bene Gesserit Sisters: Skill Trainers / Political Figures (NPCs)
  Members of the secretive sisterhood who can teach players their powerful mental abilities, like the Voice, while pursuing their own mysterious agenda.

• The Junior Deputy (Rookie): Protagonist
  A customizable (male or female) silent protagonist, new to the Hope County Sheriff's Department. Becomes central to the resistance against Eden's Gate.
• Joseph Seed (The Father): Main Antagonist
  The charismatic and manipulative leader of the Project at Eden's Gate cult. Believes he is chosen by God to lead his flock through an impending societal collapse.
• John Seed: Antagonist (Herald)
  Joseph's younger brother, responsible for indoctrination and conversion through forced confession and 'The Power of Yes'. Controls Holland Valley.
• Jacob Seed: Antagonist (Herald)
  Joseph's older brother, a former US Army marksman obsessed with culling the weak. Trains the cult's soldiers and uses psychological conditioning. Controls the Whiterock Mountains.
• Faith Seed (Rachel Jessop): Antagonist (Herald)
  Joseph's adoptive 'sister', who uses a potent hallucinogenic drug called Bliss to keep the cultists pacified and loyal. Controls the Henbane River region.
• Sheriff Earl Whitehorse: Supporting Character
  The Sheriff of Hope County, who initiates the attempt to arrest Joseph Seed. Becomes an ally to the player.
• Guns for Hire / Fangs for Hire: Companions
  Various specialist human NPCs (e.g., Nick Rye, Grace Armstrong, Hurk Drubman Jr.) and animal companions (e.g., Boomer, Peaches, Cheeseburger) that can be recruited to assist the player.

• Main Questline
  Follow a narrative that explores the mysteries of the alternate timeline, the reason for your character's arrival on Arrakis, and the secrets behind the spice.
• Faction Contracts
  Complete various tasks for the lesser houses to earn their favor and influence their allegiance towards either House Atreides or House Harkonnen in the weekly political struggle.
• Spice Harvesting Operations
  Locate a valuable spice blow, deploy a harvester, defend it against sandworms and other players, and successfully extract the spice for profit and power.
• Base Construction
  Gather resources and use schematics to build and upgrade a personal or guild headquarters, from a simple survival shelter to a massive fortress.

• The Warrant (Prologue)
  Attempt to arrest Joseph Seed and escape the cult's initial onslaught on Dutch's Island.
• Regional Liberation (John, Jacob, Faith)
  Complete a series of story missions within each of the three main regions to fill the 'Resistance Meter', confront the respective Herald, and liberate the region.
• Where It All Began (Finale)
  Confront Joseph Seed after liberating all three regions.
• Side Missions
  Numerous optional quests given by various NPCs throughout Hope County, offering rewards and further insight into the world and its characters.
• Prepper Stashes
  Locate and solve environmental puzzles to access hidden caches of money, perk magazines, weapons, and resources.
• Cult Outpost Liberation
  Clear out enemy strongholds to reduce cult influence, unlock fast travel points, and gain access to new missions and shops.
• Clutch Nixon Stunts
  Complete a series of challenging stunt courses using various vehicles (cars, ATVs, planes, wingsuit).
• DLC Missions (Hours of Darkness, Lost on Mars, Dead Living Zombies)
  Unique story campaigns set in different scenarios: Vietnam War, Mars, and zombie movie pitches.

The game is a full-fledged MMO. It features large-scale PvP in the Deep Desert over resources and territory, cooperative PvE in the Hagga Basin, a player-driven economy via 'The Exchange', and a political system where player guilds (Houses) can influence server-wide laws by aligning with House Atreides or House Harkonnen in the Landsraad.

The game launched with three editions: Standard Edition ($49.99), Deluxe Edition ($69.99 - includes base game, 5-day early access, Season Pass), and Ultimate Edition ($89.99 - includes Deluxe content plus additional cosmetic items like vehicle swatches, building sets, the Dune (2021) Film Stillsuit, and a digital artbook & soundtrack).

A Season Pass is available, which includes the first four planned DLCs. The first DLC, 'Wildlife of Arrakis', was scheduled to be released shortly after launch, with three more ('Lost Harvest', 'Raiders of the Broken Lands', 'The Water Wars') planned through mid-2026.

Season Pass included three distinct DLC expansions: 'Hours of Darkness' (Vietnam War setting), 'Lost on Mars' (sci-fi adventure on Mars), and 'Dead Living Zombies' (B-movie zombie scenarios). Far Cry Arcade received ongoing support with new assets. Live Events offered unique challenges and rewards.

• Q: What kind of game is Dune: Awakening?
  A: It's an open-world survival MMO that combines the crafting, building, and survival mechanics of games like Conan Exiles with the large-scale multiplayer, political, and economic systems of an MMO.
• Q: When did Dune: Awakening release for PC?
  A: The full PC release was on June 10, 2025. Early access for Deluxe/Ultimate edition owners began on June 5, 2025.
• Q: Is Dune: Awakening coming to PS5 or Xbox?
  A: Yes, a release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S is planned for 2026.
• Q: Do I need to have read the books or seen the movies?
  A: No, the game is set in an alternate timeline, making it accessible to newcomers. However, fans of the Dune universe will recognize many characters, locations, and concepts.
• Q: Is the whole map PvP?
  A: No. The starting zone, Hagga Basin, is primarily PvE with small, opt-in PvP areas. The endgame zone, the Deep Desert, is where large-scale, open PvP occurs.
• Q: Can I play Dune: Awakening solo?
  A: You can play solo, but as an online MMO, you will share the world with thousands of other players. The game's challenges and political systems are designed to encourage group play and joining guilds.
• Q: What happens to my base when the Coriolis storms hit?
  A: Your main base in the Hagga Basin is permanent and safe from the storms. The storms only affect the Deep Desert, which resets weekly, destroying all player-built structures there and revealing new landscapes to explore.

• Q: Is Far Cry 5 open world?
  A: Yes, Far Cry 5 is set in the open world of Hope County, Montana, which players can freely explore.
• Q: Can I customize my character in Far Cry 5?
  A: Yes, players can choose their character's gender and customize their appearance with various clothing items.
• Q: Is there multiplayer in Far Cry 5?
  A: Yes, Far Cry 5 supports two-player online cooperative play for the entire main campaign. It also features Far Cry Arcade, where players can create, share, and play solo, co-op, and PvP maps.
• Q: Does Far Cry 5 have ray tracing?
  A: No, Far Cry 5 does not support ray tracing.
• Q: Are there animal companions in Far Cry 5?
  A: Yes, players can recruit 'Fangs for Hire,' which are animal companions like Boomer the dog, Peaches the cougar, and Cheeseburger the bear, each with unique abilities.
• Q: Does Far Cry 5's story connect to other Far Cry games?
  A: Far Cry 5's main story is largely standalone. However, it exists within the Far Cry universe, with some recurring characters (like Hurk Drubman Jr.) and thematic elements. Its ending directly leads into Far Cry New Dawn.
• Q: Can I liberate the entire map in co-op?
  A: Yes, the full main campaign, including liberating outposts and completing missions, can be played in two-player online co-op. Story progression is saved for the host, but the guest player keeps their character progression, items, and currency.

Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game features a highly detailed and vast Arrakis. Key visual elements include dynamic weather, massive Coriolis storms that physically alter the landscape weekly, realistic sand physics, and awe-inspiring sandworms that can devour players and vehicles.

The sound design emphasizes the harsh environment, with the roar of sandworms and the howling of sandstorms being key audio cues for survival. The musical score is inspired by the cinematic universe, aiming for an epic, atmospheric, and alien soundscape.

The UI is designed around survival, prominently displaying thirst levels. It includes standard MMO features like a map, quest log, and crafting menus, as well as a dedicated interface for the server-wide auction house, The Exchange, and political menus for the Landsraad system.

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Dune: Awakening (Released June 2025). The game requires an SSD for storage. These specs are for the PC launch; console versions are planned for 2026.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of the listed desktop GPUs must have comparable performance, which is highly dependent on the laptop's TGP (Total Graphics Power) and cooling solution. For an MMO with large-scale battles, a robust cooling system is recommended to maintain performance.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Sufficient TGP is crucial for maintaining stable framerates, especially in visually dense areas or large-scale PvP.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Excellent cooling is vital to prevent thermal throttling during long sessions of harvesting, crafting, or fighting.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A strong multi-core CPU is beneficial for handling the large number of players and complex world interactions inherent in an MMO.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended to ensure the dedicated GPU is used directly, reducing latency for better combat responsiveness.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: As a modern Unreal Engine 5 title, support for technologies like NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR is expected, allowing players to boost performance at higher resolutions.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, View Distance, and Effects Detail will significantly impact performance. View distance is particularly important in the vast open deserts of Arrakis.
• Game Name: Dune: Awakening

• Official system requirements from Ubisoft (as of game launch). Performance can vary depending on specific hardware, settings, and background applications. An SSD is recommended for optimal performance.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of listed desktop GPUs may work if their performance is comparable. Performance on laptops is also heavily influenced by cooling and the GPU's Total Graphics Power (TGP). The estimated laptop specs below are approximate and reflect performance tiers for the game's original release period. **Modern laptop GPUs (NVIDIA RTX 30-series, RTX 40-series, and newer AMD equivalents) will significantly exceed these original recommendations and offer excellent performance across all resolutions.**
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Higher TGP in a laptop GPU generally correlates with better sustained performance.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Good cooling is essential to prevent thermal throttling during demanding gameplay.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Laptops with higher CPU power limits can maintain boost clocks longer.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch (if available) or ensuring the dedicated GPU is prioritized over integrated graphics (via NVIDIA Control Panel/AMD Software) is recommended for optimal framerates.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, Water Quality, Volumetric Fog, and Anti-Aliasing heavily impact performance.
• Game Name: Far Cry 5

• Upscaling Tech: As a modern Unreal Engine 5 title, support for technologies like NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR is expected, allowing players to boost performance at higher resolutions.
• Key Settings Impact: Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, View Distance, and Effects Detail will significantly impact performance. View distance is particularly important in the vast open deserts of Arrakis.

• G P U T G P: Sufficient TGP is crucial for maintaining stable framerates, especially in visually dense areas or large-scale PvP.
• Cooling Thermals: Excellent cooling is vital to prevent thermal throttling during long sessions of harvesting, crafting, or fighting.
• C P U Power Limits: A strong multi-core CPU is beneficial for handling the large number of players and complex world interactions inherent in an MMO.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended to ensure the dedicated GPU is used directly, reducing latency for better combat responsiveness.

• G P U T G P: Higher TGP in a laptop GPU generally correlates with better sustained performance.
• Cooling Thermals: Good cooling is essential to prevent thermal throttling during demanding gameplay.
• C P U Power Limits: Laptops with higher CPU power limits can maintain boost clocks longer.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch (if available) or ensuring the dedicated GPU is prioritized over integrated graphics (via NVIDIA Control Panel/AMD Software) is recommended for optimal framerates.