With Dune: Awakening preparing to launch on consoles, survival expert John Hudson, the UK Military’s Chief Survival Instructor & Consultant, has taken a closer look at what it would actually take to survive on the deadly planet of Arrakis.

In a new featurette, Hudson examines the game's approach to desert survival, including hydration, shelter, extreme heat, sandstorms, resource management, and group coordination.

Arrakis Is Built to Test Survival Skills

Hudson draws on his experience designing and conducting survival training in extreme environments, including deserts, to examine the world created by developer Funcom.

He particularly highlights the game's weather-sculpted rock formations and harsh landscapes, noting how realistic they appear.

According to Hudson, the rocky formations look as though they have been sandblasted and sculpted by desert storms, while also providing potential shelter from the elements.

The featurette explores how Dune: Awakening incorporates real-world survival principles. Players will need to protect themselves from extreme heat and sunlight, conserve water, find shelter during sandstorms, manage limited resources, and work with others to survive.

But the environment isn't the only threat. Players will also have to prepare for the enormous sandworms that roam Arrakis.

Dune: Awakening Console Release

Dune: Awakening is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on September 22, 2026.

Players who own the Deluxe or Ultimate Editions will receive early access beginning September 17.

Console players will also receive the improvements and additions introduced since the game's PC launch, along with new content and updates arriving in September.

With Arrakis serving as an ever-present survival challenge, Dune: Awakening looks to put players' preparation and resource-management skills to the ultimate test.