Survival Expert John Hudson Calls Dune: Awakening’s Rocky Deserts “Incredibly Realistic,” Says They Are Shaped by Real Survival Conditions

As Dune: Awakening prepares for its console launch, survival expert John Hudson has offered an unusual perspective on how realistically Funcom has recreated Arrakis. Hudson, the UK military’s Chief Survival Instructor and Consultant, examined the game’s deserts in a new featurette and praised the environmental design, particularly its wind-shaped rock formations.

Drawing on more than two decades of survival training experience and his work in extreme environments, Hudson explained that deserts are not simply endless stretches of sand. He pointed to the rocky terrain in Dune: Awakening as one of the elements that make its version of Arrakis feel closer to real desert environments.

Dune: Awakening’s Rocky Landscapes Mirror Real Desert Survival

“The rocky outcrops that the team of Dune: Awakening have built are incredibly realistic,”

Hudson said in the featurette.

“They look like they have been sandblasted by desert storms. They look sculpted by the wind. Yet within them you can see some hope of refuge.”

That combination of danger and potential shelter is central to Dune: Awakening. Players must deal with intense heat, dehydration, sandstorms and limited resources while moving across Arrakis. Hudson explained that real desert survival similarly depends on creating protection from the environment, conserving water and knowing when to seek shelter.

The survival expert also highlighted the importance of travelling with others. Carrying enough water and equipment can quickly become impractical for one person, making cooperation an important survival strategy. That principle fits directly into Dune: Awakening, where players can establish shelters, gather resources and form alliances while attempting to survive the planet.

Transportation also becomes dangerous because of Arrakis’ sandworms. The game encourages players to consider how noise and movement affect their surroundings, adding another layer to its survival mechanics.

Dune: Awakening is scheduled to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 22, 2026. Deluxe and Ultimate Edition owners can begin playing on September 17, while the console version will include the additions and improvements introduced since the PC launch.