Correction Notice: Funcom has provided an update to clarify some details from our interview with Jeff Gagné regarding the hours of radio content and number of radio channels available.
At Gamescom, we had the opportunity to sit down with Jeff Gagné, the World Director of Dune: Awakening, for an in-depth interview. Today, we’re excited to share some exclusive details about one of the game’s most ambitious features: a fully developed radio system that will rival and surpass GTA V‘s legendary radio stations.
Immersive Audio Experience: Over 50 Hours of Content
In Dune: Awakening, players will be treated to an immersive audio experience unlike any other. The game will feature four distinct radio channels, each offering a deep dive into Dune’s rich and complex world. According to Gagné, these stations will collectively provide around 50 hours of listening content, making it one of the most extensive in-game radio systems ever created.
“Music, stories, and a lot of different things. It’s kind of like GTA Radio, but everything is Dune-related,” Gagné revealed.
Explore the Soundscape of Arrakis
Dune: Awakening will feature three diverse radio channels: one focused on spice harvesting and two offering contrasting propaganda from the Atreides and Harkonnen houses. The exact content of the spice harvesting channel has yet to be revealed.
Dynamic Radio: Covering Key Events on Arrakis
Previously, Joel Bylos hinted that the radio system in Dune: Awakening might react to significant in-game world events. Building on this, Jeff Gagné added that there are even plans for the radio stations to cover more player-centered events, turning these moments into part of the game’s ongoing story canon. This means new players, years down the line, might hear about significant events that occurred to earlier players, making the world feel alive and interconnected.
Setting a New Standard in Gaming Radio
To put this in perspective, GTA V is known for its extensive radio content, with various sources mentioning different amounts of listening material. However, our investigation found that 42 hours was the highest figure reported. Dune: Awakening is set to outdo this, all intricately tied to the lore and atmosphere of the Dune universe.
Stay tuned for the rest of our interview with Jeff Gagné, where we’ll dive even deeper into the features that Dune: Awakening has in store.
