Dune: Awakening’s first-ever Ornithopter gameplay footage has just hit YouTube, courtesy of creator Zer and the Only Sands guild. If you’ve been dying to see what lies beyond the beta map’s pentawall — and how Ornithopters change exploration—this video leak is the one to watch!
During the recent Dune: Awakening closed beta, players were confined to just three regions, all locked behind the iron tier progression cap. Anything beyond that—including steel, aluminum, and advanced tech — was completely inaccessible.
But the Only Sands guild found a way out.
“Funcom added a massive ‘Pentawall’ to lock down the other regions. But we bypassed it and crafted aluminum-tier gear— including the game’s first Ornithopter,” says Zer.
First Ornithopter Gameplay: How It Works
The aluminum-tier Ornithopter unlocks a new era of mobility in Dune: Awakening. You can fly over sand dunes, cliffs, and PvP zones, making traversal fast, fluid, and exciting.
Key Features:
Max Speed: ~164 km/h
Modes: Engine-on flight & “Vulture Mode” (engine-off gliding)
Fuel Management: Gliding conserves fuel and builds momentum
No Collision Damage: Fly into rocks without taking hits
No Wing Collision: Wings clip through terrain for tighter maneuvers
One-Seater: But surfing is possible — yes, friends can ride on the roof
Sandstorm Test & Flight Maneuvers
Zer pushes the Ornithopter to its limits by:
Outrunning a sandstorm in Vulture Mode
Flying through caves upside-down
Testing damage inside the storm’s center
Exploring Beyond Vermilious Gap
Using the Ornithopter, Zer also showcases regions that were locked during the beta:
The Haga Rift (already uploaded)
Jabal (coming next)
Each area features unique terrain, loot pools, and rare ores, giving us a sneak peek at what full launch might offer.
Future Features & Customization
Though the current build lacked accessories, Zer confirms there are:
Rocket Pods
Boosters
Inventory Modules
He notes these likely become available with higher-tier Ornithopters.
While the game still suffers from bugs and server instability, this gameplay leak proves that Dune: Awakening has enormous potential. The Ornithopter isn’t just a vehicle — it’s a game-changer for how players explore, survive, and interact with Arrakis.