Dune: Awakening
News, coverage and analysis tracking Dune: Awakening across the outlets.
Latest coverage
No, Dune Awakening’s Polar Cap map isn’t coming with the Water Wars DLC, but here’s a lil teaser
Funcom has clarified that the Polar Cap map for Dune Awakening will not be included with the upcoming Water Wars DLC, as originally speculated by some players. The Polar Cap map has been delayed due to Funcom shifting development priorities to address endgame feedback and systems. The studio confirmed that Polar Cap will be a free update released later this year, introducing new survival mechanics, locations, and a standalone storyline.
Dune: Awakening fans "so disappointed" by no Polar Cap in 1.4, Funcom says it's "a huge amount of work" but the devs "are still very much actively working on the new map"
Dune: Awakening fans expressed disappointment as the anticipated Polar Cap map will not be released with update 1.4 or The Water Wars DLC on May 19. Funcom stated that the map requires significant work to meet quality expectations and is now planned for a free update later this year, while the DLC will launch on time for Season Pass holders.
Dune Awakening begins testing its 1.4 update and two new overland maps
Funcom has launched a public test build for Dune Awakening's 1.4 update, featuring two new overland maps, Wind Pass and Old Quarry Testing Station, along with the Water Wars cosmetic DLC. The update includes performance enhancements, bug fixes, and new missions, with further story content and maps planned for future releases.
Funcom won’t rule out Conan Exiles Enhanced for console as players triple its Steam concurrency
Funcom has stated that a console release for Conan Exiles Enhanced has not been ruled out, despite initial plans focusing solely on Steam PC. The studio cited capacity issues and the complexity of migrating from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5 as reasons for the staggered launch. The PC version has seen a significant surge in player concurrency following the update.
MMO Week in Review: Guild Wars in your pocket
ArenaNet announced a mobile port of Guild Wars Reforged with cross-progression, coinciding with the game's 21st anniversary. This week also saw Final Fantasy XIV patch 7.5, Pearl Abyss selling EVE Online studio CCP Games to its management, and Star Wars The Old Republic revealing the planet Ryloth for its 8.0 update.
Evening Patches
This article provides a roundup of recent patch notes and weekly activities for several games. Updates include Borderlands 4 weekly activities from April 30 to May 7, patch notes for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 03, Call of Duty: Warzone Season 03 Reloaded, and update 1.4 for Dune: Awakening.
Dune Awakening announces 1.4 update with new map locations, missions, and Water Wars DLC
Funcom announced that update 1.4 for Dune: Awakening will be released on May 19, introducing two new map locations and additional Landsraad Missions. The update also includes the Water Wars DLC, which adds building pieces and cosmetics themed around the Water Shippers dynasty, available for $9.99 or free with the season pass. Funcom noted that this update prioritizes requested systems over narrative content, with future story chapters planned.
Dune: Awakening Update 1.4 and The Water Wars DLC Arrive May 19th
Funcom announced that Dune: Awakening update 1.4 and The Water Wars DLC will be released on May 19th. Update 1.4 adds new map locations and missions, while The Water Wars DLC introduces new building pieces and cosmetics. The update also makes PvP fully optional, allowing players to choose between PvP or PvE experiences.
Dune Awakening has officially split the Deep Desert into PvE and PvP instances with this week’s patch
Dune Awakening has implemented a PvE and PvP split for its Deep Desert instances with the 1.3.20 patch. This change allows players to choose between PvE-focused or PvP-enabled areas, addressing player preference for PvE content. The update also includes adjustments to boss health, drop rates, and performance optimizations.
The 39 Best Survival Games To Play In 2026
This guide highlights 39 of the best survival games available in 2026, spanning various platforms and offering diverse gameplay experiences. The article details key features, developers, and release information for each title, emphasizing elements like resource management, base building, and combat.
MMO Week in Review: Gorgon’s drama, TurtleWoW’s demise, Ashes’ docs
This week in the MMORPG genre saw significant drama and updates across various titles. Ashes of Creation's former boss released legal documents, Project Gorgon faced community backlash over bans, and TurtleWoW announced its closure following a lawsuit. Additionally, Book of Travels is transitioning to a solo offline game, while new content and updates arrived for games like Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XIV, and Elder Scrolls Online.
The Daily Grind: What’s the most ‘no duh’ moment you can think of from an MMO developer?
The article discusses the "no duh" moments in MMORPG development, using Dune Awakening's announcement that players prefer PvE over PvP as an example. It questions how developers might overlook obvious player preferences and invites readers to share their own examples of surprising developer discoveries.
Perfect Ten: Old MMORPGs we used to talk about all the time but aren’t mentioned today
This article discusses ten MMORPGs that were once highly anticipated and frequently discussed but have since faded into obscurity. Games like Tabula Rasa, RIFT, Mythos, The Secret World, and Marvel Heroes are highlighted, with reasons for their decline ranging from studio closures and mismanagement to shifting player interest and lack of sustained development.
Conan Exiles April Update Brings Server Character Transfers Live Now
Funcom has released Conan Exiles' April update, introducing server character transfers, a feature aimed at addressing player retention issues common in survival games. This update also includes stability improvements and bug fixes, building on the studio's experience with complex multiplayer systems and aiming to keep the game relevant in a competitive genre.
Dune Awakening’s base recycling system is live as Funcom begins testing its PvE-PvP split
Funcom has released an update for Dune Awakening introducing a base recycling system that refunds all materials and items. The patch notes also detail various other tweaks to weapons, items, and the user interface. A separate update, currently in testing, will implement the long-awaited PvE/PvP split for Deep Desert instances.
Dune: Awakening to get self-hosted servers, plus they're splitting PvE and PvP
Funcom is implementing major changes to Dune: Awakening, including the introduction of self-hosted servers and a split between PvE and PvP experiences. The developers are making PvP more optional due to over 80% of players exclusively engaging with PvE content, disabling PvP zones in Hagga Basin and offering separate PvE and PvP instances.
MMO Week in Review: EQ Legends’ beta, Ashes of Creation’s drama
This week's MMO news roundup covers the upcoming closed beta for EverQuest Legends and ongoing legal drama surrounding Ashes of Creation. Several other titles like AdventureQuest Worlds Infinity, Dune Awakening, and Temtem Pioneers also saw significant updates or funding news.
Dune: Awakening Refocusing on PvE
Funcom is refocusing Dune: Awakening, the survival RPG set on Arrakis, on its Player vs. Environment (PvE) elements. This decision comes after analyzing player data and survey results, indicating a shift in development priorities for the game.
Dune: Awakening is ditching PvP as a mandatory endgame experience, as over 80% of lifetime players didn't engage with it at all
Funcom is removing mandatory Player versus Player (PvP) zones from Dune: Awakening's endgame, with over 80% of lifetime players not engaging with the feature. An alternative instance of the Deep Desert map will be available with PvP disabled, while a separate instance will retain PvP with increased resource rewards. Private server hosting is also coming soon, offering customizable options.
Bless the Maker, Dune: Awakening devs have answered our prayers and are turning the survival MMO into a "PvE-first" experience, as "over 80%" of us already play it that way
Funcom is shifting Dune: Awakening towards a PvE-first experience, acknowledging that over 80% of players primarily engage with PvE content. PvP will become optional and incentivized rather than required for progression. The developer also announced upcoming features like character migration, server merges, and self-hosted servers.
