Dune: Awakening News

Dune: Awakening has struggled a touch with its endgame pretty much since launch, but with the MMO's next big update, Chapter 3, is promising to offer a revamp that you (yes, you! The person playing Dune: Awakening right now! Maybe!) have been after. A release date was also offered up for the big update, alongside some specifics on just what this new endgame might look like.

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[p]Greetings, Sleepers!  [/p][p]Welcome to our first developer update of 2026! During our December Livestream, we revealed most of the changes coming in Chapter 3 and released it on our Public Test Client to gather your feedback and fine-tune what is shaping up to be the biggest content update the game has seen to date. [/p][p]Today, we are happy to announce that Chapter 3 is coming on February 3rd! [/p][p]Now that the Muad'Dib is out of the proverbial bag, we'd like to dedicate this Developer Update to discussing our work on Chapter 3 and the decisions and feedback that shaped it. We also have a few additional changes that we haven't discussed yet that will make this update even better, so without further ado, let's dive right in! [/p][p] [/p][h2]THE MAKING OF CHAPTER 3 [/h2][p]Ever since the early days of beta, player feedback has been invaluable in helping improve the game and steer it in the right direction. Since launch, we've been looking closely at the feedback you've given us through Discord, player surveys, and other platforms. This feedback has led to many improvements (Cobalt paste, anyone?) and it continues to inform many of the decisions we make for the game, large and small. [/p][p]This has never been truer than for Chapter 3. This update is a direct response to the two most common player requests: the desire for a more fleshed out endgame and making it a smoother experience coming back after an extended period away from the game. [/p][p] [/p][h3]A BIGGER, BETTER ENDGAME [/h3][p]When it comes to the endgame, the specifics of what you're looking for varies across both players and player types, but we've also been able to combine your feedback with cold, hard in-game telemetry that provides a good picture of what content, activities, and systems most of you spend time with later in the game. [/p][p]This has allowed us to make informed decisions on where to spend our time and effort, with player feedback and in-game data working in concert to produce what is undoubtedly our biggest and most important update yet. [/p][p]So, what does the feedback and data tell us? Players want: [/p]

• [p]More options in the endgame, more ways to play that are all equally rewarding.[/p]
• [p]More content; more stuff to discover and experience in the world of Arrakis.[/p]
• [p]To be able to take full advantage of everything the endgame has to offer, without being forced to engage in a play style they don't want to.[/p]
• [p]More ways to advance their character, with deeper progression systems.[/p]

[p]Chapter 3 aims to address each of these points. [/p][p]In addition to the continuation of the main story and many other additions, this update introduces more meaningful ways to progress after reaching Plastanium (Tier 6). It expands late-game play with deeper choices, shared goals, and more ways for players to continue growing. On the progression side, players get to take advantage of the added depth provided by the Specialization and Augmentation systems. In terms of content, we've added 10 new locations on the Overland Map, including unique repeatable testing stations that feature challenging boss encounters with scaling difficulty and increasingly valuable loot.  [/p][p]Players can now also take missions for the Landsraad, missions that provide more flexible ways to complete assignments and collect rewards, regardless of your play style. [/p][p]There is a lot more to Chapter 3 than this, and we'll provide you with a detailed breakdown of all additions and improvements when it launches on February 3rd. Also make sure to check out the Chapter 3 announcement video we released back in December, giving a glimpse at what's to come. [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p] [/p][h3]MAKING IT EASIER TO TAKE A BREAK AND RETURN LATER [/h3][p]The other much-shared feedback point we've received is that it can be daunting coming back to Dune: Awakening after an extended break. Whether it's unpaid taxes or power running out, if you've been away for a long time, chances are your base is gone. The intention behind these mechanics are good, essentially ensuring servers don't fill up with abandoned bases. [/p][p]That said, we heard your feedback, and we've been working on several things to make this a smoother experience. [/p]

• [p]Base Reconstruction Tool: Last year, we introduced a tool that allows you to pack up your base, store it, and then reassemble it. This is a great tool for when you know you will be taking an extended break from the game. [/p]
• [p]Increasing Bank Storage: Last year we also made it easier for players to safely store everything they have been working hard on obtaining by increasing the bank storage space. [/p]
• [p]Character Transfers: Earlier this month, we also introduced Character Transfers. Not only is this useful for active players who might want to move to a more active World or Sietch, it's also great for returning players who might be in a situation where their friends have left, and they want to find a more active home to play in. [/p]

[p]With Chapter 3, we're making two additional improvements, intended to make it easier for current players to take a break, but also make it easier to come back for those who have already left the game: [/p]

• [p]No More Taxes: Since the game’s launch, taxes have been a regular point of discussion in the community. We are happy to share that we are eliminating this source of frustration and starting with Chapter 3, the Emperor will no longer require players to pay taxes for any bases! This also means that you can expand your bases to your heart’s content without incurring any additional upkeep costs. [/p]
• [p]Return Packages: Not everyone who left the game earlier has been able to take advantage of these new tools for packing up and storing their stuff. That's why Chapter 3 introduces custom Return Packages full of resources to help you jump back into the game. Once Chapter 3 is live, the package will be available to every character that hasn't logged in for 28 days and can be claimed via the "Claim Rewards" option in the in-game menu. [/p]

[p]We believe this update delivers a richer and more engaging endgame in Dune: Awakening, but our work is far from done. There are many more exciting things ahead, and we look forward to sharing more with you in due time. [/p][p][/p][p]The Funcom Team [/p]

[p]Hey Sleepers,[/p][p][/p][p]This hotfix requires a client-side download. Remember to restart your Steam client if the download does not appear automatically for you. Servers will be coming back up shortly. [/p][p][/p][p]For the list of known issues, please visit our Discord server or Steam discussion boards.[/p][p][/p][h2]Fixes[/h2][p][/p][h3]Technical and Stability[/h3]

• [p]Fixed an issue where players attempting a Character Transfer could get an X72 error, leading to a failed transfer.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue on private servers where players could not travel to password-protected Hagga Basin worlds, leading to a Q52 error.[/p]

[h2]Resources, Building, and Crafting:[/h2]

• [p]Fixed an edge case issue where some players could not restore their bases as they were too close to no-build volumes.[/p]

[h2]Vehicles[/h2]

• [p]Fixed an issue where vehicles that were co-owned and backed up with the Vehicle Backup Tool would become unusable to all players after a Character Transfer.[/p]
  • [p]Now, after a transfer, the character with the backed co-owner vehicle will become the sole owner of it. The former vehicle co-owner will still have the vehicle counted as part of their vehicle limit until the next server restart.[/p]

[p]Greetings, Sleepers![/p][p]Today marks the release of Patch 1.2.40.0, which introduces an exciting new feature long requested by our community: character transfers![/p][p]You can now transfer your character, inventory, backed-up bases and vehicles, and bank contents (including your Solari) to a new Sietch and World. You can start the transfer process via the Server Browser or the in-game System Menu.[/p][p]You will need a transfer token to initiate the transfer. You start with one, which replenishes automatically seven days after you have used it. However, before doing so, you should prepare accordingly to ensure that you bring your most important possessions with you.[/p][p]Before transferring your character, we recommend completing the following steps:[/p]

• [p]Make sure that you back up your base using the Base Reconstruction Tool. Also, remember that you can store up to three bases in the tool.[/p]
  • [p]If you transfer without backing up your base(s), they will be left behind![/p]
• [p]Similarly, back up your vehicles with the Vehicle Backup Tool.[/p]
  • [p]For larger vehicles that don’t fit in the VBT, you can disassemble them with the Welding Torch and store the parts in your bank or base storage. This makes it doubly important that you remember to back up your base![/p]
  • [p]If you exceed the VBT vehicle limit, you can also disassemble any extra vehicles in your fleet and store their parts![/p]
  • [p]The cargo container is counted as a vehicle and will not be backed up by the Base Reconstruction Tool.[/p]
• [p]Make sure to store any other valuables in your inventory and bank, as their contents will be transferred along with your character.[/p]
• [p]Finally, ensure that your character is in Hagga Basin before initiating the transfer. You won't be able to start the process if your character isn't on this map.[/p]

[p]Once you initiate your character transfer, follow the on-screen instructions and prepare to meet your new friends (and foes) in your chosen Sietch and World. And remember, we are still working on Server Migrations, which will be included in a future patch at some point after the release of Chapter 3. In the meantime, use Character Transfers to find your new spot in Arrakis.[/p][p]Read the full patch notes here. Please note that the full patch notes are only available in English.[/p]

[p]Greetings Sleepers,  [/p][p]The full Dune: Awakening vinyl soundtrack is out now, featuring 24 tracks and available for £36 / $42. Released in partnership with Laced Records and presented with bespoke sleeve artwork, the soundtrack was composed by award-winning composer Knut Avenstroup Haugen, whose recent accolades include a nomination for Best Score at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. [/p][p]Recorded at AIR Studios’ Lyndhurst Hall—the legendary London recording space—the album delivers a sweeping, cinematic soundscape worthy of Arrakis. [/p]

• [p]Buy in the US: https://www.lacedrecords.com/collections/dune[/p]
• [p]Buy anywhere else: https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/dune[/p]

[p]Watch the Dune: Awakening — The Sound of Arrakis. A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Dune: Awakening soundtrack here. [/p]