Dune: Awakening Chapter 3 Promises Major Changes for Survival MMO, Including Melee Adjustments and Endgame PvE Revamp

Funcom is gearing up to inject some fresh excitement into Dune: Awakening with the arrival of Chapter 3, which promises several hours of new content. Players can look forward to a new faction, an extensive building kit featuring over 70 pieces, a complete overhaul of endgame PvE gameplay, and much more.

Despite a decline in player numbers, Dune: Awakening seems poised for a comeback with the introduction of the long-awaited Base Reconstruction Tool and the upcoming Chapter 3. I had the chance to chat with production director Ole Andreas Hayley and game director Viljar Sommerbak about what Funcom has planned, and the anticipation is palpable.

First off, let’s tackle the hot topic: endgame PvE content. The ongoing discussion about balancing PvE and PvP has been a focal point since the game launched in June, but Chapter 3 aims to clarify things. “With Chapter 3, we’re enhancing the PvE aspects of the endgame,” the developers shared, aligning with their previously outlined roadmap.

“The goal with the Deep Desert is to return to its original vision,” they explained, ensuring that players interested in either PvP or PvE will find their niche. I’m eager to see how this unfolds in Chapter 3, especially since the Deep Desert has sparked so many conversations in the community. But that’s not all; there’s a new faction on the way.

For the die-hard Dune fans, the Smugglers are a familiar group known for transporting and trading valuable items like spice melange and weapons. This new faction will debut in Chapter 3, along with an optional building kit boasting an impressive 74 pieces. Funcom is keen to avoid the pitfalls of Chapter 2’s paid DLC by clearly outlining what players can expect.

And it sounds like there’s a lot to look forward to. Decor enthusiasts will be thrilled to learn that they can color swatch placeable items, allowing for a more personalized, faction-themed base. The developers also mentioned a variety of new features coming with Chapter 3, from a redesigned personal light that takes the form of a floating globe to exciting weapon builds like dual blades.

You might recall the ongoing melee combat debate. The developers acknowledge, “We won’t satisfy everyone with Chapter 3,” but they assure us that “Chapter 3 introduces several enhancements to melee.” For example, the rapier has undergone a significant rework to differentiate it more from the dagger and short blade, marking a promising start for future adjustments.

As for the narrative, Chapter 3 is set to deliver a wealth of content—described as “a love letter to the PvE players.” Expect around five to six hours of story-related content, complete with new cinematics and fully-voiced dialogue, alongside challenging bosses and new dungeons. The outlook for Dune: Awakening post-Chapter 3 is also optimistic, with a focus on enhancing the player experience.

The two leads even hinted at the possibility of allowing players to “host your own server” with customization options, though they couldn’t provide specifics as they’re still working out the details internally. With future updates, including the much-anticipated Chapter 4, the developers see Chapter 3 as laying a “foundation” for what’s to come, and I’m genuinely excited.

This is being touted as the “biggest update” Funcom has rolled out, and I can’t wait to explore all the new content, as well as what’s on the horizon. Here’s hoping this marks a new chapter for the survival MMO—it certainly seems well-deserved.

And yes, you’re not imagining things—Dune: Awakening NPCs have indeed become tougher, as Funcom has acknowledged “undocumented changes” in the last major update, promising to “revert it.”