Dune Awakening Developers Acknowledge Player Count Drop After Initial Surge, Aim to Retain Players

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Dune: Awakening has faced a significant decline, reminiscent of a fallen tsar, with the MMO peaking at an impressive 189,333 players on Steam back in 2025, but now averaging only about 10,000 daily players. However, developer Funcom is taking it in stride.

In a recent interview, lead producer Ole Andreas and senior content manager Tor Egil shared their thoughts on the game’s current state. “It is a live game, and it’s natural to see these cycles,” Egil noted. “It’s tough to maintain launch player numbers for an extended period.” Nevertheless, the new Chapter 3 aims to bring players back.

“With Chapter 3, we’re encouraging players to return with the returning player pack and by reducing some friction points,” Andreas explained. “Our goal is to identify areas where the game may be lacking or where players are requesting features that align with our vision, and then enhance those aspects.”

On Steam, there are signs that the substantial Chapter 3 update—removing the unpopular tax system and enhancing the endgame, among other changes—has attracted players. According to SteamDB, Dune: Awakening hit a 24-hour peak of 13,565 players, a notable increase from the stable 9,000 count before the Chapter 3 launch.

“We’re committed to continually adding exciting content […] to encourage returning players and attract new ones,” Egil stated. Fingers crossed!

While Chapter 3 may “not please everyone,” it marks the beginning of numerous changes for the survival MMO, including melee adjustments, an overhaul of endgame PvE, and the introduction of private servers.