Funcom’s survival MMO Dune: Awakening had a big launch, peaking at almost 190,000 players and getting a “Very Positive” rating on Steam. But not everything has been smooth—players have voiced a lot of frustration, especially with the Deep Desert PvP zone. In a recent Reddit AMA, the developers addressed these concerns and shared early ideas on how they plan to fix things. Though nothing is finalized yet, they’re focusing on improving combat, adding better moderation tools, and making gameplay easier to understand.
Why the Deep Desert Is Upsetting Players
The Deep Desert is meant to be a high-risk, high-reward area where players fight over spice, loot, and control points. But two major problems have popped up since launch: overpowered flying vehicles and toxic behavior.
Right now, Scout Ornithopters (flying vehicles) are a big problem. They can be equipped with missile racks, letting players in the air take out ground players easily, with little chance to fight back. Even though Funcom disabled the “goomba-stomping” glitch (where flying players crushed others), air combat still dominates, leaving on-foot and melee players behind.
Then there’s the toxic side of things. Griefing, harassment through voice chat, and cheap ambushes are making the Deep Desert a nightmare for solo players. Reporting tools are lacking, so it’s hard to stop repeat offenders.
What the Developers Are Saying
During the AMA, key team members like Game Director Viljar Sommerbakk, Creative Director Joel Bylos, and Executive Producer Scott Junior shared what’s being worked on. While no exact release dates were announced, here are some of the main ideas:
Making Combat Fair and Smooth
Sommerbakk said they want PvP to feel more predictable and skill-based. Players should make thoughtful choices about their gear and vehicles. Ground combat needs to feel better, so they’re fixing bugs like rubber banding, desyncs, and broken abilities.
Ornithopter Changes Are Coming—But Not Being Removed
Bylos made it clear that they won’t be banning flying vehicles from PvP zones. Instead, they’re working on rebalancing. One idea is to increase the heat cost for Scout rockets, so they’re not spammed as much. Also, heavy weapons will slow down ornithopters, making players choose between speed and firepower. As Sommerbakk put it: “You can go heavy or go fast—but not both.”
Stopping Toxic Behavior
Funcom knows there’s a problem with griefers and exploits in the Deep Desert. Better reporting tools and detection systems are in development to catch toxic players faster.
Deep Desert Is Staying Full PvP
Lead Producer Ole Andreas Hayley said the Deep Desert will always be a full-loot PvP zone. But they might add other areas for faction-based fights in the future. Bylos added that players can use the Landsraad system to influence loot rules: “Full loot is a decree you can vote for.”
What’s Coming Next
Funcom shared a rough roadmap for fixing PvP and improving the Deep Desert. Changes will roll out in phases.
Coming Soon (Early July):
A major update is in testing now. According to Scott Junior, here’s what to expect:
- Changes to ornithopter loadouts, especially slowing down heavily armed ones.
- Higher heat cost for Scout rockets to cut down on spam.
- Fixes for hit detection, melee lag, and rubber banding.
- New moderation tools to catch toxic players.
- Quality-of-life upgrades like naming storage containers and vehicles, and easier water storage management.
Later Updates (Late July–August):
More features are in the works:
- Sandwalking is coming back! Stealth players will be able to cross deserts without alerting sandworms. It’s being reanimated to look better.
- More action around weekly spice events, wrecks, and resets.
- New tasks and contracts to help solo players earn rewards without always needing to join big groups.
- Possibly new maps and biomes to explore.
More PvE Content
Each big patch will also include new story missions, PvE contracts, and dungeons with bosses to give PvE fans more structured challenges.
Community Reactions
Some players love the full-loot system—it adds excitement. Others feel it’s too punishing, especially when important items are locked behind PvP zones. Suggestions include opt-in PvP or more faction-controlled areas. Bylos said they’ll keep watching how players engage and adjust accordingly.
The Deep Desert was designed to be tough, but it shouldn’t feel unfair. The devs seem serious about fixing the problems without watering down the core idea. With a big July patch and more changes in the pipeline, things could turn around soon.
If Funcom follows through, the Deep Desert could shift from frustrating to fun—a place where risk, strategy, and skill actually matter in the fight for Arrakis.
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