I've been deep in the sands of Dune: Awakening since launch, and like a lot of you, I've been frustrated with the endgame. The Deep Desert grind, the Landsraad repetition, the constant feeling that something's missing—it's been rough. So when Funcom dropped a new roadmap update, I read it carefully. And you know what? It starts with an apology. 😅
"I apologize if people feel the communication around issues with the game has been lacking," the post begins. Apparently, a chunk of the team was on "their well earned (and state mandated) vacations"—which is what happens when you're a Norwegian developer owned by Tencent. Fair enough. But the community team couldn't always get answers from devs, and that led to silence. Funcom says it's focused on improving that. I appreciate the honesty, even if it's a bit late.
The post also reminds us that while things felt quiet, the team was busy: banning thousands of cheaters, fixing duplication bugs, and squashing exploits. Classic MMO maintenance. But the real meat is in the quality-of-life improvements and the endgame overhaul. Let's break it down.
Short-term fixes that are actually coming soon 🛠️
Funcom lists several pain points that are being addressed "quickly." Here's what caught my eye:
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Improved Player Logging – Ever wondered who raided your chest? Now you'll see names. Finally, some accountability.
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Vehicle Salvaging System – Lost your ornithopter? You'll be able to recover it. Thank the maker.
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Cobalt Paste/Vehicle Inventory – The infamous cobalt paste volume is being adjusted, and the Assault Ornithopter gets more slots. Plus, a cargo container for the Carrier Ornithopter.
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Instanced Deep Desert Loot – No more camping and queuing at Testing Stations. Loot will be instanced, so you won't arrive to an empty station.
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Offline Notifications – Get emails about your base's power and taxes. Yes, this one's for Ben. 😂
These are solid changes, and they show Funcom is listening. But they're band-aids. The real problem is the endgame, and that's where the Landsraad comes in.
The Landsraad problem: no one's happy
Funcom admits it: "The Landsraad is supposed to be the endgame activity driver. Currently it does not have the breadth or depth of content or progression to serve that function." That's a mouthful, but it's true. The political faction system—Atreides vs. Harkonnen, decrees, server-wide effects—is a brilliant idea. Thematically perfect for Dune. But right now, it's repetitive and grindy. Players are stockpiling resources and doing the same deliveries over and over. Funcom knows this.
The plan is to "systematically build out the Landsraad with a greater variety of activities" that will become "contract based, rather than delivery based." That should remove the stockpiling issue. Here's a list of examples they gave (and they stress these are examples, not promises):
| Activity | What it could mean |
|---|---|
| Assassinations | Target rival faction leaders? Yes please. |
| Treasure Maps | Exploration with a reward. |
| Races | Ornithopter or ground vehicle racing. |
| Construction Challenges | Build the best base? |
| Duels | 1v1 PvP. |
| Faction vs Faction maps | Large-scale battles. |
| Improved control points | Better territory control. |
| Scavenger Hunts | Find hidden caches. |
| Temporary Crafting Challenges | Limited-time crafting events. |
That's a lot of potential. If Funcom pulls even half of these off, the Landsraad could become the endgame we all wanted. But here's the catch: this is long-term. No timeframe was given beyond "a lot of this will become our focus in the latter half of 2025." Since we're now in 2026, I have to wonder—did it happen? Some of these features have started to trickle in, but the big Landsraad overhaul is still a work in progress. Funcom also said they'd transition the Deep Desert back to its original intention: a spice-obsessed, cut-throat sandbox. That sounds great, but when?
What about the DLC and Chapter 2?
Funcom mentioned that more details about the free Chapter 2 update and the paid Lost Harvest DLC would come at Gamescom. They emphasized that neither is focused on the endgame because they "were planned and began development before launch." So don't expect the Landsraad fix to be bundled with those. That's a bit disappointing, but at least they're being transparent.
My take as a player
Look, I love Dune: Awakening. The atmosphere, the sandworms, the politics—it's all there. But the endgame needs work. Funcom's apology and roadmap are a step in the right direction. The short-term fixes will make the daily grind less painful, and the long-term Landsraad plans show they have a vision. But vision without execution is just a dream. As we move through 2026, I hope Funcom delivers on these promises. In the meantime, I'll be in the Deep Desert, salvaging my ornithopter and waiting for those assassination contracts. 😎
What about you? Are you sticking around for the endgame overhaul, or have you moved on? Let me know in the comments—or don't, I'm not your mom.