Dune: Awakening has officially surpassed 1 million copies sold, becoming Funcom’s fastest-selling game ever. 
The announcement was accompanied by a striking infographic detailing in-game achievements, including over 816,000 players falling victim to Shai-Hulud and more than 6.1 billion grams of spice consumed while exploring the 25 million square kilometers of Arrakis.
But beyond the numbers, the real buzz comes from the major changes arriving to the game’s endgame zones-particularly the Deep Desert. In a heartfelt statement, Creative Director Joel Bylos addressed concerns from players who prefer solo and PvE-focused gameplay.
“Our goal is not to force PvE players into PvP if they don’t want it,” Bylos emphasized. The upcoming updates will introduce Partial Warfare zones in the Deep Desert, allowing PvE players to access T6 resources and progress without constant threat from other players. While these areas offer safety, Bylos warned they will still be grind-heavy, especially for solo players, as the game remains tuned for guild cooperation.
However, high-tier resources and bigger rewards will still be found in the War of Assassins (PvP) zones, keeping high-risk, high-reward gameplay intact for competitive players.
On the PvP side, scout ornithopters are being rebalanced. Those equipped with rocket launchers will see reduced agility and increased heat generation when firing. Meanwhile, scout ornithopters with thrusters (but no rockets) will benefit from increased top speeds. A new T5 infantry rocket launcher is also being added to enhance vehicle-vs-ground combat strategies.
The Landsraad is also undergoing an overhaul. Funcom plans to correct its reward structure, which currently benefits players who hoard items-something Bylos says was never the intended playstyle.
Bylos closed by thanking the community and reaffirming that Dune: Awakening is a collaborative effort going forward. “Once a live game launches, it becomes a partnership between developers and players,” he noted. He encouraged patience, promising continued transparency and improvements shaped by community feedback.
With only a few weeks since its release, Dune: Awakening is still in its infancy. But with strong initial momentum and clear attention to player feedback, it’s poised for long-term evolution and success on the harsh sands of Arrakis.