Game intel
Dune: Awakening
Dune: Awakening is an Open World Survival RPG where you can fully immerse yourself in the epic world of Dune. Alone or with friends, explore a vast open world…
This caught my attention because Funcom is finally doing what survival players care about most: adding actual story and systems for free, while keeping the paid DLC mostly cosmetic and side-story focused. If you’ve been curious about Dune: Awakening but waiting for a reason to jump in, this week lines up the trifecta-new content, a Steam free weekend (September 11-15), and the game’s first discount (20% off, September 11-22).
Chapter 2 picks up after the twists at the end of Act 3, leaning into investigations and the older history of Arrakis. That “gruesome murders” pitch sounds more RPG than sandbox grind, which is exactly what Dune’s universe needs to stand out in a crowded survival field. On the systems side, the ability to re-customize your character post-launch is a quiet but big win-survival games notoriously lock you into a look you regret 15 hours later. New contracts, items, hairstyles, tattoos, and “dynamic encounters” aim to make the desert feel less like dead air between spice runs.
Funcom’s learned this dance from Conan Exiles: the healthiest cadence is meaty free updates that move the world forward, with optional paid packs that don’t tip combat or progression. Chapter 2 reads like the former-narrative beats and world events everyone gets—while the DLC lives in the cosmetic/story-adjacent lane.
Lost Harvest costs $12.99 and offers a “complete standalone storyline.” Survival games and story content can be a messy mix—instances can break pacing, grind can gate missions—so the big question is how seamlessly this threads into your server life. Funcom isn’t promising a length, so manage expectations: think focused narrative arc rather than expansion-sized campaign.
On the cosmetic front, you’re getting Dune Man building pieces, new decorations, armor and weapon skins, color swatches, and the very on-brand Thumper emote. The new treadwheel vehicle replaces the sandbike for style points and different animations but, importantly, Funcom says there’s “no significant gameplay advantage.” That’s the right call. In a survival world, vehicles that boost efficiency too much can skew servers—cosmetic variants keep the vibe without breaking balance.
The Season Pass at $24.99 includes Lost Harvest and two more DLCs with “new areas, stories, and more.” That phrasing raises one fair question: will “new areas” be instanced story zones (fine) or core map sections gated by a purchase (fragmenting)? Conan Exiles has historically kept core gameplay parity while selling building and style sets; if Funcom sticks to that model, players should be okay. But it’s worth keeping an eye on how those future “areas” are implemented.
Arrakis is a killer setting for a survival game, but moment-to-moment variety is the difference between a compelling loop and a resource treadmill. The promise of “dynamic encounters” is the part I’m watching closest. If these events make the desert unpredictable—sandstorms that change routes, ambushes that force tactical choices, rescue or salvage opportunities—you get stories worth telling on your server’s Discord. If it’s just more icons on the map, the novelty fades fast.
The other smart move is character re-customization. Social identity matters in games where you spend dozens of hours around the same community. Letting players tweak their look after the fact helps retention, period. It feels small, it isn’t.
– New players: The free weekend on Steam (Sept 11–15) has no content restrictions and saves your progress, so you can sample Chapter 2’s story beats, try vehicles, and get a feel for server life without losing time. If you vibe with the loop, the 20% discount (through Sept 22) softens the buy-in.
– Lapsed players: If you bounced early because the world felt sparse, Chapter 2’s encounters and contracts might scratch that itch. Use the re-customize option to reinvent your character and see whether the investigation arc hooks you.
– Monetization skeptics: Lost Harvest’s pitch is reassuring—new story, cosmetics, and a style-first vehicle with no meaningful power bump. That’s the survival DLC line I want studios to walk. The Season Pass is a “wait and see” based on how those future areas land.
Dune: Awakening’s free Chapter 2 actually adds reasons to play—story progression, character re-customization, and livelier deserts. Lost Harvest ($12.99) keeps paid content mostly cosmetic with a side story and a cool treadwheel that won’t break balance. Try it during the Steam free weekend (Sept 11–15), and if it clicks, there’s a 20% discount through Sept 22.
Get access to exclusive strategies, hidden tips, and pro-level insights that we don't share publicly.
Ultimate Gaming Strategy Guide + Weekly Pro Tips