The biggest free update yet is coming for Dune: Awakening

Funcom’s Dune: Awakening has been doing quite well for itself. Now it’s about to be infused with some fresh, and free, content.

Another Awakening

Dune fans have had quite a few years as of late. The legendary series from writer Frank Herbert has seen two (so far) well-received movies, plus a selection of video games. Among the latter, Dune: Awakening might be the standout.

The open-world survival title hit the ground running on Steam. According to the developer, it was actually one of the platform’s highest-grossing titles of 2025. That’s no mean feat when you consider the games that saw release last year.

It’s also seen a bit of downloadable content since launch. That would be Raiders of the Broken Lands, a paid DLC pack that’s available now. But this sci-fi epic adaptation isn’t stopping there, and there’s a free update on the horizon that Funcom says is “the biggest update yet” for the game.

Chapter 3, as it’s dubbed, adds in plenty of fresh content for the game’s vision of Arrakis. That’s plus some improvements on what’s already present. Amongst those highlights are extended progression past tier 6, an expanded endgame, new missions, and new locations.

Building a bigger Arrakis

The full list of fresh inclusions is pretty lengthy. On top of all that was mentioned above, there’s also a new story chapter that picks up right after the close of Chapter 2. So if you’re been itching to see what comes next, then take a look at the official rundown below.

• Expanded Endgame
  Chapter 3 delivers a major endgame expansion built around a rebuilt Landsraad, deep new progression systems, and powerful gear customization.
• 10 New Locations to Explore
  10 brand-new overland locations have been added, including open-area challenge zones and Imperial Testing Stations, designed for repeatable endgame play and escalating challenges.
• New Landsraad Missions
  The Landsraad now has repeatable missions that increase Faction Rank, Great House Standing, and unlock exclusive rewards.
• Specialization Progression
  Players can now shape their playstyle through five distinct progression paths: Crafting, Gathering, Exploration, Combat, and Sabotage.
• Augmentation System
  Unique Tier 6 weapons and armor can now be enhanced with powerful Augments crafted at the new Augmentation Station. Augmented gear can be used by all players.
• No More Base Taxation
  Base taxation on player-built bases has been fully removed; players no longer need to travel to the Social Hubs to pay their taxes and can save their precious Solaris for better investments.
• Returning Player Support
  Introduces a returning player resource package designed to support inactive players re-entering the game. Eligible players who have been away for a set period will receive a resource bundle scaled to their progression in the Research tree, ensuring a smoother and more balanced return to play.
• Two new weapons and a rework
  Two new weapons have been added: The Pyrocket and the Dual Blades. The Rapier has been completely reworked.
• New Story Chapter
  For players eager to continue the journey, Chapter 3 picks up directly where Chapter 2 ended, delivering hours of new story reuniting the player with an old ally.

Funcom press release

Chapter 3 of Dune: Awakening is outright now. You read much more about it here, on the official site.