Dune: Awakening will be receiving Update 1.4 alongside the brand-new The Water Wars DLC on May 19, 2026. Developed by Funcom, Dune: Awakening is an open-world survival RPG set in the iconic Dune universe, where players must survive brutal sandstorms, build shelters, and deal with dangerous factions on the desert planet of Arrakis. The game made its debut in June 2025 and quickly made waves in the industry, bringing in massive player numbers and critical acclaim.
A big part of the title's success has been Funcom's commitment to consistent updates and actively listening to player feedback. Last year, the developers revealed the roadmap for Dune: Awakening, stretching into 2026, with one of its most anticipated highlights being The Water Wars DLC. Not much was known about the DLC, and it didn't have a release date either. Now, Funcom has finally stepped forward with a confirmed window, pairing the DLC with a major update that also brings several new additions to the game.
New Survival Game on Steam is Essentially a Single-Player Take on Dune: Awakening
Dune: Awakening fans who are craving something fresh will want to keep an eye out for this single-player title coming to Steam.
Dune: Awakening Update 1.4 and The Water Wars DLC Coming Soon
Funcom has revealed that Dune: Awakening's Update 1.4 and The Water Wars DLC are both set to arrive on May 19, 2026. The update will be a completely free drop for all players, bringing two new areas, including a scalable Testing Station alongside fresh Landsraad Missions. Players will be able to explore The Wind Pass, which was once a Harkonnen tech hub but is now a critical point in the water trade of the planet. They will also venture into The Old Quarry Testing Station, where they will face Dr. Jalatna. These additions expand on the endgame content in Dune: Awakening, which was introduced in Chapter 3. While the update doesn't include any new story content, the developers state that future updates will bring narrative expansions.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.
Alongside the free update, there will also be The Water Wars DLC. It will include Water Shipper-inspired cosmetics featuring 52 building pieces, 18 decorations, armor, weapons, an ornithopter variant, a cosmetic swatch, and emotes. The Water Wars DLC will cost $9.99 as a standalone purchase, but it can also be found in the Season Pass for $24.99, which also bundles the Lost Harvest DLC and the Raiders of the Broken Lands DLC. The Season Pass can also be found in the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions of Dune: Awakening. Funcom has highlighted that PvP is now completely optional after the recent 1.3.20.0 update.
Over on social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter, the reception to Update 1.4 and The Water Wars DLC has been mixed so far. While players are excited about the new locations and cosmetics, many were hoping for more story DLCs that expand the narrative and deliver deeper endgame content. That said, the community has welcomed Funcom's promised changes to endgame in Dune: Awakening, allowing PvE-focused players to progress without clashing with others.
Fans are also eager for a confirmed console release date for the game, as it would draw more attention and help it gain a larger audience. As for crossplay in Dune: Awakening, that's something still up in the air, as Game Director Joel Bylos has stated that the decision ultimately lies with Xbox and PlayStation.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81/100 Critics Rec: 79%
WHERE TO PLAY
Dune: Awakening is a single- and multiplayer Open World Survival game with immersive adventure and RPG gameplay. Explore, build, craft, and unravel a cinematic Dune story as you rise from survival to greatness on the most legendary planet in the universe.
Just remember: the sandworm always comes.
Explore a vast, open world Dune
Discover a dynamic and immersive Arrakis, from the rolling sand dunes of the Deep Desert to hidden Fremen caves and the bustling city streets of Arrakeen. Climb towering mountains with the Shigawire hook and fly across sandworm-infested deserts in an ornithopter you built yourself. Escape the destructive might of the massive sandstorms towering above you as they sweep across the landscape, then take a quiet moment to witness the beauty of Arrakis when the sun is low.
Unravel an epic, cinematic Dune story
In Dune: Awakening, you get to step into the books and movies and experience one of science fiction’s most incredible worlds up close. Join the Atreides or the Harkonnen and rise through their ranks as you explore their unique stories. Meet familiar characters such as Duke Leto and Feyd-Rautha, investigate the mysterious disappearance of the Fremen, and discover the truth about your own past. Unravel an epic, cinematic Dune story that asks the mind-bending question: what if Paul Atreides was never born?
Become a master of combat and survival
Arrakis is a test that few survive. Those who do, awaken. Learn to survive the unique climate of Arrakis, chasing shade and extracting liquid from the bodies of your enemies to refine it into water. Study the teachings of the Schools of the Imperium to unlock a powerful repertoire of abilities, weapons, and tools. Wield the Trooper’s unparalleled firepower, use the Bene Gesserit voice to control your enemies, deploy the Mentat’s deceptive traps, or master the Swordmaster’s unique dance of death.
Build your stronghold, craft your ornithopter
Carve out your own piece of Arrakis and build your personal base of operations. From small outposts to elaborate and towering strongholds, build everything piece-by-piece in the Atreides or Harkonnen style, or any of the other available architectural styles, and decorate it to reflect your personality. Equip it with powerful crafting machines and spice refineries and watch your power and fortune grow. Craft anything from useful desert-survival gadgets to entire vehicles such as ground cars and ornithopters.
Single-player, multiplayer, and scalable difficulty
Play alone in full single-player, multiplayer with friends on a shared server, or with hundreds of other players on a public server. The full game, with all its features, content and story, is available regardless of which mode you choose. Both single-player and private multiplayer servers offer extensive customization options, allowing you to scale difficulty and tune gameplay options however you like.
- Franchise
- Dune
- PC Release Date
- June 10, 2025
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Survival, MMO
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
