Funcom has just released Chapter 3 for Dune: Awakening, bringing a ton of “Quality of Life” improvements and new content to the game. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus got to preview the changes and wonders why all of this wasn’t already in the game at launch.
On February 3, Chapter 3 for Dune: Awakening was released. Since December, we have known roughly what content the new chapter brings to the survival MMO. In short:
- an improved Landsraad system with new missions
- the ability to specialize and unlock new bonuses
- customization options for weapons and armor
- more locations on the overworld map, including new dungeons
- new weapons, quests, and story
- tons of quality improvements, such as the removal of taxes or packages for returning players
In advance, Funcom invited MeinMMO to view the changes in a live presentation with the developers. I saw how the specializations work and some of the dungeons along with their new boss mechanics.
Although I already had a rough idea of what to expect, the gameplay looked quite like what I hoped for before the release of Dune: Awakening: a survival MMO that is different from everything before.
Dune: Awakening is becoming more of an MMORPG, but remains true to its survival roots
Specializations are pretty much the highlight of the chapter, along with the new missions. Through exploring, crafting, or gathering, players can now earn special experience points in Chapter 3 to level new skills up to level 100. This results in new abilities that expand the player’s playstyle.
Together with the already available skill trees in the game, this creates something akin to “roles” you know from MMORPGs: damage, support, survival. Additionally, it is possible to adjust gear accordingly through augments. The devs make it clear that there is no “holy trinity” and no tanks. But those who want to can develop more towards one of these orientations.
In line with this, there are new dungeons with various “themes”, such as an electric dungeon and a fire dungeon, each providing unique loot, but also bringing completely new enemies and especially bosses.
Dungeon bosses with real mechanics
The bosses are what made me think the most about fights in dungeons from other MMOs. Because now there are real mechanics! As an example, the devs show me the electric boss:
- The fight is divided into several phases, which are triggered depending on the boss’s health.
- Moving lightning appears all around the room, which you must avoid.
- Depending on your gear, you have to approach the mechanics differently to survive.
Additionally, there are up to 20 difficulty levels and puzzles in the dungeon itself that you must solve to even reach the boss. Difficulties scale with the group size, so everything is possible solo – but it sounds like more of a party activity.
Furthermore, there are new PvE tasks in the open world that you can accept, for example through the Landsraad. This ranges from assassinations in the new locations on the overworld map to time trials with your sand speeder.
Chapter 3 is what I expected from Dune: Awakening
When Dune: Awakening was announced and I had the chance to play the first rounds, I was completely hooked by the game and sounded like the next big player in the survival area – alone with Funcom behind it, whose games I have always enjoyed playing.
However, after the release, there came a quick disappointment, especially with the endgame, which has since improved, but couldn’t hold my interest. Like many others, I drifted away.
Now, with Chapter 3, the game looks completely different than it did at release. Whether it will win me back, I don’t know yet, as there are currently just too many new games and content elsewhere that keep me occupied. But the chances are at least good for a second look at the game.
The direct competition for Dune: Awakening is also on the move. In the last few months, there have not only been new survival titles but also many updates for existing games in the genre, some of which are still in Early Access: The 31 best survival games for PS5, Steam, and Xbox
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