Funcom is making significant changes to how players can try Dune Awakening, addressing previous criticisms with a new “zero restrictions” free weekend and the game’s first-ever discount.
The survival MMO based on Frank Herbert’s sci-fi universe will offer a completely open free-to-play period from September 11-15. Unlike August’s limited trial, this upcoming free weekend removes all previous restrictions. Players will have unlimited hours of gameplay, full map access from Hagga Basin to Arrakeen City, and the ability to join friends on their existing servers.
Anyone who logs in during the free weekend will receive the “Arrakis Rising” base mural reward. If players decide to purchase the game afterward, all progress made during the free weekend will carry over to the full version.
For those interested in buying after trying, Funcom is offering Dune Awakening at 20% off from September 11-22, marking the game’s first discount since its release.
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The Chapter 2 free update and Lost Harvest DLC will arrive on September 9, one day earlier than originally planned. The free update continues the main storyline, adding new contracts, five armor sets, and more dynamic encounters throughout the world. Players can also change their character’s appearance after creation through a new re-customization tool provided by the “Fleshshaper Phrakk,” a lore-friendly addition to the game.
Those who own the season pass or purchase the Lost Harvest DLC separately will gain access to a standalone storyline centered on a downed Trading Guild carryall. The DLC includes a distinctive new vehicle called the “treadwheel” – a two-wheeled car that allows players to sit in the middle of the vehicle for solo play or team up with friends who can shoot from the back during combat.
Funcom has also addressed player feedback by implementing several quality-of-life improvements. These include a vehicle seat-change hotkey, autorun functionality, improved targeting systems, NPC difficulty scaling, and storage naming options. The developers confirmed during their livestream that server merges are “in the works” to address population concerns.
In a lighter addition that has gained attention on social media, the update will allow players to pet kulons – the game’s stillsuit-wearing pack animals often described as “stillsuit donkeys.”
The timing of these changes appears to directly respond to criticism of the previous free weekend in late August, which limited players to 10 hours, restricted map access, and isolated trial players to separate servers. The new approach addresses all three major complaints.
The current CHOAM Salvage Rights event will end when Chapter 2 launches on September 9, giving players only a few days to claim any remaining rewards before the update.
These developments suggest Funcom is establishing a content pattern of pairing free chapter updates with paid DLC additions, with Lost Harvest being included in the season pass. Console players will need to wait longer, as PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions are expected in 2026, according to reports.
For players considering a return to Arrakis or those who haven’t yet tried the game, next week offers multiple entry points – whether through the unrestricted free weekend, the continuation of the main story, or the new paid content options.