Funcom Apologizes for Disappointing Dune: Awakening DLC Building Set
Funcom has issued an apology after the release of its first post-launch DLC for Dune: Awakening, titled Lost Harvest. The DLC, priced at $12.99, drew criticism for its "Dune Man building set," which turned out to contain only four new building pieces, leading to player disappointment and negative reviews.
The Controversy: A "Building Set" of Only Four Pieces
The Lost Harvest DLC was advertised to include a new storyline, vehicle, cosmetics, and the Dune Man building set, promising players the ability to construct bases in the style of Arrakis workers. However, the reality of only four new building pieces fell far short of expectations. This discrepancy sparked complaints from players who felt misled by the marketing.
We realize that our communication around the contents of the DLC has not been clear enough. The Lost Harvest DLC has a variety of content...but the way the Dune Man building pieces were communicated created expectations that it would be a full building set rather than what was our intention: four new pieces to supplement the base game building sets.
The disconnect between expectation and reality is reflected in the DLC's "mostly negative" rating on Steam, with only 25% of users giving it a positive review. The term "building set" inherently implies a more comprehensive collection than just four items.
Funcom's Response and Plans for Amends
Acknowledging the player feedback, Funcom has committed to rectifying the situation. The company plans to add approximately 15 more Dune Man building pieces to the DLC. These additions will be made available to all owners of the Lost Harvest DLC and are expected to be released in late September or early October.
We understand the disappointment some of you have shared, and to rectify that, we will work on creating more Dune Man building pieces that we’ll make available to all owners of the Lost Harvest DLC. We’re looking at adding around 15 more pieces and we aim to have these available late September or early October.
Free Weekend and Discount
Despite the controversy, Dune: Awakening is offering a free weekend of gameplay and a 20% discount until September 22. This provides an opportunity for players to experience the game firsthand and potentially reassess their opinion.
Additional Content Updates
In addition to the building set update, Funcom also mentioned plans to incorporate old Twitch drops into the game at some point. The game's Chapter 2 and the Lost Harvest DLC have not significantly impacted the player base as of yet.
