With the release of Buy Solari Chapter 2 and the Lost Harvest DLC set for September 2025, Dune: Awakening is entering a new phase. But Funcom isn’t stopping at just one update—they’re planning a robust year of content through 2026 and even beyond. At Gamescom 2025, the developers revealed a long-term roadmap, teased the game’s first major expansion, and hinted at an ambitious 10-year plan that could fundamentally reshape the Arrakis experience.
Let’s dig into what’s coming, how it all fits together, and what this means for the future of the game and its community.
The Road Ahead: 2026 Content Timeline
Funcom’s new development cadence (every 3–4 months) is more than just a PR promise. The studio laid out a specific roadmap through 2026, showcasing four major content drops—each including a free story chapter and optional paid DLC.
? Q1 2026: Chapter 3 + "Raiders of the Broken Lands" DLC
Introduction of Landsraad Contract Missions: PvP and PvE dynamic events, including assassinations, duels, scavenger hunts, and infiltration.
First iteration of faction control maps: persistent conflict over territory and resources.
Paid DLC focuses on mercenary raiders and offers desert-hardened armor sets, unique raider vehicles, and gritty architectural skins.
? Q2 2026: Chapter 4 + "The Water Wars" DLC
New Biome: Northern Polar Cap
Harsh cold environments, blizzard mechanics, and new resource dynamics (e.g., ice vs. water rights).
Introduction of Water Shipper factions: rival cartels battling for control over polar reservoirs.
Water mechanics expanded: hypothermia, thermal gear, and limited air mobility due to wind shear.
Paid DLC includes themed cosmetics and advanced ice-drilling vehicles.
? Q3/Q4 2026: First Major Expansion
New Planet or Region (Unconfirmed): Hints suggest off-world locations like Caladan or deep Fremen Sietches.
Console Launch: Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 support, with cross-platform play in testing.
Housing overhaul, new factions, and deeper political systems.
Possible spice economy rework based on new regions or factions.
10-Year Plan: A Living MMO World
Funcom’s long-term vision goes beyond yearly updates. In multiple interviews, including with MassivelyOP and PC Gamer, the team outlined a decade-long development plan for Dune: Awakening. Their vision echoes what Hello Games did with No Man’s Sky or what Digital Extremes achieved with Warframe—a constantly evolving game built on community, systems, and lore depth.
Highlights from the Vision:
Playable New Planets: Caladan (home of House Atreides), Giedi Prime (House Harkonnen), or even Tleilaxu worlds.
Major faction overhauls: Personalized progression trees and unique story arcs based on allegiance.
Procedural content layers: Emergent world events, invasions, and environmental shifts (like storms or sandworms).
Landsraad Council gameplay: Guild alliances can vote on laws, trigger wars, or blockade territories.
Customizable Sietch Systems: Upgradable settlements, siege mechanics, and spiritual progression tied to the Fremen.
While none of this is guaranteed, Funcom’s clear direction shows they’re building more than a sandbox—they’re constructing a Dune-themed digital society.
Tech Stack & Console Expansion
One of the most highly anticipated updates is the console release, scheduled for late 2026. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players will finally be able to join the fray, with support for:
Cross-platform play
Shared progression (via Funcom account linking)
Controller-optimized UI
Voice command enhancements (for squad management and desert survival tools)
This expansion will massively grow the player base and breathe new life into lower-population servers. It’s a big bet—and Funcom is banking on a smoother onboarding experience for new players.
What This Means for the Playerbase
For current players, this roadmap offers more than just content—it signals stability and vision, two of the most critical ingredients for long-term MMO success. The frustration of early 2025’s communication silence is now balanced by a transparent and ambitious plan.
Short-Term:
Plenty of incentives to return this fall with Chapter 2 and DLC.
Encouragement to explore PvP mechanics ahead of Chapter 3’s contract system.
Mid-Term:
2026 will deliver real biome diversity, deeper factions, and new conflict styles (raids, cold weather survival, sabotage).
Console launch will reshape the population landscape and PvP meta.
Long-Term:
The world of Dune: Awakening will go far beyond Arrakis—both narratively and geographically.
Systems like the Landsraad, spice economy, and guild power will evolve in complexity.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Survive—Thrive
Games that promise 10-year plans are often viewed with skepticism—but when a developer backs it up with consistent updates, meaningful content, and open communication, players begin to believe. Dune: Awakening now stands at the edge of that belief. With one foot still buried in early-access issues and the other stepping confidently toward its vision, the next 12 months will prove whether Funcom can deliver on this promise.
Arrakis is harsh, but it also offers opportunity. For exiles, warriors, merchants, and dreamers alike, the future of Dune Awakening Solari on sale here looks more alive than ever.
