Dune: Awakening Developers Brace for Major Player Drop After 189,000 Steam Peak

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In a recent discussion with FRVR, lead producer Ole Andreas and senior content manager Tor Egil offered insight into the game’s current trajectory. “In the realm of live-service titles, these ebbs and flows are entirely natural,” Egil explained. He acknowledged the inherent difficulty in sustaining massive launch numbers indefinitely, noting that maintaining that initial momentum is a challenge every developer faces. However, the studio is far from giving up, as the recently launched Chapter 3 update is specifically designed to reinvigorate the player base.

Andreas highlighted that Chapter 3 focuses on rectifying core issues to lure veterans back to Arrakis. “With the introduction of the ‘returning player pack’ and the removal of several key friction points, we are optimistic about enticing players to explore the new content,” Andreas stated. He emphasized that the team’s ongoing mission is to identify systemic weaknesses or missing features requested by the community and fortify those areas while staying true to their original creative vision.

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Early data from SteamDB suggests that these strategic shifts—including the abolition of the widely disliked tax system and a significant expansion of endgame activities—are beginning to yield results. Following the release of Chapter 3 this week, Dune: Awakening saw its 24-hour peak climb to 13,565, a notable improvement over the steady 9,000-player average it held throughout the previous month.

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“Our goal is to continually introduce compelling updates that draw people back and attract newcomers,” Egil concluded. While the developers admit that Chapter 3 won’t satisfy every critic, it marks the beginning of an ambitious roadmap for the survival MMO, which includes melee combat refinements, a comprehensive PvE endgame overhaul, and the highly anticipated rollout of private servers.