Funcom to adjust Dune: Awakening strategy as 80% of players prefer PvE

Funcom developers are adjusting the development strategy for the survival MMO Dune: Awakening after discovering that approximately 80% of the player base prefers PvE (player versus environment) content over PvP (player versus player) combat.

Creative Director Joel Bylos acknowledged that the initial attempt to cater to both player types simultaneously created friction, comparing combat-oriented players to “sharks in an aquarium.” To address community feedback, the studio is preparing a single-player mode to coincide with the upcoming console release.

Despite the heavy lean toward cooperative play, Funcom intends to revitalize PvP through more structured activities. Potential future features include a “faction versus faction” system designed to provide organized competition with clearly defined rules, rather than the current hybrid model.