Since its introduction, the iconic Ornithopter has represented freedom and swift travel in Dune: Awakening. Previously, these aerial vehicles provided unmatched speed, enabling players to traverse extensive distances with relative ease. However, following thorough playtesting and community feedback, Funcom is implementing a notable reduction in their overall top speeds.
The reasoning behind this decision is multifaceted. Firstly, it seeks to prevent players from bypassing large portions of the intricately designed open world. By decelerating air travel, the developers aim to foster greater interaction with the environment below, thereby encouraging the use of ground vehicles and on-foot exploration, which are essential to the game’s survival mechanics. Secondly, this adjustment enhances the significance of planning and resource management during expeditions. Increased travel times will result in heightened exposure to environmental challenges, the persistent threat of sandworms, and hostile factions.
This Ornithopter speed nerf will undoubtedly lead to a shift in player strategy. Expeditions will require more careful consideration of routes, fuel consumption, and the Dune Awakening Items packed for the journey. Players might find themselves relying more on the sturdy, if slower, Thumpers or armored ground vehicles for long-distance hauls, turning every desert crossing into a more deliberate and potentially dangerous undertaking.
The Deep Desert Remade: A More Treacherous PVE Experience
Arrakis’s most treacherous region, the Deep Desert, is also receiving a significant PVE overhaul designed to make it the true endgame destination it was always intended to be. Previously, while challenging, some players found that its PVE encounters could be overcome with relative ease once geared up. Funcom aims to change that.
The Deep Desert is being rebalanced to become an even higher-stakes environment, where every encounter is a serious threat. Players can anticipate:
More Aggressive Enemy Configurations: Expect more numerous, powerful, and tactically intelligent enemy AI. Faction outposts will likely be better defended, and wandering patrols will pose a greater threat.
Unique Hazards: The deepest parts of the desert may introduce new environmental hazards or unique creature behaviors that demand adaptability and specialized Dune Awakening Items for survival.
Increased Difficulty for Rewards: The goal is to ensure that venturing into the Deep Desert isn’t just a challenge, but a significant one, requiring top-tier preparation, coordination, and skill. Those brave enough to venture deep will find themselves thoroughly tested, but also potentially rewarded with the rarest resources, blueprints, and powerful gear necessary for mastering the harsh environment.
This overhaul emphasizes the “survival” aspect of Dune: Awakening. It’s no longer just about having good gear; it’s about strategic engagement, understanding enemy patterns, and perhaps even knowing when to retreat. The Deep Desert will become a crucible where only the most prepared and cunning survive and thrive.
These kinds of adjustments are a hallmark of live-service game development, especially during a beta phase. Funcom’s commitment to refining the player experience means continually tweaking mechanics to achieve their vision: a game where every journey across Arrakis feels meaningful, every resource is valuable, and the desert itself is a constant, formidable antagonist.
The Ornithopter speed nerfs and Deep Desert PVE changes are significant steps toward creating a more immersive, challenging, and ultimately rewarding Arrakis. Players will need to adapt their strategies, re-evaluate their loadouts, and approach the vast, sandy expanse with renewed caution and respect.