Funcom has released Chapter 3 for Dune Awakening today, bringing with it a host of new experiences and gameplay overhauls for players to enjoy. But can this update, described as the “biggest” the game has ever seen, reignite the excitement seen around it’s launch?
Let’s dive into what’s been added to the game with Chapter 3. There’s an increase on faction levels, allowing those who complete missions with their chosen faction to gain additional levels. The Landsraad endgame has been revamped too, allowing players to choose a Great House to complete missions for, which should invigorate the system somewhat.
There’s also a specialisation system added to the game. Earning XP progresses you through a chosen specialisation, allowing players to pick a playstyle and dedicate themselves to it. Explorers can choose a path and be rewarded with unlocks that better serve that playstyle, such as traits and technologies.
These technologies include augmentations, which can be added to tier 6 armour to increase their power further. Schematics for these can be found in new Testing Stations added to the game, and augmented gear can be freely traded among players to encourage more interaction between players pursuing different progression paths, though some work on the crafting specialisation is needed to make these.
There are also new missions to complete, new locations on the Overland map, a removal of water and fuel requirements when traveling across the Overland map, and five new challenge locations for players to test their mettle and progress through Landsraad challenges. There are also five new Testing Stations to explore, and a new major story chapter for narrative-focused players to dive into.
As for combat, two new weapons have been added: the Pyrorocket and dual-wielded knives. The rapier, an original weapon type, has also been totally reworked with new attacks and defensive abilities.
Finally, for those who lapsed from the game and found their base taxed to ruins, these base taxes have been totally removed. Power requirements for bases are still required to maintain your digital home-away-from-home, but the money drain is no longer an issue. A new suite of cosmetics rewards have been added, as well as a returning player package to help people get back into the swing of things.
Finally, the deep desert has been changed once again. The shield wall has been moved further up to make those initial segments safer to explore, and ramps have been added to make ground vehicle travel more tenable.
Is this enough to tempt you back into Dune Awakening? Let us know!
