The patch error turns PvE zones into PvP, causing major base and item losses.

Dune: Awakening developer Funcom has issued an apology after a recent patch accidentally wiped player bases and gear by enabling PvP in areas that were meant to remain PvE. The apology letter was posted on Dune: Awakening’s Steam page where announcements and patch notes are shared. The note was also shared on Dune: Awakening's official X (formerly Twitter) account:

The issue affected parts of the Deep Desert, the game’s endgame zone, resulting in players losing vehicles, structures, and hard-earned equipment.

The unintended change stemmed from a misconfigured rollout intended for the next Coriolis cycle, a regularly scheduled reset of the zone, but was mistakenly pushed to the current live game.

“This was an oversight in our development process and internal communications,” Funcom said. “It led to people suffering an unfortunate amount of lost bases and equipment.”

Funcom promises reimbursements after accidental data loss

Funcom acknowledged the severity of the issue and said it is working to reimburse lost vehicles and materials. Impacted players can expect replacement items in the in-game “Claim Rewards" tab by the end of the week.

The studio also stated it has adjusted its internal processes to prevent similar accidents in future patches. While many players voiced their frustration over the unexpected losses, others appreciated Funcom’s quick response and transparency.

Bug-related item losses under investigation

Beyond the PvP misfire, Funcom acknowledged broader issues with lost vehicles and inventory caused by bugs such as server crashes, disconnects, and map transitions. A new internal logging system is being implemented to better track and address these cases.

Affected players are encouraged to submit detailed support tickets including the type, tier, and circumstances of lost vehicles. Funcom says even closed launch-period tickets may be re-evaluated now that better tooling is in place.

Exploit bans and cheat engine crackdowns continue

Hands up! Funcom is cracking down on players that cheat the game or use in-game exploits (Image: Funcom).

Alongside recovery efforts, Funcom reaffirmed its ongoing battle against cheating and in-game exploits, which remain a core focus as Dune: Awakening progresses through its early access phase.

Hundreds of players have already been banned for exploiting the game through various means, including client hacks, damage manipulation, item duplication using vehicle and dismantle glitches, rapid-fire projectile weapon abuse—such as ornithopter rocket spam—as well as account spoofing and durability-related cheats. To prevent further abuse, Funcom is rolling out additional server-side security upgrades and conducting penetration testing as part of its upcoming patches.

Stability and player trust now key priorities for Dune: Awakening

Despite the recent wipe incident, Funcom says it is committed to improving Dune: Awakening with quality of life updates, better cheat prevention, and more reliable support. As the game moves past its launch phase, the development team is focused on repairing trust and stabilising core systems.

“We have a lot of exciting things planned for Dune: Awakening and, despite a few bumps in the road, we’re really excited for what the future holds,” the dev team said.

Released in June 2025, Dune: Awakening has sold more than 1 million copies since release. While the game was classified to be a hybrid of survival and MMORPG, the developer has been shifting some focus on PvE for players who don't want to guild up and face PvP.