Dune: Awakening Kicks Off Free Weekend With a New DLC, “The Lost Harvest”

Dune: Awakening is currently hosting a free weekend on Steam, allowing new players to try the survival MMO at no cost. This event coincides with the launch of its first major paid DLC, “The Lost Harvest,” which adds a standalone story and new items to the world of Arrakis.

For anyone who has been curious about the game, the free weekend is a solid opportunity to try it out. The event runs from September 11th to September 15th, offering full access to the game with all progress carrying over if you decide to purchase it later. The game is also on sale for 20% off until September 22nd, a decent discount for those who enjoy the trial.

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The main attraction for existing players is the new “Lost Harvest” DLC. This paid expansion features a new, self-contained storyline centered on a crashed Guild spice harvester, the Mithra. The four-part narrative starts as a simple rescue mission but quickly escalates into a more complex plot. It’s a nice change of pace, and the story doesn’t require you to have completed the main game, so you can jump right in.

Beyond the story, the DLC adds a few other things. The most notable is a new ground vehicle, the “Treadwheel.” While it’s a paid cosmetic item, it has its own unique animations and handling. It’s not necessarily a straight upgrade from the standard Sandbike; it has a lower top speed but boasts better acceleration and a smaller turning radius. This makes it a bit more nimble and gives it a distinct “floating” feel when you’re driving it. The Treadwheel also has a slightly lower vibration rating, which might offer a minor advantage in avoiding sandworms.

The DLC also includes new cosmetic and building pieces, though this has been a point of contention with some players. The “Dune Man Building Set” was advertised as a full set but launched with only four new pieces. Funcom, the developers, have since apologized for the miscommunication and promised to add more free pieces to the set for all “Lost Harvest” owners to rectify this. The DLC also includes new armor and weapon skins, decorations, and a “Thumper” emote.

It’s also worth noting that a free content update, “Chapter 2,” was released alongside the DLC for all players. This update continues the main storyline, and adds character recustomization, new contracts in Harko Village and Arrakeen, and quality-of-life improvements. The free update has been well-received by the community, though the “Lost Harvest” DLC has received mixed reviews on Steam, largely due to the building set issue and some players feeling the new content is too short or lacks challenge for endgame characters.

Overall, it’s a solid content drop for the game. “The Lost Harvest” seems to be a good mix of new narrative content and some cosmetic additions for people who enjoy that sort of thing. It’s nice that they’ve put the new story in a standalone format so you can jump right in.