Dune: Awakening Developer Hit With Layoffs

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So, I just heard some news about Dune: Awakening that’s a bit of a bummer. Funcom, the team making it, is doing some restructuring, which means they’re having to let some people go. It’s kinda surprising, considering how popular the MMO has been since it came out – though, to be fair, they’ve definitely had some challenges along the way. Basically, development on Dune: Awakening will keep going, but not everyone who worked on it originally will be sticking around. It’s sad to see, but hopefully, it won’t impact the game too much.

So, Funcom’s been making games for ages – over 30 years, actually! But their newest game, Dune: Awakening, is definitely their biggest success so far. It had a really good start in early access, and after the full launch, it quickly jumped into Steam’s top 10 most played games. We’re talking over 175,000 people playing at the same time just five days after it came out! But now, things are shifting with the game, and Funcom has announced that unfortunately, some people on the team will be leaving the studio.

Dune: Awakening Developer Funcom Laying Off Staff Amid Company Transition

In a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, Funcom announced it’s moving “from development to long-term live operation,” which will unfortunately result in some job losses. The company hasn’t yet determined the exact number of employees affected, stating that they are still evaluating the situation and seeking new roles for those impacted. Funcom also highlighted the upcoming console release of Dune: Awakening, explaining that preparing for this launch while also focusing on ongoing game support will require some changes to the studio’s structure.

Funcom has experienced a mixed year, even before the recent layoff announcements. While Dune: Awakening had the most successful launch in the company’s history – selling more quickly than any previous game – player opinions about the game have been inconsistent. There’s been disagreement among fans regarding changes made to the endgame, and Funcom had to issue an apology and offer refunds to some Dune: Awakening players after an update caused a bug that resulted in lost bases and equipment. The game’s player-versus-player (PvP) features have also been a source of debate, but the development team has been responsive to all feedback.

There’s plenty more planned for the MMO in the future. Funcom has shared details about upcoming Dune: Awakening updates, such as a redesigned endgame experience and the Chapter 3 expansion, expected around early 2026. They also plan to release additional updates and downloadable content, though the exact timing and specifics aren’t yet known. For now, Funcom has requested patience as they navigate this challenging period and stated they won’t be providing further comments on this topic.

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2025-10-02 17:04