Funcom Unveils Free Expansion for Dune: Awakening – Blood and Ice, Launching December 1
- Funcom’s Dune: Awakening expansion titled Blood and Ice is set for release on December 1.
- The update introduces a new map, the Polar Sink, featuring around 35 hours of gameplay support.
- New events and gameplay mechanics aimed at enhancing survival gameplay are also included.
Funcom has announced a new free expansion for its survival MMO, Dune: Awakening, named Blood and Ice, which will be available on December 1. This update shifts the focus from the arid landscapes of Arrakis to the icy terrains of the Polar Sink.
According to Funcom, the Blood and Ice expansion offers “around 35 hours of new progression” and introduces various enhancements such as new vehicle modules, augments, and specialization traits. The expansion will be accessible on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox.
The Polar Sink map features two distinct biomes: the tundra and the ice cap. Players will begin their journey in the tundra, characterized by affluent water shipper families who have established impressive strongholds. Progressing into the heavily fortified ice cap, players can gather ice to enhance their base’s functionality and expedite production processes.
Funcom emphasizes that the expansion will refocus gameplay on core survival elements, integrating traversal, temperature management, and combat into player progression. The developer also hinted at future updates that will further incentivize revisiting this new region.
Along with the new environment, an Events tab will be introduced to the main menu. Following the expansion’s launch, players can participate in a new event titled Water Crisis, succeeding the current event, The Scourge. Funcom assures that all events will be playable in both single-player and multiplayer modes, with plans to increase the frequency of events while delivering fresh narratives and complimentary rewards.
In an effort to support ongoing development and updates, Funcom has launched a cosmetics store. This store will feature a rotating selection of items, including designs inspired by the Dune films, coinciding with the release of Dune: Part Three in theaters this December. The intention is to eventually provide consistent access to the complete catalog of cosmetics.
The studio is also addressing community requests, with offline single-player mode anticipated to launch this month. By January 2027, players will have the ability to transfer characters between multiplayer and single-player modes, and full cross-play is on track for the same timeline.
Funcom expressed that the company has “ambitious plans for the year ahead,” including significant free updates scheduled for 2027. The studio reports it has welcomed over a million new players since the console launch of Dune: Awakening, alongside completing the first story arc, Book One, and launching three DLC packs.
Recently, Funcom confirmed it is undergoing restructuring and preparing for potential layoffs, a move that echoes similar actions taken approximately a year prior, shortly after Dune: Awakening’s initial PC release.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
