Dune Awakening Deep Desert PvP Changes – What You Need to Know

If you’ve spent more than a few hours exploring Arrakis in Dune Awakening, you already know the Deep Desert is no joke. This endgame zone has been the heart of high-stakes resource hunting and the epicenter of the survival MMO’s most controversial PvP encounters.

But in a move that surprised a lot of veteran players like me, Funcom just rolled out some massive adjustments to how PvP works in the Deep Desert. This isn’t just a minor tweak—this patch fundamentally shifts the entire endgame dynamic and the way you’ll farm the rarest resources in the game.

Whether you’re a hardcore PvP grinder or someone who’d rather avoid the chaos, it’s time to get familiar with these Dune Awakening Deep Desert PvP changes. Let’s break down exactly what’s new, why Funcom made these changes, and what it means for your time on Arrakis.

Why Did Dune Awakening Change the Deep Desert PvP Zones?

Let’s be real: the original design of the Deep Desert was polarizing. For the longest time, Dune Awakening endgame was basically a giant free-for-all. If you wanted the best spice fields or high-tier loot, you had no choice but to risk getting blown out of the sky by ornithopters packing rocket launchers.

While that danger gave the zone its signature adrenaline rush, it also locked a lot of players out of endgame progression. Casual and solo PvE players were stuck in an endless loop of frustration—either get ganked repeatedly or miss out on top-tier schematics and resources like Titanium, Stravidium, and those precious Plasteel plates.

Funcom’s creative director Joel Bylos said it best in a recent dev update: “Our goal is not to force PvE players to interact with a PvP system they may have no interest in.” That’s the core reason behind this sweeping rebalancing. Instead of making smaller adjustments, the studio decided to split the Deep Desert right down the middle, giving every playstyle some room to breathe.

What Exactly Changed in the Latest Deep Desert Patch?

The headline change is simple but dramatic: 50% of the Deep Desert map is now PvE only. Here’s what that means in practice:

The entire southern half of the Deep Desert has been converted into a PvE zone.
You can now explore Imperial Testing Stations, caves, and minor resource nodes without worrying about other players jumping you.
Control points and shipwrecks in the southern half still have PvP enabled, so you’ll need to stay alert near these hotspots.
The northern half remains a full PvP zone, with the highest density of rare resources, larger spice fields, and more valuable loot overall.

Previously, out of the grid’s 81 squares, only 9 were PvE. Now, over 40 are safe zones. That’s not just a small shift—it’s an overhaul.

This patch is officially known as Update 1.1.0.17, and it went live on June 26, 2025. Interestingly, Funcom originally said it would be a few weeks before these changes rolled out, but the update surprised everyone by going live immediately.

How Resource Density Works After the PvP Changes

One concern among veteran players is whether the PvE side of the Deep Desert will feel “watered down” in terms of loot. Funcom anticipated this and introduced a risk vs. reward balance that still favors PvP—just not exclusively.

Here’s the breakdown:

The farther north you go, the richer the resources.
If you want the largest spice fields, high-tier schematics, and stacks of minerals, you’ll still need to fly into PvP territory.
In the PvE southern half, loot is balanced towards solo and cooperative PvE. Each player gets their own drops, with an expected schematic per person.
In the PvP zones, loot is more competitive. Between two and six schematics spawn, and they’re more likely to be rare variants. Whoever gets there first claims them.
Some Imperial Testing Stations remain exclusively in the PvP areas, so if you’re a completionist or min-maxer, you’ll have to venture north eventually.

It’s a smart compromise that feels fairer to a wider range of players without stripping away the thrill of high-risk runs.

What About Ornithopters? They Got Nerfed, Too

Another big part of this patch is the adjustment to ornithopters—those nimble aircraft that define much of Dune Awakening’s endgame PvP.

If you’ve ever been blasted out of the sky by a rocket-armed Scout ornithopter, you probably won’t be surprised that Funcom decided to tone things down a bit:

Equipping a rocket launcher module now reduces the top speed of Scout Ornithopters by 20% and Assault Ornithopters by 10%.
If you exit an ornithopter mid-flight or disconnect from the server, the craft will now drop straight down instead of drifting away.

These changes are designed to keep aerial combat tense but stop it from feeling completely lopsided in favor of fully kitted-out PvP squads.

Why Some Players Think This Is an Overcorrection

I’ll be honest—while I see why these changes are happening, part of me worries it’s too much.

I love the danger of the Deep Desert. Knowing you could get jumped at any moment adds urgency to farming and forces you to get creative with tactics. Cutting half the map into PvE territory might feel like an overcorrection, especially for those of us who thrive on that tension.

But Funcom has been clear: this is about making the endgame accessible. If you still crave that adrenaline, the entire northern half of the map is wide open. Nothing stops you from forming a squad, suiting up, and fighting tooth and nail over the best loot.

If anything, this split will likely create more consistent PvP clashes in the north, while letting solo players and casual guilds breathe easier in the south.

How the Dune Awakening Community Has Reacted

Reactions so far are mixed but mostly positive. Players who prefer exploration and crafting finally feel like they have room to progress without constantly getting stomped. Meanwhile, some competitive clans feel like the stakes have been lowered.

On community Discords and Reddit threads, you’ll see a recurring theme: this is the biggest change to Dune Awakening’s endgame since launch. It shows that Funcom is paying attention to feedback, even if it means pivoting away from their original design philosophy.

Personally, I’m curious to see how these Deep Desert PvP changes evolve. If the split map doesn’t strike the right balance, Funcom might dial it back. But for now, it’s a bold experiment that could redefine how this survival MMO works.

What Should You Do Now?

If you haven’t logged in since the update, here’s what I recommend:

Scout the new southern zones. Get familiar with the PvE areas and figure out where you can safely gather.
Plan your PvP raids. With half the map now safe, the northern half will likely get even more competitive. Bring backup.
Optimize your loadout. The new ornithopter nerfs mean you can’t rely on speed to escape every fight.
Trade for missing schematics. If you don’t want to brave PvP, remember you can get many schematics through trading or the Exchange.

If you’re looking to bulk up your resources fast, you might also consider buying Dune Awakening Solari from reputable sellers. For example, G4mmo has been a solid choice for many players who want to save time and skip the grind.

Final Thoughts on the Deep Desert PvP Changes

The Dune Awakening Deep Desert PvP changes are the clearest signal yet that Funcom wants this MMO to appeal to more than just the hardcore PvP crowd. Whether you think it’s an overcorrection or a necessary step, you can’t deny it’s a major evolution.

From the very first steps on Arrakis, this game has been about adapting to harsh conditions. Now, those conditions are more flexible, offering a place for every type of player—whether you’re here to fight, explore, build, or trade.

If you haven’t given Dune Awakening a shot lately, this patch is a perfect reason to jump back in and see how the balance has shifted. Just remember: even in the safe zones, Arrakis has a way of humbling you when you least expect it.