Funcom, the studio behind the multiplayer game Dune: Awakening, has confirmed that it is laying off some of its staff as part of a company-wide restructuring. This decision mainly stems from the need to shift the team’s focus from a fast-paced development cycle to a long-term live operations model. Although this change is common in MMO development, it is still a sudden shift for the company, which recently enjoyed its biggest commercial success in its 30-year history. The studio quickly stated that despite these staff changes, they will continue to actively develop and support Dune: Awakening.
This announcement is particularly surprising given the game’s strong commercial performance since its release. Dune: Awakening quickly ranked among Steam’s top ten most-played games, reaching over 175,000 concurrent players shortly after launch. Such numbers usually indicate growth, not a reduction, in development resources. However, the studio explained that moving to ongoing support, along with preparing for console launches, requires a different and more specialized structure than what was needed to create the core game.
While the need for this reorganization is understandable, Funcom has not provided specific numbers regarding the staff cuts. The company mentioned that it is still evaluating the full impact and is actively looking for alternative options for those employees who will be leaving the studio. This change comes at a time when the game has faced some instability. The developer has dealt with vocal player feedback about certain endgame changes and serious technical issues that caused the loss of in-game items and player-built bases, which led to public apologies and reimbursements.
Looking forward, Funcom is committed to the game’s planned content roadmap. The studio has shared details about upcoming major updates, including a complete overhaul of controversial endgame systems and the planned launch of a large-scale Chapter 3 expansion, set for early 2026. Asking for understanding from the community during this “difficult transition,” Funcom has stated it will not provide more public comments on the staff cuts, choosing instead to focus on stabilizing the team and delivering the promised content.
