Funcom announced that the free Blood and Ice expansion for Dune: Awakening will launch on December 1, 2026, for PC, PlayStation®5 and XBOX. The update adds the Polar Sink, a new map in Arrakis’ frozen north, where players must manage cold conditions, gather new resources and upgrade equipment built for the desert heat.
The expansion will be available to all players on all platforms. Dune: Awakening is currently available on Steam, PlayStation®5 and XBOX, as well as with Game Pass. Funcom said more than one million new players have joined the open-world survival game since its console launch.
A new map built around cold survival
The Polar Sink contains two biomes: the tundra and the ice cap. Players begin in the tundra, where wealthy water shipper families defend their strongholds. Beyond that area is a heavily guarded ice cap, where access to ice becomes a central goal.
According to Funcom, the new map offers around 35 hours of progression, with reasons to return for additional resources. Harvested ice can cool base equipment and speed up production. The expansion also adds new vehicle modules, augments and specialization traits, while resources found only in the Polar Sink can be used to craft equipment needed for the region.
The update shifts the survival challenge from Arrakis’ desert heat to its frozen north. Traversal, temperature management and combat will be part of progression in the new area, with gear upgrades needed to withstand the cold. Funcom said future updates will provide further reasons to revisit the Polar Sink.
Cosmetics and new events
Funcom also announced a cosmetics store with outfits, vehicle variants and additional base customization options. Purchases of optional cosmetics will support continued development and free updates, according to the developer. The store will launch with rotating items, including recognizable looks from the films. A future update will make the full catalog available at all times.
The Water Crisis event will arrive shortly after the Blood and Ice expansion. It follows The Scourge, an event about investigating a disease spreading across Arrakis. In Water Crisis, players will compete for scarce water supplies and work to end the shortage.
Funcom described these as the game’s biggest events yet. A new Events tab launching with the expansion will allow players to track event progress and rewards. The developer also plans to deliver events more frequently, alongside new stories, free rewards and continued gameplay improvements.
Offline play and cross-play
The developer update also sets out a schedule for three features. Offline single-player is scheduled to arrive in November 2026. Character copying from multiplayer servers to single-player, and from single-player to select private servers, is planned for January 2027. Full cross-play is also scheduled for January 2027.
“We’re far from done,” said Funcom CEO Scott Junior. “We have ambitious plans for Dune: Awakening in 2027, with several major free updates that will expand the game with new locations, mechanics, and content to discover.”
The Blood and Ice expansion launches December 1, 2026, and Funcom says it will be free for all players on all platforms.
