Funcom has admitted fault after Dune: Awakening players reacted angrily to the first post-launch DLC, which was advertised as including a full “building set” but ended up containing just four pieces. The studio acknowledged poor communication and promised to deliver more content to make up for it.

It feels like a recurring theme in modern gaming: a developer launches new DLC, only to follow it almost immediately with an apology. Earlier this week, Paradox went through it with Crusader Kings 3, and now Funcom finds itself in the hot seat after releasing Lost Harvest, the first add-on for Dune: Awakening.

The controversy centers on the $12.99 DLC package, which was marketed as including a new side story, a new vehicle, cosmetics, and “the Dune Man building set, allowing players to create bases in the rugged style of Arrakis workers.” Players quickly discovered that the so-called set was nothing more than four individual building pieces—an offering most considered laughably inadequate. Complaints flooded in, and Funcom responded the very next day.

“We acknowledge that our communication about the DLC’s content wasn’t sufficiently clear,” Funcom admitted. “Lost Harvest brings a variety of additions, with the spotlight on the new side quest and the Treadwheel vehicle, but the way the Dune Man building pieces were described created the impression of a full set when our intent was simply to provide four supplementary pieces for the base game.”

Unsurprisingly, the backlash has been severe: Steam reviews of the DLC are overwhelmingly negative, with just 25% of players giving it a positive rating. The disconnect between the marketing imagery, which depicted an entire base, and the reality of four small pieces left many feeling misled.

Funcom has promised to address the situation by adding substantial content within weeks. “We understand the frustration that some of you have voiced, and to make things right, we’re working on a batch of roughly 15 additional Dune Man building pieces that will be made available to all Lost Harvest owners by late September or early October,” the studio pledged.

On the brighter side, players curious about the game can dive in free this weekend, with Dune: Awakening also discounted 20% on Steam through September 22.

Source: PC Gamer