Oct 5, 2026 · News
Dune Awakening Patch 1.5.15: Optional BattlEye, an Ornithopter Buff and Everything Else on the Test Server
BattlEye goes optional for solo play, Scout Ornithopters get faster with rocket pods, The Ancient Way gets nerfed and offline bases stop eating fuel. Here's everything in Dune: Awakening patch 1.5.15.0 and when it could go live.
Right now, a solo player on Arrakis still has to run BattlEye anti-cheat just to play alone in a single-player world. That changes in Dune: Awakening patch 1.5.15.0, which hit the Public Test Client on September 30.
This isn't a content patch. There's no new region and no new boss. What it does is clean up a long list of pain points: stability, offline bases eating fuel, a Landsraad exploit, and a few balance calls that will change how Deep Desert fights play out. Here's everything in it, what matters most, and what the community has unlocked while we waited.
The short version
- BattlEye becomes optional for single-player, private and self-hosted servers.
- Scout Ornithopter rocket pods slow you down half as much: the penalty drops from 20% to 10%.
- The Ancient Way gets nerfed: augmented shot delay goes from 0.71s to 1.6s.
- Mk5 Powerpacks are capped at 5 per refresh at the Landsraad tool vendor.
- Offline bases stop burning extra fuel and generating the wrong amount of water.
- No live date yet. It's on the test server only.
When does Dune Awakening patch 1.5.15 go live?
Funcom hasn't said. Right now 1.5.15.0 is on the Public Test Client only, and the notes warn that the ornithopter speed values "might not be definitive" and will be tuned during testing. Expect it to stay on the test server until that tuning is done. If you want to help shape it, Funcom runs feedback through the PTC section of its Steam discussion board and Discord.
BattlEye is finally optional for solo play
This is the headline change. From the notes:
"Added the option to launch the game without the BattlEye anti-cheat software installed or enabled for the single-player mode, or private and self-hosted servers that do not require it."
The catch is just as clear: "BattleEye is still required to play on multiplayer servers with BattleEye enabled." Players without it won't even see those servers in the browser.
Our read: This is a fair compromise. Solo players and private server groups get their machines back. Official servers keep their anti-cheat.
The balance changes that matter
Most of 1.5.15.0 is bug fixes, but four changes shift how you play:
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Scout Ornithopter gliding speed penalty with a rocket pod | 20% | 10% |
| The Ancient Way shot delay when augmented for multiple rockets | 0.71s | 1.6s |
| Mk5 Powerpacks at the Landsraad tool vendor | Unlimited | 5 per refresh |
| Landsraad mission rerolling | Possible (exploit) | Blocked |
The Scout Ornithopter gets the buff. Armed scouts were paying a heavy speed tax, and halving it makes a rocket-pod scout a real option for Deep Desert harassment. Funcom says these numbers are still being tuned, so don't build your whole fleet around them yet.
The Ancient Way takes the hit. Its augmented rocket barrage more than doubles its time between shots, so the burst you could unload before an enemy reacted is gone.
Our read: The Powerpack cap and the reroll fix are aimed squarely at players farming the Landsraad. If your guild was stockpiling Mk5 Powerpacks, the well is about to run dry. Buy what you need before this goes live.
Bases, building and quality of life
The fixes most players will actually feel:
- Offline bases no longer "burn more fuel than intended," and water generation is no longer "too great or too little." If your generators kept running dry while you were logged off, this is why.
- Base Reconstruction Tool no longer crashes on large bases, and big buildings load properly with Continue.
- Sub-fief placement now warns you which pieces fall outside your land claim before you commit.
- Guild leaders can rename their guild. Finally.
- DualSense controllers are natively supported on Steam.
- Campos Demari now charges for his time plus the bribes, so budget accordingly.
- New players get more time to land a Heavy Attack on the shielded enemy in the tutorial, which should cut down early quits.
Combat and story fixes
Combat fixes include reloads that blocked shooting, Rusher enemies swapping weapons and shields wrongly, Bindu Sprint keeping momentum after a quick cancel, Knee Charge misfiring when queued, and boss health bars vanishing when you rejoin. Negative status effects now clear when you're downed.
On the story side, Chapters 3 and 4 now award their XP, the Trials of Aql soft-locks are fixed, and the Leech's Maw schematic now has the same Journey requirement as the other unique dual blades. The final story cinematic was updated too.
The community smashed Rain of Blood
While 1.5.15.0 sat on the test server, the playerbase went to war. El Sayldam: The Rain of Blood asked for 80 million NPC kills between September 25 and October 5. According to Funcom's Communinet Signal #21, players cleared all four milestones and went chasing a 120 million stretch goal for the Asteroid Harvester Pistol swatch.
| Milestone | Reward |
|---|---|
| 20M kills | CHOAM Extension Floor and Roof |
| 40M kills | CHOAM Extension Wall 01 and Wall 02 |
| 60M kills | CHOAM Extension Passageway and Wall 03 |
| 80M kills | CHOAM Extension Column and Wall Round Corner |
Rewards go out October 6 through November 5 when you log in. The Matron's Decor cosmetics stay in the construction tool until October 22.
What about cross-play and the Polar Caps?
Still no dates. On cross-play, Funcom said: "We don't have a set date to share just yet on when cross-play will be introduced but know that it is being worked on!" On the Polar Caps expansion: "We don't have anything we can share right now, only that we are hard at work on it behind the scenes."
FAQ
What is in Dune Awakening patch 1.5.15?
Optional BattlEye for single-player and private servers, a Scout Ornithopter rocket pod buff, an Ancient Way nerf, a Mk5 Powerpack cap, offline base fixes and a long list of bug fixes.
Is Dune Awakening patch 1.5.15 live?
Not yet. It is on the Public Test Client only, and Funcom has not announced a live date.
Can I play Dune Awakening without BattlEye?
Once 1.5.15 goes live, yes, for single-player, private and self-hosted servers that don't require it. Official multiplayer servers with BattlEye enabled still need it.
When do Rain of Blood rewards arrive?
Funcom says the rewards are distributed on login from October 6 through November 5.
Is cross-play coming to Dune Awakening?
Funcom says it is being worked on but has not set a date.
What this means for CNC
Two things to do before 1.5.15 goes live: stock up on Mk5 Powerpacks while the vendor is still unlimited, and check your base fuel once the offline fix lands. If you're flying scouts in the Deep Desert, test a rocket-pod build on the PTC now. Our Dune: Awakening combat guide still holds for everything not touched here, new players should start with the first-week survival guide, and the Dune: Awakening hub has the full item database. See you on Arrakis.
By CNC Gaming
Sources: Funcom: Public Test Client Patch 1.5.15.0 (September 30, 2026); Funcom: Communinet Signal #21 (October 1, 2026); Funcom: El Sayldam, The Rain of Blood (September 25, 2026).