The recent expansion of PvE zones in Dune: Awakening has led to unexpected consequences, as players report a surge in griefing activity within these supposedly safer areas. The game's latest update significantly reduced PvP zones in the end-game Deep Desert region, but this transition hasn't been without its challenges.

The Deep Desert, consisting of nine alphabetically arranged layers with 81 total sectors, previously featured PvP across eight layers. Following patch 1.1.0.17, Funcom rebalanced the area to create an even split between PvE and PvP zones, with the entire southern half now designated as PvE-only territory.

Reddit user xxTRYxxHARDxx recently highlighted a growing problem where groups of players are exploiting the collision system to disrupt spice harvesting operations. These griefers deploy fleets of Scout Ornithopters to physically block and force down Carrier Ornithopters, intentionally stranding them in sandworm territory.

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The tactic involves surrounding and weighing down the slower Carrier ships, preventing them from taking off before sandworms arrive. Since Scout Ornithopters are faster, the griefers can escape while leaving their victims vulnerable to the deadly desert predators.

Community responses have been mixed, with some players calling for complete separation of PvE and PvP zones and stricter penalties for griefing. Others suggest temporary solutions like increasing Carrier altitude limits to prevent these collisions.

While some attribute this behavior to frustrated PvP enthusiasts, many point out that most competitive players seek fair challenges rather than exploiting mechanics. Notably, these griefing tactics offer no in-game rewards, as sandworms leave no loot behind.

As a live-service title, Dune: Awakening faces particular pressure to address these issues promptly to maintain its player base. The community eagerly awaits Funcom's response to these emerging challenges in the newly configured game world.