Funcom untersucht PvP-Ornithopter-Griefing in Dune: Awakening

Dune: Awakening Fixes Incoming After Player Outcry Over "Goomba Stomping" Ornithopters

In the wake of a viral Reddit post and growing player frustration, Funcom has officially acknowledged and committed to fixing a controversial PvP exploit in Dune: Awakening — the infamous "goomba stomping" mechanic involving Ornithopters (Ornis).

The Problem: Unstoppable Aerial Assassins

As highlighted by Redditor @Bombe18, players are repeatedly crushed to death by Ornithopters during PvP combat — with no way to stop the attack once targeted. The issue stems from the fact that:

• Ornithopters take no damage when they crash into players.
• Players cannot retaliate during the crush animation.
• Upon self-revival, the Orni immediately returns to repeat the cycle — often resulting in a guaranteed death.

"Dune developers, I accept defeat in PvP. But being crushed by an orni that takes zero damage? No."
– @Bombe18, Reddit

This mechanic has drawn comparisons to video game "goomba stomping" — a well-known trope from Super Mario where enemies are repeatedly stomped without consequence. In Dune: Awakening, however, it's not a joke — it's a frustrating, exploitable gameplay loop that undermines fair PvP.

Funcom Responds — "Goomba Stomping" Is Being Fixed

The developer didn’t wait long to act. Joel Bylos, Funcom’s Chief Creative Officer, jumped into the conversation and confirmed that the issue is already under active investigation.

"Sorry about this," Bylos replied. "We have people working on fixing the goomba stomping ASAP."

This swift response has been welcomed by the community, though many players are calling for more than just a patch — they’re demanding systemic changes to vehicle immunity in PvP.

Broader Concerns: It’s Not Just the Orni

Players have pointed out that all vehicles in Dune: Awakening are immune to player damage — not just Ornithopters. This means:

• Tanks and war machines can’t be disabled by players.
• Air support can’t be shot down mid-flight.
• The only way to stop a vehicle is with a missile launcher (a rare, high-tier weapon).

This imbalance threatens to break the PvP meta, pushing players toward niche builds or forcing them to rely on gear they may not have.

"It’s not just Ornis — it’s every vehicle," one player noted. "If Funcom doesn’t fix this across the board, we’ll just see more vehicles being abused."

A Strong Launch, Despite the Flaws

Despite the bug, Dune: Awakening has made a massive splash since its June 10 launch:

• 142,000+ concurrent players on Steam within hours.
• Currently holds a "Very Positive" user review rating.
• Strong community engagement and ongoing content updates.

Funcom has also released a growing library of guides, including:

• 🛠️ Dune: Awakening Resource Guides (iron, steel, aluminium, and more)
• 👥 All Dune: Awakening Classes Explained
• 🗺️ Step-by-Step Walkthrough

These tools are helping new players survive on Arrakis — though the Orni issue remains a top-priority pain point.

What’s Next?

While Funcom hasn’t announced a patch date, the tone is clear: this isn’t a cosmetic bug — it’s a core gameplay flaw that needs immediate attention.

Players are hopeful that the fix will:

• Allow player damage to vehicles in PvP.
• Introduce vehicle vulnerability on impact.
• Or, at minimum, disable the crushing mechanic entirely.

Until then, expect more memes, rage videos, and player debates — and keep an eye on the official forums for patch notes.

✅ Pro Tip: Until the fix drops, avoid open combat zones when Ornis are active. Use terrain, stealth, and ranged builds to survive.

Stay tuned — the sands of Arrakis are shifting, and so is the game.

🔗 For more:

• Dune: Awakening Review in Progress
• Full PvP Guide & Meta Update
• Join the Official Discord for patch alerts and community tips.