Since Buy Dune Awakening Items’s Lost Harvest DLC launched, the chatter in the community has centered not just on the new lore and content, but on one specific promise: the “Dune Man building set.” Here’s a breakdown of what players thought, what Funcom promised, and what it means going forward.

What Players Thought They Were Getting

When Lost Harvest was first announced, marketing materials referenced the “Dune Man building pieces”, which many interpreted as a comprehensive set of new construction elements—new walls, decorative pieces, architectural flourishes, etc. Given the game’s emphasis on base building (strongholds, shelters, decorative exteriors) and player creativity, expectations were high. 

However, when the content dropped, the building set amounted to only four new pieces. Many players felt this was underwhelming relative to what the phrase “building set” implied. For some, it wasn’t just the quantity—it was about what type of content they could build, how visually distinct it felt, and how much it added meaningfully to the base building toolkit. 

Community Feedback & Reactions

• Disappointment and Frustration: On forums and sites like Steam, Reddit, etc., players voiced that the communication could have been clearer. Some said they would have bought the DLC anyway, but with different expectations.

• Concerns About Value: There’s always a debate in games with free updates + paid DLCs: how much new content is “worth” the price asked. If players feel they’re paying for content that’s largely cosmetic or minimal, that can lead to backlash.

• Recognition of Developer Integrity: Even among critics, many appreciate the fact that Funcom apologized, acknowledged miscommunication, and pledged to deliver more building pieces free to the DLC buyers. That’s not always the norm. 

Funcom’s Response

Funcom didn’t stay silent. Here’s what they’ve done / promised:

1. Apology and Transparency — They admitted that their messaging about the building set had created expectations of more than what was delivered. 

2. Commitment to Expand — About 15 more building pieces are being worked on and will be made available to all Lost Harvest owners. Estimated delivery: late September or early October. 

3. Other Twitch drops (past ones) will be added in-game for those who couldn’t get them via streaming events. 

These steps don’t erase the disappointment, but they do show responsiveness—which can go a long way.

Why Communication Shapes Player Trust

In live service / survival / multiplayer games, especially ones that rely on ongoing content updates, trust is everything. Players want to know:

• What they are paying for

• What they are getting free

• Whether promised content will actually appear and when

If a developer consistently overpromises and underdelivers, or lacks clarity, the community response can be harsh and lasting.

The Free Weekend & What It Means for the Building Kit Fallout

The free weekend (Sep 11‑15), which gives unrestricted access (i.e. full content included in Chapter 2, etc.), is an opportunity for Funcom to show they’re listening:

• If the building kit additions are in the works and show up as promised, they can rebuild (no pun intended) confidence.

• For new players trying out the game for free, this will shape their first impressions. If they see the building toolkit and base structures, and judge them based on what’s there versus what was promised, that can affect both conversion (free → purchase) and their long‑term engagement.

What Players Want To See

• Quality in the additional building pieces — where style, architectural variety, and usability matter. Pieces that truly expand building creativity, not just decorations.

• Timeliness — late Sep / early Oct was promised. The sooner the better.

• Clear future marketing — make sure what’s promised says what you get. Avoid words like “full set” or “kit” unless the content matches.

• Fair value in DLC versus free content — things like vehicles, story, cosmetics are fine, but players want content that changes gameplay or gives meaningful base‑building expansion.

Conclusion

The Cheap Dune Awakening Items Man building set issue isn’t a catastrophe, but it was a misstep. What matters now is how Funcom follows through. The free weekend gives both a platform and a deadline. If the extra building pieces land on time and deliver what players expected, this could turn a moment of disappointment into a moment of renewed trust. If not, the missed expectations might linger in players’ minds—and that could compromise future DLC goodwill.

For now, both watchers and players should keep tabs: is Funcom keeping its word?