Duneis no stranger to video game adaptations. As a matter of fact, Frank Herbert’s series of sci-fi novels actually has a pretty storied connection to video games dating back to the MS-DOS, and the series' game adaptations have had a major influence on the game industry.Dune 2: The Building of a Dynastypopularized some major hallmarks of real-time strategy games like the fog of war. Now,Duneis getting another real-time strategy game, and it’s calledDune: Spice Wars.With the help of 4X elements,Dune: Spice Warsaims to revive a long line of RTS adaptations of theDunebooks.
A new game set in the world ofDunecouldn’t be more timely, since the IP is already in the middle of a resurgence. That’s thanks to Denis Villeneuve’sDunemovie, of course. As the first cinematic adaptation of Herbert’s novels in nearly 20 years, Villeneuve’sDunehas set the war-torn desert planet of Arrakis in the public consciousness ata very convenient time forDune: Spice Wars.What’s more, VIlleneuve has another film on the way; the latest movie is technicallyDune: Part One.With a cinematic saga in the works,Dune: Spice Warsmight have the perfect advertising partner in place well before its release.
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Dune’s New Cinematic Franchise
Well before the movie’s release, Villeneuve told fans of the novels thatDune: Part Onewould only retell the first half of the first book. Well beforeDune: Part Onereleased,Villeneuve already had plans forDune: Part Two,which would wrap up the first novels events. Now thatDune: Part Onehas been a cinematic success, the sequel has been greenlit for an October 2023 release and filming will start next summer. This meansDune: Spice Wars,which is aiming to release in early access next year, will become playable right in the middle of Villeneuve’sDuneretelling. The IP will certainly still be on everyone’s minds.
It’s worth noting thatDune: Part Twoisn’t the only cinematic version of this world that’s in development. Aside from working on his films, Villeneuve has also been collaborating onDune: The Sisterhood,a TV show for HBO Maxthat’ll serve as a prequel for theDunefilms and examine the lives of the Bene Gesserit, a sociopolitical and religious order of women with finely honed physical and mental abilities.Dune: The Sisterhoodcould influenceDune: Spice Wars,too. Its playable factions haven’t all been revealed yet, but if the Bene Gesserit are among them, thenDune: The Sisterhoodwill conveniently allow fans to learn more about this organization.
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Dune: Spice Wars' Potential
Aside from its advertising possibilities,Dune: Spice Warssounds interesting in itself. 4X games famously encourage meticulous, slow gameplay, so it’s not an obvious combination with the RTS combination;the Sid MeierCivilizationgamesshow the more traditional turn-based take on 4X. Still, that only makesDune: Spice Warsall the more interesting. Developer Shiro Games received praise for its previous RTS titleNorthgard, so hopefully it already has some tricks up its sleeve for elegantly combiningDune,real-time strategy, and 4X mechanics. Villeneuve’s family ofDunemovies and shows are off to a good start, and although they may not be connected directly, that’s still good news for the aspirationalDune: Spice Wars.
