It's now been nearly 30 years since the release of Dune 2 for MS-DOS, the game that many describe as the first archetypal real-time strategy game. What better way to celebrate that occasion than with the release of the latest RTS in the Dune franchise, Dune: Spice Wars. Shiro Games and Funcom announced on Wednesday that they're ready to release the early access version of Dune: Spice Wars. The 4X game based on Frank Herbert's popular Dune novels will be playable on Steam starting April 26.According to Dune: Spice Wars' Steam profile, developer Shiro Games is planning an Early Access launch for the game in order to make it the "best game it can possibly be." Early Access will allow Shiro Games to collaborate with a dedicated playerbase, from which to make decisions regarding the game's design and balance in its final leg of development. Celebrating the 30-year anniversary of Dune 2 will be nice, too.When Dune: Spice Wars launches in Steam Early Access on April 26, it will already have a substantial amount of content. That includes four playable factions, including the notable houses of Atreides and Harkonnen as seen in the recent Dune film. Additionally, the Fremen will be included, as well as a faction known as the Smugglers. Systems for politics, spying, and of course warfare will be available, as well as three victory conditions based around those systems.
Going forward, Shiro Games plans to robustly expand Dune: Spice Wars. That includes eventually adding support for multiplayer, a campaign, as well as additional systems and mechanics. Otherwise, as befitting an Early Access game, additional game modes, improved balance, and overall quality and polish improvements will be made to Dune: Spice Wars as necessary. All in all, Shiro Games plans to spend around 9-12 months building out Dune: Spice Wars before it releases.
As previously noted when Dune: Spice Wars was first announced during The Game Awards 2021, the game isn't strictly an RTS like Dune 2, Dune 2000, and Emperor: Battle for Dune before it. It's a hybrid RTS and 4X game that removes base building and slower gameplay to allow for more nuanced systems. Early Access will allow players to get acquainted with Dune: Spice Wars' gameplay before buying in.
Expect to find out much more about Dune: Spice Wars in the weeks to come as Shiro Games preps for Early Access and fans get a chance to see exactly what this RTS/4X game really is.
Dune: Spice Wars releases on April 26 in Early Access for PC.