One of the biggest surprise announcements of The Game Awards 2021 was the reveal ofDune: Spice Wars, an RTS based on Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi novels. Beyond its clear inspiration from 1992’sDune 2, what many view as the first modern RTS, little was said about the game. That’s now changed, however, as developer Shiro Games has dropped a wide variety of new details regardingDune: Spice Wars. That includes Shiro’s plans for early release and future content rollout.
To start, Shiro Games makes clear that it seesDune: Spice Warsas both a real-time strategy game and a 4X game. It characterizes this by sayingDune: Spice Warswill feature “slower than typical” RTS gameplay, including the ability to pause and fast-forward. Further, it focuses on thekey 4X areasof exploration, territory control, economic growth, and combat, as well as politics and spying. Despite that, Shiro says that the 4X elements won’t detract fromDune: Spice Wars' RTS experience.
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For RTS players worried that this meansDune: Spice Warswon’t be abase-building RTS, that’s unfortunately correct. WhileDune: Spice Warswill allow players to build up a base of operations, it won’t feature building placement. Shiro describes it asDune: Spice Warsfeaturing a “much larger scale” than a typical RTS. Suffice to say, the planet of Arakkis is very large and players will be managing territory much larger than most RTS games are framed in.
One other key reveal regardingDune: Spice Wars' gameplay is that it will feature procedurally-generated maps. Maps will have settings for size, as well as in-game mechanics likesandwormactivity, but will otherwise be entirely generated. Of course, locations within those maps will be authored, including key locations from theDunenovels.
As for howDune: Spice Warswill be released, Shiro and publisherFuncomplan to utilize an Early Access format. That means that an early, thinner version ofDune: Spice Warswill be released on Steam first. Content will then be rolled out over time until Shiro considers the game complete. That said, Shiro says it plans to deliver a “very good” game on day one, with player feedback driving the direction of the game from there.
Current plans are to launch without major facets of the game, including multiplayer and a campaign. Those will instead be released later as part ofEarly Access forDune: Spice Wars. The one thing Shiro says is not currently planned is mod support, though it’s open to being persuaded otherwise. Expect to hear : Spice Warsin the months to come.
Dune: Spice Warsreleases in 2022 on PC.
MORE:What Dune: Spice Wars Can Learn From Other 4X Strategy Games
