Funcom staffs up for Dune open-world survival game

Renegade of Spice

Since the release of Denis Villeneuve’s fab Dune adaptation in 2021, it seems that several game studios are looking into developing their own digital takes of Frank Herbert’s literary universe. Last month saw the release of RTS title Dune: Spice Wars, and it seems that Funcom also has an open-world adventure planned, set upon the acrid and hazardous planet of Arrakis.

The survivalist title is currently in its most preliminary stages, with Funcom currently at the hiring stage for the project. The job listings see the publisher staffing up a whole team, with positions open for artists, game designers, coders, and even marketing specialists. The site also offers us two pieces of concept art along with a preliminary CGI render pulled from the early design documents, which set the mood for what will probably be a fairly morose and solemn release.

Funcom, of course, has experience in barren-world adventure titles, having published similar large-scale survival games such as the brutal and unforgiving Conan: Exiles. Dune itself has quite the pedigree in video gaming, having released authentic, compelling, and genre-defining titles such as Westwood Studios’ 1992 classic Dune II: Battle for Arrakis. With its sullen fantasy worlds, strange menagerie of creatures, and cruel, backstabbing politics, Dune is custom-made for a variety of gaming genres, and hopefully, Funcom’s new open world project will capture the mood and intrigue of its acclaimed source material.

Dune: Spice Wars is available now on PC (via Steam)

Chris Moyse

Senior Editor – Chris has been playing video games since the 1980s. Former Saturday Night Slam Master. Graduated from Galaxy High with honors. Twitter: @ChrisxMoyse