News Funcom enters 6 years parnership to develope games in DUNE Universe (starting with “Open World Multiplayer”)

[prudis]

Funcom, the Norwegian studio known for games like Conan Exiles, Age of Conan, The Secret World and Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden (as a publisher), just announced with the following press release to have partnered with Legendary Studios to create games set in the beloved DUNE universe, starting with an open world multiplayer game due to begin pre-production this year.

Funcom has entered into an exclusive partnership with Legendary Studios to develop games based on the works of Frank Herbert’s DUNE, one of the world’s best known science fiction universes with multiple adaptations into movies, games and other media.

This is a six year partnership to release at least three titles on the PC/Console platforms, with one of the games planned to be in the “Open World Multiplayer” genre that will enter into pre-production in Funcom’s Oslo studio during 2019.

Entering into this partnership is in line with the company’s strategy of working with strong Intellectual Properties, allowing for two different vast and well known universes – CONAN and DUNE – to be available for the Company’s games.

It’s exciting news for DUNE fans as the last game to be set in this universe was 2001’s Frank Herbert’s Dune by Cryo Interactive. However, it seems likely that the project will target a release on next-generation platforms since it’s only starting pre-production in 2019. The launch might be a few years away, then, but we’ll keep you updated with any noteworthy news

Funcom to Develop Games in DUNE Universe, Starting with Open World Multiplayer



Funcom PR note

OSLO, Norway - February 26th 2019 - Legendary Entertainment and Herbert Properties LLC have reached a licensing agreement with Funcom to develop video games based on the works of Frank Herbert’s DUNE, one of the world’s best-known science fiction universes.

The announcement comes as Legendary gears up for its already highly anticipated film adaptation of DUNE, directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, and featuring an all-star cast that now includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa and Javier Bardem.

Development will begin in Funcom’s Oslo studio later this year.


“Funcom has a strong history of working with beloved sci-fi/fantasy intellectual properties including our bestsellers Age of Conan and Conan Exiles,” said Funcom CEO, Rui Casais. “So many of us at Funcom, myself included, are huge fans of Frank Herbert’s work and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with Legendary and Herbert Properties LLC to bring the iconic DUNE universe to life for gamers all over the globe.”

Funcom Delves into the DUNE Universe with a Gaming Deal with Legendary Entertainment and Herbert Properties LLC

 

[Deleted member 113]

Open World Multiplayer is not really for me.
I'm hoping the other two games are a proper single-player RPG, and a strategy game.

 

[prudis]

Open World Multiplayer is not really for me.

same here

I'm hoping the other two games are a proper single-player RPG, and a strategy game.

yup and they even already hve Petroglyph to work on Conan Unconquered ... so just the matter of giving them another contract.
Not sure where to go with SP RPG in this universe ... but looking at their recent games ... i wouldnt mind something in style of DuxCom

 

[lashman]

HIRE PETROGLYPH, GIVE THEM A DECENT BUDGET AND LET THEM MAKE AN RTS, YOU FUCKNUTS!!!

 

[Alextended]

I'm just hoping the movie is good, only found out they're making one because of funcom's announcement, ha.

 

[Panda Pedinte]

Dune Battle Royale. Choose between Sardaukar, Atreides, Harkonenns or Fremen.

 

[Blizniak]

Open World Multiplayer sure sounds like Conan Exiles to me.

 

[MegaApple]

Dune

Yes!

MMO

B

 

[Li Kao]

I was gonna say that creating an MMO in 2019 makes Funcom some brave mofos, but unless I missed something in the OP, open world multiplayer can mean several things, and I would’nt be surprised by a multiplayer survival crafting sort of -let’s be nice- thing.

 

[Stevey]

God, Dune 2 back in the day was an amazing RTS, not expecting anything near that quality, but I can dream, right?

 

[crimsonheadGCN]

I hope one of them is an MMO. I love MMOs.

 

[lashman]

I hope one of them is an MMO. I love MMOs.

don't think they want to do another one after Secret World and Age of Conan

 

[prudis]

“The biggest, most exciting and most ambitious of our projects is without a doubt the DUNE open world survival game we’re working on, after having secured the exclusive rights for PC and Console games with this fantastic IP. It’s a game that is still a few years away and will be a more ambitious and robust version of Conan Exiles set in the DUNE universe, designed to be a game as a service from the outset.”

Funcom: DUNE still ‘a few years away,’ will be a ‘more ambitious and robust version of Conan Exiles’ | Massively Overpowered

 

[Dandy]

But will it have a naughty bits slider?

 

[lashman]

But will it have a naughty bits slider?

you'll be able to change the size of your worm

 

[ISee]

This will be an age of conan like game, which is not for me.

But I'm also all in for a RTS!
or a good SP RPG.

 

[gabbo]

Does Funcom still not realize where it's strength lay, and that open world multiplayer is not it? I'd be interested in seeing an RTS or an adventure game from redthread since they still have close ties, but neither are likely to happen.