I saw the original Dune movie in 1984; I didn’t know anything about Dune at the time and to be honest, I didn’t really understand what I had just seen afterwards. But it piqued my interest so much that I read the book and immersed myself in Frank Herbert’s story of great conflict, interwoven conspiracies and prophecies and – of course! – giant sandworms.
Forty years later, when a new Dune film from Denis Villeneuve and Legendary Entertainment hit theaters, tabletop strategy gamers around the world gifted Dire Wolf’s board game. Dune: Empire, a tremendous reception since its release with numerous awards and recognitions. And now we’re expanding the conflict on Arrakis to a whole new world of players in a digital cross-play adaptation on Xbox.
Dune: Empire combines deck building and worker placement to provide a highly thematic board game experience where leaders plot and scheme to maneuver their pieces into the right positions in a complex world full of intrigue. Our game welcomes every player to portray a leader of a great House of Landsraad fighting for control of Arrakis and the spice trade.
However, each player is not just fighting a land war for valuable territory and resources. They must also woo the mainstays of the Empire – the Emperor, the Land Administrator, the Spacing Guild, the Bene Gesserit, CHOAM, and even the Fremen – all NPC factions that offer strategic advantages to any house worthy of their favor. In one game, you could play as Duke Leto Atreides, befriending the Fremen and forming an alliance with the Spacing Guild. In another case, you could be Baron Harkonnen, exploiting your opponent’s weaknesses with the secrets and plans of the Bene Gesserit while tying your fate to the Emperor.
We assume a “what if?” Approach to gameplay that stays true to how each faction should feel in the context of the game, but allows players to deviate from the specific political alliances and events in the book, giving each faction a new but authentic Dune -Narrative emerges through playthrough.
This “what if” approach goes even further. In the book, Duke Leto is targeted in part because the Atreides family has attracted some of the Empire’s best allies. Thufir Hawat is a celebrated Mentat, Gurney Halleck is an inspirational military leader, and Duncan Idaho is an unrivaled swordmaster. In Dune: EmpireAll of these powerful figures who served House Atreides faithfully in the books are now available for recruitment by any House. What if the beast Rabban came to power with Duncan at his side? Or whether the House of Richese had allied with Lady Jessica? You have the idea.
After all, the story of “Dune” isn’t just about politics. Why would you recruit swordmasters and military geniuses if there were no wars? So we obviously had to bring a fair amount of military conflict into the game. Each round has a conflict for players to engage in, a skirmish or battle to win. You must decide whether to use your cards to send your agents into battle or for other endeavors. It’s important to keep a close eye on your opponents. If a fight between two of your rivals comes to a head, it may be better to sit it out and instead gather some troops for future conflicts. Similar to the films, we have created a game where the fate of the Empire is determined by the decisions you make. Which strings will you pull? Who will you trust or who will you betray? How much will you claim, destroy or sacrifice? With each map there is a different choice and challenge, taking the story in a new direction and making each game an epic and unforgettable adventure.
Dune: Empire coming to Xbox today!
Dune: Empire
Dire Wolf Digital
$24.99
Experience the ultimate blend of strategy and intrigue as you navigate the treacherous landscapes of Arrakis in the award-winning board game Dune: Imperium! * Fight online, locally with the AI or against the formidable House of Hagal. * Earn achievements that demonstrate your leadership skills. * Embark on more than a dozen challenges that will test your wits and cunning. * Compete for badges in rotating battle modes where no two games are the same! Arrakis. Dune. desert planet. Raise your banner over the vast wasteland before you. When the Great Houses of the Landsraad gather their forces and spies, who will you influence and who will you betray? A tyrannical emperor. The mysterious Bene Gesserit. The clever distance guild. The wild Fremen of the deep desert. The power of the Empire may be yours, but war is not the only way to claim it. Dune: Imperium combines deck building and worker placement in a deeply thematic new strategy game where the fate of the Empire depends on your decisions. Are you looking for political allies or relying on military might? Economic power or subtle intrigue? A council seat… or a sharpened blade? The cards are dealt. It’s your decision. The Empire awaits you. In Dune: Empire, you take on the role of one of the leaders of the Great Houses of the Empire and fight for control of the planet Arrakis and the invaluable spice it offers. The game progresses in a series of ten rounds, each of which is defined by a new conflict on the planet’s surface. Some award important resources, while others give you victory points that help you achieve dominance. But choose your battles wisely: if you spread your forces too thin, your enemies will become too strong to resist. Each round, you draw a hand of five cards from your deck, which gets stronger as you acquire new cards over the course of the game. Each card can be played in two ways: to send an agent into the empire to collect resources, or to reveal them at the end of the round to buy new powerful cards. You must maintain a careful balance to make the most of the resources available to you. How will you find your way? As your game progresses, you’ll vie for influence with four factions of the Empire: the Emperor, the economically powerful Spacing Guild, the mysterious Bene Gesserit, and the fierce Fremen of the deep deserts. As you gain influence in the different groups, you can earn the victory points you need. But will you compete with your rivals for their favor or abandon alliances to pursue other opportunities? There are many strategies and many paths to victory available to you. The cards are dealt. It’s your decision. The Empire awaits you.
