Norwegian game-development company Funcom announced Tuesday a new partnership with Herbert Properties LLC and Legendary Entertainment. The partnership includes development of at least three new DUNE games, one of which will be an MMO. The announcement of more adaptations of Frank Herbert's sci-fi universe come hot on the heels of recent news involving Legendary Games' DUNE film. Rui Casais, CEO of the Oslo-based company, expressed enthusiasm at the partnership between the three companies.
“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 to bring the iconic DUNE universe to life for gamers all over the globe.”DUNE, written by Frank Herbert and first published in 1965, is a shining example of futuristic sci-fi. Herbert's work tells the story of Paul Atreides and his family after they assume control of Arrakis, a desert planet. Herbert himself penned five sequels. After Frank passed away in 1986, his son, Brian Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson expanded on the universe with fourteen additional novels. The books discuss topics such as politics, religion, and the dynamic between humanity and the natural world.
Funcom's Oslo studio expects to begin production on the open-world game sometime this year. Their agreement with Herbert Properties LLC is for six years, so DUNE fans can expect more news about the other two games within the next couple of years. Other games produced by Funcom include Secret World Legends, Conan Exiles, Anarchy Online, The Park, Dreamfall: the Longest Journey, and Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. Founded in 1993, Funcom has shifted over the years from pixel platformers to developing sandboxes and open world MMOs. They have an office in Oslo, Norway, and Durham, North Carolina.
Legendary Entertainment's film revitalization currently features an all-star cast, including Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista, and Charlotte Rampling. The expected release date is November 2020.
