The sci-fi novel series "Dune" by American author Frank Herbert is an incredibly popular work that has been translated into Japanese and adapted into films like "DUNE."
Dune: Awakening, a game based on Dune, was featured at the Level Infinite booth at Tokyo Game Show 2024!
We had the opportunity to interview its developer, producer Nils Ryborg.
Interview with a "Dune: Awakening" Developer!
The following is re-translated from our original Japanese article.
― First, please tell us about "Dune: Awakening."
It's an open-world survival MMO based on the world of the novel series Dune, with the goal of surviving in the most severe environment, Arrakis.
Players start with nothing, but to survive the scorching sun and violent sandstorms, they must obtain water from plants and secure a base by building a shelter.
In the mid-game, players will be able to enrich their lives and grow their characters through interactions with NPCs and other players.
In the end game, many ways to have fun will be available, such as gaining access to major technologies or participating in politics through the rare resource spice.
These elements are incorporated in abundance, with open-world survival MMO gameplay at the core.
― Since it's an MMO, how many players can play in the same space at once?
It varies by area, but in the area where you start the game, around 40–60 players can be connected, which is about the same as the Conan Exiles series.
Also, in the mid-game area called the Social Hub, you will be able to interact with even more players and NPCs.
Furthermore, outside the shield, in an area called the Deep Desert, there will be intense battles with other players. You will be able to interact with players from multiple servers, and while the specific number is still being adjusted, I think hundreds of people will be playing the game simultaneously.
Saiga NAK― Please tell us about how players interact with each other.
It can be broadly divided into cooperation and hostility.
For cooperation, players can build a base or house together and trade items. It will also be possible to sell blueprints of a designed house to other players.
In PvP areas, you can defeat other players and steal their resources. The spice I mentioned earlier is a source of energy that can extend human life and unlock latent abilities.
It also serves as a tax to the emperor.
― Will voice chat be possible with other players in the game?
It's currently being adjusted, but we plan to support both text chat and voice chat.
However, we fully understand that many players today use other platforms for voice chat.
Saiga NAK― PvP is exciting, but it's a difficult element for beginners, isn't it?
That's right.
First, inside the shield where you initially land, there are NPCs, and you won't be hit by sandstorms. Of course, there are also no battles with other players. You can also play creatively, such as building your own house.
However, outside the shield, the amount of valuable resources is on a completely different level. Additionally, when you think, "I want to do this!" going outside the shield will be a shortcut to do so.
― The demo version exhibited this time was in English. Are there any plans to support Japanese?
We plan to localize Dune: Awakening into several languages.
For Japanese, while we don't have plans for voice-overs, we plan to support all text-based information, such as subtitles and the UI.
Saiga NAK― Please share your impressions of "Tokyo Game Show 2024."
I actually arrived at 1 AM and only slept for about 5 hours before coming to the venue, so I've only had a quick glimpse of our booth (laughs).
But I can really feel the fun atmosphere.
― Is this your first time in Japan?
This is my second time. I visited major cities like Kyoto and Osaka a little while ago, in addition to Tokyo.
The streets were beautiful, and the food was really delicious. I'm looking forward to it again this time!
― Do you have any personal favorite games, Nils Ryborg?
That's an easy question. I love "Final Fantasy XIV."
I think the game's MMO system works extremely well, and what's most distinctive about it is the healthiness of its community.
I believe the broad player base, including many female players, is a result of that.
I also think Japanese creators have produced many other wonderful works, such as the Persona series and titles from FromSoftware.
I also like RPGs like Dragon Age and Baldur's Gate.
Saiga NAK― If there are any works that influenced the creation of "Dune: Awakening," please tell us about them.
Of course, the biggest influence is the original Dune novel. We were fans even before we started making the game.
And with our previous title, the Conan Exiles series, we cultivated our expertise in creating a large-scale online survival RPG.
I believe Dune: Awakening is the result of combining what we wanted to do with what we were capable of.
We also received artistic inspiration from the film adaptations.
― Although the game has not been released yet, could you share your outlook or expectations for "Dune: Awakening"?
What we want to create is the experience of living in the world of Dune.
We don't want it to be a title that you buy once and are done with; we want it to be a game that people can play for many years.
To achieve that, we will likely add new content, such as new locations and storylines.
We are currently developing it to allow you to experience the harsh world of Dune, so I hope you will all pick it up when it is released.
