Dune Awakening: PC Launch Prioritized, Controller-Centric Design

Porting a game from PC to console can be quite a challenge, especially for genres that typically feel at home on the PC platform. Making this leap across platforms often risks losing some of the game’s essence, but with Dune Awakening, the developers have taken the initiative to design the game with a controller in mind right from the start.

Interestingly, there’s still no official word on when the console edition will make its debut. The release date for the PC version, which is slated to launch first, remains a bit of a mystery as well. To get a better understanding of the considerations for this multi-platform release, I had a chat with Nils Ryborg, a producer on Dune Awakening. Before joining Funcom, Ryborg worked on the console port of Pillars of Eternity at Paradox, giving him a unique perspective on porting games.

“I recall the challenges with Pillars of Eternity,” Ryborg chuckled, “We spent considerable time working on the user experience, drawing some inspiration from action RPGs, particularly in character movement.” He noted, “Being a highly tactical game, using a controller posed limitations. We created AI architects to aid in better decision-making for NPCs, letting players guide them more effectively.”

Ryborg added, “We focused on making character movement smoother and facilitating quicker decision-making in real-time combat, but we also kept mechanics that allowed for pausing and executing complex strategies. It involved basic UX enhancements like finding ways to cycle different buttons. The aim was to lean a bit more towards an ARPG format while retaining as much of the tactical element as possible.”

While that was Paradox’s approach, what approach did Funcom take? Was the transition made smoother this time around?

“Starting with a console-first strategy simplifies the process,” Ryborg explained. “It transitions more seamlessly to the PC platform. When you start with a PC game controlled via mouse and keyboard, porting can become quite complex. So, from the beginning, Dune Awakening was crafted with controllers in mind.”

“We’re rolling it out on PC first, which means we’ll have a solid setup there,” he continued, “But as for the console experience, I’m not overly concerned. The typical technical limitations of consoles need to be addressed to ensure good performance, but it shouldn’t be too complicated.”

So, even though those eager for the console version of Dune Awakening have to wait a bit longer, they can take solace in knowing the console edition won’t deviate significantly from the experience their PC counterparts will enjoy.