Dune 2 re-release blocked by licensing issues, says GOG

Dune 2 cannot get a modern re-release due to a complex web of licensing agreements, according to Marcin Paczynski, a senior business development manager at GOG. While Electronic Arts owns the game code, graphics, and technical assets, it does not own the intellectual property.

Photo: ELLA DON on Unsplash

Paczynski notes that the rights are divided among multiple entities. Universal Pictures and the successors of producer Dino De Laurentiis hold film-related permissions because the 1992 title draws from the 1984 movie instead of the novels. Meanwhile, the Herbert Foundation controls the overall property, and Legendary holds rights to the recent films.

Legendary previously gave Funcom exclusive permissions for video games tied to the modern movies. It remains unclear how that arrangement affects potential launches for Dune 2, Dune 2000, or Emperor: Battle for Dune. Paczynski estimated that a new launch could move around 50,000 to 100,000 copies if priced between $5.99 and $9.99.