Translating a game from PC to console is no small feat, especially when it belongs to a genre typically found on PCs. Ensuring the game remains intact across platforms is a delicate task. However, with Dune Awakening, the developers took a proactive approach by designing it with controllers in mind right from the start.
Interestingly enough, there’s no announcement yet about when the console version will be released. Even the PC release date—slated to arrive first—is shrouded in mystery. To gain some clarity on the multi-platform strategy, I caught up with Nils Ryborg. Ryborg, who’s a producer on Dune Awakening, brought unique perspectives from his previous work on the console port of Pillars of Eternity at Paradox, shedding light on the intricacies of porting.
Reflecting on his experience, Ryborg shared, “The challenge we had with Pillars of Eternity—what a journey!” he chuckled. “We invested a lot of effort into figuring out the user experience. We drew inspiration from action RPGs to enhance player movement. It’s a highly tactical game, and using a controller imposes certain limitations. Our solution involved crafting AI architects to help NPCs make smarter decisions and providing players with better directives.”
He continued, “We streamlined character movements for quicker, more intuitive real-time combat. Yet, we retained the ability to pause and plan advanced strategies, coupled with basic UX tweaks such as cycling through different buttons. We aimed to shift towards an ARPG feel while preserving tactical elements.”
That outlines Paradox’s strategy, but how about Funcom’s approach for Dune Awakening? Was their process similar, or did they attempt something to ease the transition?
“From the outset, our strategy was to prioritize console-oriented game development. Designing for consoles first makes it simpler to adapt back to PC. On the contrary, a PC-centric design using a mouse and keyboard is much harder to convert. Hence, Dune Awakening was conceived with controllers in mind,” Ryborg explained.
“Of course, our PC release comes first, which makes sense for our initial setup. Nevertheless, I’m confident about the console interface. The main concern is typical tech constraints—we’ll have to ensure it works well within those hardware limits. The goal is to keep it straightforward and effective.”
So, for those eagerly awaiting Dune Awakening on consoles, patience is key. However, it’s reassuring to know the console version will closely mirror the PC experience, delivering a consistent gaming adventure across both platforms.
