For its console release, Dune: Spice Wars now has a new interface designed around playing the game on a TV with a controller. The new control scheme offers all the tools players would need to scheme and plot their way to victory over the world of Arrakis.

The Xbox Series X/S release date for Dune: Spice Wars was announced earlier this month. The console release of the game comes just a few months after its PC release, which in turn came after the game spent quite some time as an Early Access title on Steam.

Dune: Spice Wars features a campaign mode, as well as a Conquest Mode that allows players to take on the role of any of the Houses, as well as tweak different scenarios and battle it out on procedurally-generated maps. The game also features multiplayer, with options for 1v1, 2v2, and free-for-all matches for up to four players.

Perhaps the most significant is Persona 5 Tactica, Atlus’ turn-based tactics spinoff, which will be available on Game Pass (via console, cloud, and PC), on the day of its release later this week, November 17. Meanwhile, later in the month, subscribers will get two more games.

On November 28, Roll7 and Private Division’s acclaimed rollerskating shooter Rollerdrome will be added to Game Pass to go along with its Xbox release. On the same day, 4K strategy title Dune: Spice Wars will make its console debut, and will be available on Game Pass (via console and cloud) right from day one. It’s also been available to PC Game Pass subscribers for some time.

Available now on Steam and the Microsoft Store after exiting early access last September, the real-time strategy title takes place on Arrakis, with six Houses vying for supremacy and Spice. As with any 4X title, you can claim victory through war, politics or spies. Scouring the planet for Spice is important, but you must also deal with sandworms that outright devour armies.

Along with the campaign, there’s also Conquest Mode, where you can play as any House, tweak different scenarios and battle in procedurally generated maps. Multiplayer is also included, with 1v1, 2v2, and Free-For-All matches supporting up to four players, with extensive options for win conditions, storms, AI difficulty and much more.

The new House is artistic but influential, using their works to gain power over the Landsraad. Out-maneuvering them in the political sphere will be challenging, but you can always rely on military might and territory control to win.

Dune: Spice Wars features Conquest Mode with various scenarios and procedurally generated maps but also supports multiplayer modes like 1v1, 2v2 and Free For All. There are also tutorials in place to help new players learn the mechanics. It currently retails for $29.99, but after exiting early access, the price will increase to $34.99. If you want to get in on the action, now’s a good time to buy in.

The new trailer also gives us a great look at how Dune: Spice Wars has evolved since it originally launched in early access last year. It has seen a number of updates released for it over time, including the Line in the Sand update from way back in January, and even the ability to play online multiplayer.

Dune: Spice Wars puts players into the shoes of the leader of one of the Great Houses of the Imperium on the planet of Arrakis. Players will take part in different part of the Dune mythos, including espionage and spycraft, alongside making use of other RTS and 4X genre conventions to conquer the world of Arrakis and control the flow of spice.

Dune: Spice Wars is currently available on PC as an early access title on Steam.

One of the biggest changes is the addition of end game statistics, allowing players to see how they performed. Military units can also hold positions, and alerts will appear on the border of one’s screen, indicating where a crisis is happening. Balancing has also been done for the military, with units costing more Command Points.

They’re divided into two types – Mechanical and Non-Mechanical – which leads to several changes (like Atreides Healing, which now only applies to non-mechanical units). Check out some of the patch notes below and full notes here.

Dune: Spice Wars is currently available on PC via Steam Early Access. More updates like Conquest Mode and Heroes of Dune are still to come, so stay tuned.

“Line In The Sand” Community Update

Main Changes

• Added End Game Statistics
• Military alerts now appear on the border of the screen pointing in the direction of the crisis
• Military units can now Hold their Position (With C)
• Fremen Harvesting Teams can now harvest Spice in neutral territories
• Map Generation improvements: Main Bases and Deep Desert spawning has changed to make maps that are both more fair and varied. Changed Spice spawn to ensure less spiceless starts.
• Military balancing
• Major performance improvements and optimization

Economy

• Plascrete factories produce more Plascrete but have a Solari upkeep
• Harvesters Crew cost less Manpower
• Balanced starting Ressources
• Pillage gains nerfed but increased by the number of buildings on the targeted Village
• UHQ Buildings have no Solari upkeep
• Nerfed Guild Favor gain from Events and Discoveries

Hegemony

• No more gain from votes on resolution
• More gain from paying your spice contract
• Balanced Hegemony for Small and Large maps
• Emperor Monument now gives hegemony over time instead of instantly

Military

• Units now cost more Command Points
• Auras range increased
• Rework of Fremen units: They are now specialized in putting debuffs on their opponents
• Supply:
  – Reworked the Supply system to be easier to read and handle
  – Units regenerate less Supply in occupied villages
• Units are now divided in two types:
  – Mechanical (Drones, Ships and Frigates)
  – Non-Mechanical (Humanoids)

These types lead to the following changes:

• Atreides Healing drone now only heals non-mechanical units
• Harkonnen 5K Hegemony bonus now only works upon killing non-mechanical units
• Harkonnen Combat Drugs and Toxic Vapors now only affect non-mechanical units
• Harkonnen Sleeper Agents now only procs with non-mechanical units
• Bannerjee Health regen now only works for non-mechanical units
• Supply drop now only affects non-mechanical units

Beyond that, on November 17, Dune: Spice Wars will be added to Game Pass for PC, as will action RPG Ghostlore’s early access version. On the same day, 2D platformer Lapin will become available to subscribers via cloud, console, and PC, while point-and-click adventure title Norco will become available via cloud and console.

November 22 will bring the day one Game Pass launch of high-octane action shooter Gungrave G.O.R.E. for cloud, console, and PC subscribers, followed by Insurgency: Sandstorm (cloud and console) and Soccer Story (cloud, console, and PC) arriving on November 29. Finally, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide will be available with PC Game Pass on day one upon its launch on November 30.

A specific release window hasn’t been provided (they just say it’s coming “soon”), but along with all of its existing content, Dune: Spice Wars will also be adding a major new update titled “Sand and Air” to go along with its Game Pass launch. The update will bring new gameplay features, units, and more, with additional details arriving later.

You can check out the game’s PC Game Pass announcement trailer below.

Dune fans hungry for more games based on the IP can also look forward to Funcom’s upcoming open world survival MMO Dune: Awakening, which is in development for PC.

House Corrino’s gameplay in Dune: Spice Wars revolves around manipulating the CHOAM market and the Landsraad. The faction also has the Sardaukar that can be used if all out warfare is unavoidable. The faction focuses on manipulating other factions to fight against each other.

Alongside House Corrino, the update to Dune: Spice Wars also adds smaller things, including minor features, game balancing, and quality of life improvements. The House Corrino update is the second of four planned milestone releases for the game.

The last major update before the addition of House Corrino to the game brought the addition of multiplayer. Released in June, the update allows players to play Dune: Spice Wars in a variety of different game modes.

In an update published on the game’s Steam page, Shiro Games has confirmed that the fifth faction will be House Corrino, which means you’re essentially going to be able to play as the Padishah Emperor. Maintaining relationships with other factions (especially the Spicers Guild) will be key to progress when playing as House Corrino, while the experience will also bring “a very different kind of economy to balance.”

“Tip the scales of spice in your favor by receiving spice taxes or bribes from other factions while paying the Spacing Guild’s fees to maintain interstellar travel at affordable rates and hold the empire together,” the developer writes.

Shiro Games says House Corrino will be added to the game in its next major update, which is arriving “soon”. How soon though? Those details, as well as further gameplay details on the faction itself, will be shared at Gamescom, which is set for late August.