Gale Force Nine has released new details about its upcoming Dune board game, which will release on August 24.

Announced last year (see “Exclusive:  Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ Comes to Tabletop”), the Dune board game draws from the entire Dune franchise to create a game of politics, intrigue, and warfare on the desert planet of Arrakis.  Players assume control of six different factions, from the mysterious Bene Gesserit to the devious Harkonnen, each with their own blend of advantages and special abilities.  Over ten rounds, the factions compete for control of Arrakis and its all-important Spice.

Dune will be an updated version of the classic 1979 Avalon Hill game Frank Herbert’s Dune, which has been out of print for some time.  The GF9 team has cleared up some of the game rules and made some minor tweaks, while maintaining the core of the original game.

The game will include 1 gameboard showing, 5 player shields, 5 player aids, 30 large leader discs, tokens and player markers for each faction, 156 Spice tokens, 2 Battle Wheels, and 166 cards.  It will include both basic “quick start” rules and advanced rules, as well as a synopsis of the Dune story.  Dune is intended for 2 to 6 players, and takes at least two hours to play.  MSRP is $50.00.

Frank Herbert’s science fiction classic is also inspiring both a television series, Dune:  The Sisterhood, and a feature film from Legendary (see “‘Lobo’ TV Series; ‘Dune:  The Sisterhood’ TV Series; Videos From First New Looney Tunes, Ron Moore Apple Series, and ‘Pennyworth;’ ‘I Am Not OK with This’ Casting”).