Canceled Dune launches on Steam after 20 years

A game based on the franchise Dune, which was canceled 20 years ago, has just been released for PC. Although he no longer uses the book series license, Eland: Crystal Wars Now it can finally be played by fans.

Development of the title began in 2001, for the Game Boy Advance, when it was named Sand Dunes: Ornithopter Assault. The following year, the project was canceled and appears to have been lost so far.

But thanks to the crowdfunding campaign in Kickstarterwhich made over $21,000, with an initial target of $7,563, the game could finally launch – albeit without Dune – Either on PC or in a physical version of Game Boy Advance.

One fan showed the comparison on Twitter:

Eland: Crystal Wars?? It will be released today on Steam.

This Game Boy Advance game was developed by Hungarian studio Soft Brigade two decades ago as Dune: Ornithopter Assault ?? , before being canceled by Cryo Interactive in 2002.

This is an unexpected return! pic.twitter.com/w9ap9Kfnxo

– Spacer?? (SaudiMohamed) October 3, 2022

The official trailer, which can be seen below, tells a little bit of this story and it is clear what relationship the game has to it Dune. Even without the license, the setting and story are clearly reminiscent of the original project.

The plot takes place on a desert planet where a type of crystal is being extracted and used as a source of energy, with a powerful company manipulating this resource and people.

Eland: Crystal Wars Now available for PC via Steam. But it’s also worth remembering that Dune recently won an official match, Sand Dunes: Spice WarsIn addition to having an MMO in development, dune awakening.