GOG battles five-way licensing maze to bring Dune II back to PC after 34 years

GOG is working to bring the 1992 strategy game Dune II back to PC, but a five-way licensing dispute is blocking the re-release. The rights are split among multiple parties, complicating efforts to sell the classic title. Electronic Arts owns the game's code and assets, while the license stems from Universal Pictures' 1984 film, not Frank Herbert's novels. The late producer Dino De Laurentiis held partial film rights, and Legendary Pictures' exclusive deal with Funcom adds further uncertainty. GOG's Marcin Paczynski calls Dune II a "holy grail" and says the company has ideas for acquiring rights, though its strategy remains in development. The game's absence from storefronts has persisted for decades.