Dune: Spice Wars Gets First DLC Adds Ixians, Along With Free Update Bringing 14 Legendary Playable Characters

Dune: Spice Wars, the 4x strategy game has its first DLC, including a new faction, as well as a major free update reworking combat and adding 14 legendary playable characters.

The new DLC, “The House Vernius of Ix” adds the technologically-advanced Ixians to the game as the seventh playable faction. Known for their study and use of forbidden self-learning tech and their cybernetically enhanced leader, Earl Rhombur Vernius, their addition brings new options to the table in Shiro Games’ and Funcom’s release.

Their tech prowess and special skills open up new playstyles, as this faction can control a larger number of drones and they have some skills that they can use to control and sometimes limit opponents' technology. One example is being able to obfuscate a single researched development, rendering that development ineffective for any faction. They rely on Standing, so diplomacy and alliances will be very important to succeeding as Ixians. What they don’t rely on as much is water, providing a distinct advantage on the desert planet of Arrakis. 

The new free update, “Heroes of Dune” adds several legendary characters from the Dune universe that you can now control and play as. Each faction has two characters to choose from, with the addition of the Ixian faction if you own the DLC. Characters include Duncan Idaho and Gurney Halleck for House Atreides, Glossu Rabban and Iakin Nefud for House Harkonnen,  and Chani Kynes and Otheym for the Fremen. If one of your chosen heroes dies in battle, you'll even have a chance to bring them back as a Ghola (for a steep cost).

Dune: Spice Wars’update also reworks combat to diversify army composition and make units feel like they have roles to fill, in addition to increasing potential strategies. One move the team made is to hav Elite units available earlier and across the board changes to units, including stats, traits, and gear.

Stealth is also reworked for greater complexity and specialization, removing default stealth from most