Dune 2000 is a real-time strategy game developed and published by Westwood Studios for Windows 95/98. It was released in 1998 as a remake of the seminal Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty, which many consider the grandfather of the RTS genre. The game is set on the desert planet Arrakis, where three noble houses, Atreides, Harkonnen, and Ordos, battle for control of the spice melange, the most valuable substance in the universe. Built on a brand-new engine inspired by Westwood's Command & Conquer: Red Alert, Dune 2000 aimed to modernize the classic formula with improved graphics, full-motion video cutscenes, and multiplayer support via Westwood Online. While it faithfully recreates the three-house conflict and includes some of the best live-action videos Westwood ever produced, the gameplay closely mirrors Red Alert and lacks many of the innovations fans had come to expect by 1998, such as build queuing and waypoints. The game is remembered mostly for its stellar FMV sequences and its status as a curiosity in the Dune franchise, rather than a serious advancement of the RTS genre.
The Vault · 1998
Dune 2000
Westwood runs out of spice.
DuneWindows 95/98Real-Time Strategy
Screenshots
In the News
Nov 41998
Dune 2000 Patch Released
Westwood Studios announced an update for Dune 2000 that significantly increases the speed of multiplayer games over the Internet.
ReleaseSep 41998
Dune 2000 ships
The hardware race keeps getting louder. Westwood Studios said the eagerly anticipated Dune 2000 shipped to retailers today.
ReleaseSep 21998
Dune 2000 goes gold
The hardware race keeps getting louder. Even though we mentioned this last week, Westwood Studios said the eagerly anticipated Dune 2000 has "gone gold" in advance of its early September ship date.
ReleaseHow to Play TodayYour options for running this game in 2026
Original Hardware
Original big box copies appear on eBay regularly for under $15–20. The game ships on a single CD-ROM; a Windows 95/98 PC with a 4x CD-ROM drive, a Pentium 90 (133 recommended), and 16 MB RAM is enough. You'll also need a Sound Blaster-compatible sound card and a 28.8 modem for online play via Westwood Online.
Emulation / Other Options
Dune 2000 is a Windows 9x title, so DOSBox isn't the answer. It can run under modern Windows with compatibility mode, but the FMV scenes often stutter. The most reliable method is to set up a Windows 95/98 virtual machine using VirtualBox or VMware. Grab an original Windows 95 CD and the game's ISO, and you'll get a smooth experience. Some fan-made patches improve widescreen support and stability on Windows 10/11; check the Dune 2000 community at GruntMods or similar sites.