{{Short description|2022 video game}}{{Missing information|article|reception|date=February 2026}}{{Infobox video game | title = Dual Universe | image = Dual Universe.png | caption = | developer = Novaquark | publisher = Novaquark | engine = Unigine 2<ref name="phronix_2016-05-04">{{cite web | url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Unigine-2-Dual-Universe | title=An Interesting Game Is Coming Powered By Unigine 2, Switched From UE4 | last=Larabel | first=Michael | date=May 4, 2016 | publisher=Phoronix | access-date=May 25, 2016}} </ref> | platforms = Windows<ref name="pcinvasion_2016-05-24">{{cite web |url=http://www.pcinvasion.com/sandbox-sci-fi-mmo-dual-universe |title=Sandbox sci-fi MMO Dual Universe Announced – It's quite stunning |last=Younger |first=Paul |date=May 24, 2016 | publisher=pcinvasion.com |type=Blog |access-date=May 25, 2016 }}</ref> | released = {{Vgr|WW|September 27, 2022}} | genre = {{Collapsible list|title=Massively multiplayer online role-playing game|1=Space trading and combat simulator|2= Sandbox|3=Open world|5=Science fiction}} | modes = Multiplayer | director = Jean-Christophe Baillie | producer = | designer = Jean-Christophe Baillie | programmer = | artist = | writer = Alain Damasio<ref name="dualthegame_2014-10-30">{{cite web |url=https://devblog.dualthegame.com/2014/10/30/alain-damasio-will-work-with-novaquark-on-the-backstory/ |title=Alain Damasio will work with Novaquark on the backstory! |last=Baillie |first=Jean-Christophe |date=October 30, 2014 | publisher=Dual Universe |type=Blog |access-date=2016-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103093254/https://devblog.dualthegame.com/2014/10/30/alain-damasio-will-work-with-novaquark-on-the-backstory/ |archive-date=2018-01-03 }}</ref> | composer = Maxime Ferrieu<ref name="dualthegame_2014-12-18">{{cite web |url=https://devblog.dualthegame.com/2014/12/18/dual-universe-music/ |title=Dual Universe music |last=Baillie |first=Jean-Christophe |date=December 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103012818/https://devblog.dualthegame.com/2014/12/18/dual-universe-music/ |archive-date=2018-01-03 | publisher=Dual Universe |type=Blog |access-date=2016-05-25 }}</ref> | alt = }} '''''Dual Universe''''' is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by the Paris-based studio Novaquark. Set in a science fiction universe, players interact in a single world without the use of separate servers, such as with other MMOs. The environment is fully editable, with the ability to build structures and alter terrain as well as to script components within ships and other player-built objects. ''Dual Universe'' allows for collective social gameplay involving exploration, asteroid-mining, crafting, trade, politics, and warfare.
The game was delisted from Steam on July 25, 2025,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://delistedgames.com/dual-universe-shutting-down-august-27th-devs-investigating-open-source-in-response-to-stop-killing-games-movement/|title=Dual Universe shutting down August 27th, devs investigating open source in response to 'Stop Killing Games' movement - Delisted Games|last=S|first=Shawn|date=26 July 2025|website=Delisted Games|publisher=|access-date=2025-12-26}}</ref> and game servers shut down on August 27th, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.dualthegame.com/hc/en-us/articles/21317147412124-An-Important-Announcement-About-Dual-Universe|title=An Important Announcement About Dual Universe - Dual Universe|last=|first=|date=23 July 2025|website=Dual Universe|publisher=|access-date=2025-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://massivelyop.com/2025/07/23/kickstarted-mmorpg-dual-universe-is-sunsetting-but-itll-live-on-through-player-hosted-servers/|title=Kickstarted MMORPG Dual Universe is sunsetting, but it'll live on through player-hosted servers {{pipe}} Massively Overpowered|last=Royce|first=Bree|date=23 July 2025|website=Massively Overpowered|publisher=|access-date=2025-12-26}}</ref>
== Gameplay == ''Dual Universe'' is a sandbox MMORPG set in a science fiction universe<ref>{{Cite news |last=Messner |first=Steven |date=2016-05-25 |title=Dual Universe Is An Incredibly Ambitious Sandbox MMO |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dual-universe |access-date=2026-02-02 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |language=en}}</ref> and played in first person.<ref name="Dual Universe">{{cite web |title=FACT SHEET & INFORMATION |url=http://www.dualthegame.com/press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208000500/http://www.dualthegame.com/press |archive-date=2017-02-08 |access-date=16 August 2016 |website=Dual Universe |publisher=Dual Universe}}</ref> It is built on the so-called "CSSC" (Continuous Single-Shard Cluster) technology, through which all players interact in a single world. This entails no separate servers, loading screens or instances, such as with other MMOs.<ref name="CSSC">{{cite web |last1=Chelen |first1=Matt |date=16 August 2016 |title=Novaquark Explains How Dual Universe’s Server Works |url=https://mmos.com/news/novaquark-explains-how-dual-universes-server-works |access-date=13 December 2023 |website=mmos.com |publisher=mmos.com}}</ref> It utilizes the Unigine 2 64-bit rendering engine.
''Dual Universe'' offers the potential of virtually unlimited procedurally generated planets.<ref name="GAMES.cz 2">{{cite web |last1=Homola |first1=Adam |title=Onlinovka Dual Universe nabídne jeden sdílený vesmír a široké možnosti úpravy planet |url=http://games.tiscali.cz/preview/onlinovka-dual-universe-nabidne-jeden-sdileny-vesmir-a-siroke-moznosti-upravy-planet-279177 |access-date=17 August 2016 |website=GAMES.cz |publisher=GAMES.cz}}</ref><ref name="PCGamesN">{{cite web |last1=Barrett |first1=Ben |date=25 July 2016 |title=Dual Universe's pre-alpha gameplay trailer proves it's a real game |url=http://www.pcgamesn.com/dual-universe/dual-universe-pre-alpha-gameplay |access-date=18 August 2016 |website=PCGamesN |publisher=PCGamesN}}</ref>
The game world has been described as being designed to be a "wide-open, fully-moddable experience" to be shared by all its players in a simultaneous manner.<ref name="PC Gamer">{{cite magazine |last1=Chalk |first1=Andy |date=25 July 2016 |title=Ten minutes of Dual Universe gameplay revealed in new video |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/ten-minutes-of-dual-universe-gameplay-revealed-in-new-video/ |access-date=15 August 2016 |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=PC Gamer}}</ref><ref name="PCGamer 2">{{cite news |last1=Livingston |first1=Christopher |date=13 June 2016 |title=See the first footage of Dual Universe, the single-shard sci-fi MMO |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/see-the-first-footage-of-dual-universe-the-single-shard-sci-fi-mmo/ |access-date=17 August 2016 |website=PCGamer |publisher=PCGamer}}</ref> There are no non-player characters or AI creatures, but player versus player combat is present. As a sandbox game, players are able to alter the game world in physical, political and economical aspects. They are able to build ships, houses, space stations as well as cities. They can opt to cooperate in the development of political systems and economies, as well as wage war (e.g. to steal resources by force) and thus alter the balance of power. According to Novaquark founder and president Jean-Christophe Baillie: "We don't create the content; players do."<ref name="Polygon">{{cite web |last1=Sarkar |first1=Samit |date=13 June 2016 |title=Dual Universe is a sci-fi space MMO in a universe that players control |url=http://www.polygon.com/e3/2016/6/13/11924970/dual-universe-trailer-pc-novaquark |access-date=11 August 2016 |website=Polygon |publisher=Polygon}}</ref>
Central to the game is the ability to remove (or add) matter to the landscape to harvest raw mineral resources, which in turn must be refined for use in various crafting recipes. The ability to modify the game world is built around the basis of {{convert|25|cm|ft}} voxels.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}
The game's autonomous systems (such as engines or computer consoles) rely on energy consumption and the interconnection among machinery,<ref name="Koalition">{{cite web |last1=Singletary |first1=Charles |date=19 July 2016 |title=Dual Universe Gameplay Debut & Q/A with Novaquark's Founder Jean-Christophe Baillie |url=http://thekoalition.com/2016/dual-universe-gameplay-debut-qa-with-novaquarks-founder-jean-christophe-baillie |access-date=19 August 2016 |website=Koalition |publisher=Koalition}}</ref><ref name="Gamespresso" /><ref name="gameblog">{{cite web |last1=Allard |first1=Camille |date=26 July 2016 |title=10 minutes de gameplay pour le MMO Dual Universe |url=http://www.gameblog.fr/news/60871-10-minutes-de-gameplay-pour-le-mmo-dual-universe |access-date=17 August 2016 |website=gameblog |publisher=gameblog}}</ref><ref name="GAMES.cz">{{cite web |last1=Smutný |first1=Aleš |title=Onlinovka Dual Universe v deseti minutách předvádí své nekonečné možnosti |url=http://games.tiscali.cz/video/onlinovka-dual-universe-v-deseti-minutach-predvadi-sve-nekonecne-moznosti-281739 |access-date=17 August 2016 |website=GAMES.cz |publisher=GAMES.cz}}</ref> and may be scripted by players using the Lua programming language. Players will also be able to manage the functions of their ships, such as navigation or weapon systems, Buy changing the controller unit using Lua<ref name="Dual Universe" /><ref name="Koalition" /><ref name="VG247 2">{{cite web |last1=Lemon |first1=Marshall |date=15 June 2016 |title=Dual Universe combines sci-fi star systems and Minecraft |url=https://www.vg247.com/2016/06/15/dual-universe-combines-sci-fi-star-systems-and-minecraft/ |access-date=17 August 2016 |website=VG247 |publisher=VG247}}</ref>
Players may take on and specialize in tasks such as building, mining, piracy, construction, etc. Novaquark has stated "ideologies, powers, ideas and gameplays" all play a part in the final release.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}
The game economy is influenced by player interactions. The exchange of harvested goods is governed by a market economy. A player is able to create a company and perform marketing and logistics, among other sandbox activities.<ref name="Dual Universe" /><ref name="PCINVASION">{{cite web |last1=Younger |first1=Paul |date=19 July 2016 |title=Dual Universe video shows 10 minutes of sci-fi MMO gameplay |url=http://www.pcinvasion.com/dual-universe-video-gameplay |access-date=18 August 2016 |website=PCINVASION |publisher=PCINVASION}}</ref> == Plot == The backstory of the game begins in the year 2027, with the discovery of a neutron star on a collision course for Earth's Solar System.
Human civilization has 498 years to develop a plan to leave Earth and find new planets to inhabit, and after centuries of research and development, several Arkships (extremely large and resilient space-faring vehicles) were built to carry millions of passengers in cryosleep to the farthest reaches of the Milky Way Galaxy.
During the year 2510 the first Arkships began to flee the Earth heading towards different areas of the galaxy. As the Arkships traveled on their way to their final destinations, the neutron star discovered in the year 2027 destroyed Earth's solar system and all the planets within.
In the year 12477 one of the Arkships, the Novark, arrives on the earth-like planet Alioth, planting itself firmly into the ground.<ref>{{Cite web |language=en-US |title=Official Dual Universe Lore Bible |url=https://board.dualthegame.com/index.php?/topic/10414-official-dual-universe-lore-bible/ |time=Dual Universe |publisher=Novaquark |date=2016-11-16 |access-date=2021-12-27}}</ref> It is from this Arkship that all players will enter the game for the first time.
== Development == Novaquark formed in 2014 with Ubisoft, Sony, Apple and Aldebaran Robotics former employees.<ref name="Dual Universe" /> Jean-Christophe Baillie, Novaquark's original CEO, claims to have originated the idea for Dual Universe in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dual-universe-dive-fully-editable-continuous-why-matters-baillie/ | title=A dive into a fully editable continuous single-shard universe, and why it matters|last=Baillie|first=Jean-Christophe|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=2016-10-14}}</ref>
The game was revealed in May 2016 in its pre-alpha state, with the subsequent release of a brief teaser trailer following E3. The game entered a closed alpha stage in September 2017,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxawXXUqZkw|title=Dual Universe DevDiary Updates – October 2017 Pre-Alpha Video|website=YouTube|access-date=2018-05-20}}</ref> with an updated development roadmap planned to be released in Summer of 2018.<ref name=Novaquark>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dualthegame.com/en/news/2018/02/23/devdiaries-communication-changes/|title=Trello Launch, DevDiaries & Communication changes|website=Dual Universe|publisher=Novaquark|access-date=2018-05-20}}</ref>
The community site for the game launched in July 2016, allowing players to form organizations.<ref name="Novaquark newsletter">{{cite web|title=A summer full of surprises!|url=http://us3.campaign-archive2.com/?u=feb1430a44a7cfad5f6341b00&id=b3c4ada5c1&e=5bef96aa23|website=Novaquark|publisher=Novaquark|access-date=17 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="mmo.it">{{cite web|last1=Galli|first1=Diego|title=DUAL UNIVERSE: NUOVO VIDEO, IN ARRIVO MOLTI DETTAGLI|url=http://mmo.it/index.php/2016/08/09/dual-universe-nuovo-video-arrivo-molti-dettagli/|website=mmo.it|date=9 August 2016|publisher=mmo.it|access-date=17 August 2016}}</ref>
The funding of the game partly comes from a Kickstarter campaign, completed in October 2016, which secured €565,983 from over 8000 backers in addition to several early-stage investors.<ref name="Gamespresso">{{cite web|last1=Sims|first1=Darius|title=FIRST GAMEPLAY FOOTAGE OF THE SANDBOX MMO DUAL UNIVERSE|url=http://www.gamespresso.com/2016/07/first-gameplay-sandbox-mmo-dual-universe/|website=Gamespresso|date=24 July 2016|publisher=Gamespresso|access-date=18 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="Novaquark newsletter" /><ref name="PCGames de">{{cite web|last1=ZWINGMANN|first1=DOMINIK|title=Dual Universe: Das Weltraum-MMO im Vorschau-Video|url=http://www.pcgames.de/Dual-Universe-Spiel-57410/News/Vorschauvideo-Gameplay-1203967/|website=PCGames|date=8 August 2016|publisher=PCGames|access-date=17 August 2016}}</ref><ref name=Kickstarter>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1949863330/dual-universe-civilization-building-sci-fi-mmorpg|title=Dual Universe Kickstarter|access-date=2017-03-23}}</ref>
In May 2018, the game entered a feature freeze to focus on server and client stability, until later in the month when a new build is planned to be released that will introduce resource scanning and mining, trading, and a revamp of piloting mechanics.<ref name=MassivelyOP>{{Cite web|url=http://massivelyop.com/2018/05/04/dual-universe-builds-up-development-forward-momentum|website=Massively OP|title=Dual Universe builds up development forward momentum|date=4 May 2018 |access-date=2018-05-20}}</ref>
In August 2020, the game entered Beta officially.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dualuniverse.game/news/dual-universe-beta-officially-out|title=Dual Universe Beta Officially Out|access-date=2020-08-28}}</ref>
Dual Universe officially released on September 27, 2022, marking the end of its early access phase.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://novaquark.com/news/we-launched|title=DUAL UNIVERSE HAS LAUNCHED!}}</ref>
== See also == * List of space flight simulation games
== References == {{reflist|2}}
== External links == *{{Official website|www.dualuniverse.game}}
Category:2022 video games Category:Science fiction video games Category:Space massively multiplayer online role-playing games Category:Space simulators Category:Video games developed in France Category:Video games set on fictional planets Category:Video games with voxel graphics Category:Windows-only games Category:Windows games