Barrels of Fun has revealed DUNE, its second pinball machine, following the recent announcements from Stern and Jersey Jack Pinball. The new title draws on Denis Villeneuve’s DUNE films, which are adapted from Frank Herbert’s science-fiction novel and are expected to continue with a third film based on Dune Messiah.
DUNE Pinball: Cabinet and Edition
Barrels of Fun currently lists one DUNE model, limited to 1,000 units. The complete price has not been published. A $2,000 deposit is being taken, while the company’s Labyrinth machine is listed through the same distributor at $10,450. Based on its presentation and feature set, DUNE appears comparable with a Premium-style machine from larger manufacturers.
DUNE Pinball: Playfield Design
The playfield brings together recognisable elements from the DUNE universe, including the Fremen sietch, a thumper, blue spice-eye lighting, a spice harvester and sandworms. The moving sandworm platform uses a magnet and appears to swallow the ball during play.
The machine’s announced features include:
- Three flippers and six balls.
- Horizon Atmospheric Lighting, or HAL.
- An RGB LED low-profile inner-cabinet lighting system for Arrakis day-and-night effects.
- RGBW LED playfield inserts, general illumination and apron flood lighting.
- EverGloss high-gloss decal artwork with metallic-embedded details.
- Infinity anti-reflective glass and a Thunder From Down Under shaker motor.
- Factory-installed inner blade artwork.
- A 15.6-inch HD LCD display with 5.25-inch Kenwood full-range stereo speakers and interactive RGB illumination.
- An 8-inch JBL STAGE cabinet subwoofer.
- Polyester metallic powder-coated cabinet armour with a matching speaker panel.
- Laser-cut sandworm-pattern speaker grilles.
- A 14.9-inch LCD backboard playfield display intended to expand the DUNE universe under the glass.
The apron artwork also reflects the broader DUNE setting. The design should appeal particularly to readers familiar with Herbert’s mainline novels and the later books completed by Brian Herbert, although the more unusual direction of the saga after the third novel may make further film adaptations less accessible to general audiences.
Rules, Features and Trailer Details
The official trailer gives a fuller look at the game’s rules and presentation. Players train as Paul Atreides while progressing through his hero’s journey. The ramps appear to support flowing shots, and the trailer confirms that the sandworm lock swallows the ball before revealing an additional surprise. DUNE also appears to include a large number of ball locks.
The Pain Box feature is one of the more inventive demonstrations. It makes distinctive use of the machine’s centre button, so the trailer is worth viewing before reading further details. A second display positioned towards the rear of the playfield is also visible.
The cabinet’s lighting, displays and audio hardware give it a strong visual identity, while the moving playfield mechanisms provide much of the physical spectacle expected from a modern licensed pinball game. For readers comparing different forms of home entertainment hardware, virtual pinball machines offer a different route into the format, while our arcade machine buying guide covers broader considerations for selecting a machine.
Release Timing and Practical Questions
DUNE is scheduled to ship “later this year”, with summer suggested as a possible window, although no firm shipping date is provided. It is notable that a relatively young pinball manufacturer has secured a licence of this scale.
Barrels of Fun’s previous Labyrinth machine has impressed when operating correctly, but reported technical issues at Pinball Expo highlighted the importance of reliability. DUNE appears aimed primarily at collectors rather than commercial operators, yet dependable performance should remain a priority for any machine that may eventually see arcade use. Buyers considering maintenance and ownership should also explore arcade repair and maintenance services and the available range of arcade parts.
With its licence, moving sandworm feature, Pain Box interaction and layered display system, DUNE now makes a considerably stronger first impression than its initial teaser suggested. It will be interesting to see how the finished machine performs once it reaches collectors and public play spaces.
Visit Barrels of Fun for the manufacturer’s information and official updates.
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