In Dune: Awakening, sandworms take on the role of a formidable natural force, rather than a tool that players can summon at their convenience. Unlike the original novels by Frank Herbert, where characters could use a thumper to call upon these massive creatures, this feature will not be available in the game.
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According to the game's developers, sandworms are designed as NPCs with predetermined patrol routes, schedules, and behaviors integrated into the game engine. This means players won't have the ability to strategically summon a sandworm near an enemy base to cause chaos. However, if a sandworm is already in the vicinity, players might attract its attention by actively moving through the sand or using a thumper. Even then, there's no guarantee that the sandworm will appear in the area.
Riding sandworms, a hallmark of the Freman culture as depicted in Herbert’s books and the subsequent films, will not be an option in Dune: Awakening. The developers have cited pressure from the filmmakers behind the Dune cinematic universe as the reason for this omission. However, there is a glimmer of hope for fans of this iconic activity; post-launch patches might introduce more content related to Freman culture, possibly including worm-riding mechanics. For now, though, there’s no guarantee that players will get to ride these majestic creatures.
Dune: Awakening is set to launch on PC on May 20th, with console versions to follow later.
