Dune's Sandworms Unveiled: Devs Dive Deep

Dune: Awakening's sandworms: a force of nature, not a player's tool. Unlike the novels, players can't summon sandworms at will using a thumper. Instead, these massive creatures are fully realized NPCs with their own routines and behaviors within the game's world.

Image: steamcommunity.com

While you can't directly summon them, actions like moving through the sand or using a thumper might attract a nearby sandworm's attention. However, this isn't guaranteed. The thrill of encountering a sandworm will be based on chance and environmental interaction.

Riding sandworms, a staple of the Freman culture in Herbert's work, is currently absent from Dune: Awakening. The developers attribute this omission to constraints imposed by the Dune film franchise.

Future updates may add Freman-centric content, potentially including sandworm riding. For now, this iconic element remains unconfirmed for the game's launch.

Dune: Awakening launches on PC May 20th, with console releases to follow.