"Dune: Awakening Devs Detail Sandworm Mechanics"

In *Dune: Awakening*, sandworms play a crucial role as a natural force rather than tools that players can summon at their convenience. Unlike the iconic scenes from Frank Herbert's novels, where characters could use a thumper to call upon these majestic creatures, this mechanic will not be available in the game. Instead, sandworms are treated as NPCs with their own patrol routes, schedules, and behaviors integrated into the game engine.

Image: steamcommunity.com

Players will not have the ability to deliberately summon a sandworm near an enemy base to create chaos. However, if a sandworm is already in the vicinity, players can attempt to draw its attention through actions like moving actively through the sand or using a thumper. It's important to note that these actions do not guarantee the sandworm's appearance in the area.

Riding sandworms, a hallmark of the Freman culture as depicted in Herbert's books and popularized in various media, will not be a feature in *Dune: Awakening*. The developers have mentioned that pressure from the filmmakers behind the Dune cinematic universe led to this omission. However, they have hinted that post-launch patches might introduce additional content related to Freman culture, which could potentially include worm-riding mechanics. For the time being, though, there is no assurance that players will get to experience this iconic activity.

*Dune: Awakening* is set to launch on PC on May 20th, with console versions to follow later.