In *Dune: Awakening*, sandworms will act as a formidable natural force rather than a tool that players can summon at their convenience. Unlike the iconic scenes from Frank Herbert's novels where characters could call upon these massive creatures using a thumper, this feature won't be available in the game.

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According to the game's developers, sandworms are treated as NPCs with their own patrol routes, schedules, and behaviors integrated into the game engine. Players won't have the ability to summon a sandworm near an enemy base to disrupt their opponents. However, if a sandworm is already in the vicinity, players might attract its attention by moving actively through the sand or using a thumper. Even then, there's no guarantee that the worm will appear in the desired area.

Riding sandworms, a hallmark of the Freman culture as depicted in Herbert's books and the popular Dune cinematic universe, will not be possible in *Dune: Awakening*. The developers have cited pressure from the filmmakers behind the Dune movies as the reason for excluding this feature. However, they have hinted that post-launch patches might introduce more content related to Freman culture, which could potentially include worm-riding mechanics. For now, though, there's 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.