When most people think of the world of Dune, their minds immediately jump to the vast deserts of Arrakis, dominated by humans and the iconic sandworms. However, there is more to the planet’s fauna than meets the eye. In previous trailers for Dune: Awakening, we’ve caught glimpses of the desert mice, known as Muad’Dib, along with other creatures like kulons, various birds, and even bats.
Curious about the variety of enemies players might encounter in the game, I spoke with Dune: Awakening‘s World Director, Jeff Gagné, during Gamescom. I asked him if there are animals besides the sandworm that could pose a threat to players, such as the genetically enhanced D-wolves.
“Nothing that is threatening the player—no,” Gagné responded. “Sadly, we had to make some choices. I would have loved this. But no, there is no Laza Tiger, for example… not yet.”
While the absence of dangerous animals might disappoint some, Gagné hinted at intriguing interactions with some of Arrakis’ smaller, and perhaps cuter, inhabitants.
“There is still the desert mouse in the world, and you can do things with that. I will not spoil too much stuff. There are a lot of little animals that you can find in the world.”
This raises the exciting possibility of interacting with Muad’Dib while exploring the desert. Could players potentially pet these desert mice or even have them find a new home in our base?
Regarding the kind of boss fights players can expect in Dune: Awakening, Gagné clarified that while there won’t be any massive monsters or dangerous animals, players can anticipate tougher humanoid enemies. These adversaries, equipped with bigger armor or more powerful weapons, will likely be encountered in the game at the end of dungeons aka ecology labs.
While Dune: Awakening may not feature a wide array of animal threats, the game promises a rich world filled with unique interactions and challenges. Whether it’s the possibility of bonding with the desert mice or facing formidable humanoid foes, there is much to look forward to on the sands of Arrakis.
Stay tuned for the rest of our interview with Jeff Gagné, where we’ll dive even deeper into the features that Dune: Awakening has in store.
Dune: Awakening is set to launch on PC in early 2025, with versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S planned to release later.
