Dune: Awakening Video Game Reveals a Version of Shai-Hulud That You Won’t See in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Part Two

Dune: Awakening introduces unkillable Shai-Hulud, a distinctive interpretation absent from Denis Villeneuve's cinematic sequel.

Dune: Awakening Video Game Reveals a Version of Shai-Hulud That You Won't See in Denis Villeneuve's Dune Part Two

SUMMARY

  • Dune: Awakening introduces unkillable Shai-Hulud, diverging from Denis Villeneuve's sequel, promising intense survival gameplay.
  • Villeneuve explores sandworm evolution in Dune: Part Two, contrasting with Dune: Awakening's unique portrayal, adding depth to the franchise.
  • Sandworms: Evolving from Mystery to Everyday Life in Dune: Part Two.
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So you know those big sandworms from Dune Part Two, Shai-Hulud? Well, they’re a big deal, right? Everybody’s into their mysterious backstory and how crazy strong they are. But guess what? As the sequel’s been released recently, there’s this new video game called Dune: Awakening, making waves.

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Dune: Awakening
Dune: Awakening (credit: Funcom)

They’re showing Shai-Hulud as these unstoppable creatures you can’t even kill! Talk about flipping the script! Now we’re all wondering where this is going and how far they’ll push the envelope. Let’s dig into this twist and see what it means for the future of Shai-Hulud.

Dune: Awakening Shows A Shai-Hulud You Won’t See In Dune 2

In the Dune universe, Denis Villeneuve’s sequel is generating a lot of buzz, but here’s the scoop: the gaming world is throwing a curveball. Enter Dune: Awakening, flipping the script on the iconic sandworm, Shai-Hulud, in a way you won’t see in the movies.

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Funcom spills the beans: these sandworms are downright unkillable. The recent developer diary spilled the details on the game, a survival MMO announced back in 2022. While a release date is still up in the air, a recent 30-minute stream gave us an in-depth peek.

Dune: Awakening
Dune: Awakening Sandworm (credit: Funcom)

Brace yourself; these sandworms won’t be a walk in the Arrakis desert park.

Chief Creative Officer Joel Bylos spilled the beans on Dune: Awakening’s take on sandworms. Imagine this: you’re strolling through the desert, and you hear the hiss of approaching sand. It builds up to trembling, and bam!

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The sandworm bursts out with a roar. You’ve got seconds to find rocky ground, fighting? Forget it, these desert beasts are unkillable. But don’t fret; you can craft thumpers to call them away, giving you precious time to escape. Exploring Dune: Awakening demands your A-game. The sandworms will always come.

Now, the big reveal, the threat level, depends on where you are. Deep in the Arrakis desert or harvesting Melange (aka spice), you’ll face the biggest, worst sandworms. And yes, they’re the kind you can’t outsmart. They swallow you whole. Intrigued?

The game is still in closed beta, with more details promised throughout 2024. Will it drop by year-end? Unclear. Meanwhile, in Dune Part Two, there are tricks to killing sandworms, like unleashing Harkonnen troops or leading them to their doom with tanks.

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Dune Part Two
Dune Part Two (credit: Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection)

As we ponder the intricacies of Dune: Awakening, Denis Villeneuve sheds light on sandworm evolution in the film sequel.

While the game takes a pragmatic approach, Villeneuve explores sandworms as a blend of sandworms and sandtrouts, acting as desert guardians and serving mysterious purposes. It’s a wild ride between movie sequels and video game revelations, adding layers to the ever-expanding Dune universe.

Denis Villeneuve Explains Sandworm Evolution In Dune: Part Two

In Dune: Part Two, director Villeneuve dives deep into the evolution of sandworms on the big screen. These aren’t your typical sandworms from the first movie. Sure, they’ve got the same look circular mouth, crystal teeth, and tough hide, but they play a whole new role in the story.

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As per Hitechglitz, Villeneuve explains that in the first part, sandworms were more of a mystery, lurking in the background. You’d catch glimpses of them sucking down spice harvesters, but they remained mostly unseen. That’s partly because sandworms are naturally shy creatures, always trying to stay hidden beneath the sand.

sandworm
Dune 2 sandworm (credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

The limited sandworm sightings also reflect the perspective of characters like Paul Atreides and Duke Leto, who are new to Arrakis. To them, sandworms are these terrifying, unknown creatures. But as the story progresses, we get a closer look at these beasts, especially when Paul and Jessica find themselves face-to-face with one in the deep desert.

In Dune: Part Two, sandworms take center stage. We see them up close, riding them into battle, even raising a baby sandworm. This shift in focus is all thanks to Paul’s alliance with the Fremen. They see sandworms as sacred beings, treating them with reverence while also using them for practical purposes like transportation and waste disposal.

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This evolution of the sandworm from a scary monster to an everyday part of life mirrors what happens in Frank Herbert’s novel. As Paul learns more about Fremen culture, he becomes fascinated by their relationship with sandworms.

For Villeneuve, this exploration of culture and connection resonated deeply. It’s all about immersing yourself in a new way of life and embracing its traditions even if it means mastering a sandworm or two.

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Written by Muskan Chaudhary

Articles Published: 694

Muskan Chaudhary, Junior Content Writer at Fandom wire. Having completed her degree in Commerce, she has written over 500 articles spanning FandomWire and Animated Times in the pop culture. She is dedicated to bring the latest and informative content from the entertainment world, thus expanding her knowledge in the field. Apart from her contributions to FandamWire, she has a keen interest in video games, sketching and playing tennis.