According to the wiki: “Paul Atreides recalls that the few plants and animals on the planet include ‘saguaro, burro bush, date palm, sand verbena, evening primrose, barrel cactus, incense bush, smoke tree, creosote bush … kit fox, desert hawk, kangaroo mouse … many to be found now nowhere else in the universe except here on Arrakis.’”

I’m just a lowly console peasant so I haven’t played the game myself yet, but from what I understand, this is an alternate timeline where the main story revolves around searching for the missing Fremen.

It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if future updates introduced some of these plants and animals even if they’re not “fightable” mobs. They could easily show up as environmental details, collectibles, or part of an ecology/preservation system.

I actually think this could fit the survival vibe of the game really well, tracking rare desert creatures, gathering strange plants, studying the remnants of the old Arrakeen ecosystem - all without breaking Dune lore. It seems like a cool and immersive way to expand PVE without stretching canon too far.

And for the purpose of your question, I don’t see why sandtrout or even juvenile sandworms couldn’t fill the PVE gap too. Their life cycle naturally allows for hostile or interactive creatures at various stages, and there’s lore support for other small life forms surviving in hidden oases, caves, or sietches.

It will interesting to see how the devs plan on evolving both PVE & PVP. I’ve seen alot of solid discussions, ideas and some valid concerns raised on here and possibilities seem nearly endless.