Hunt: Showdown has had a big relaunch with its 1896 update, bringing the game to current-gen consoles and making a splash on Steam.
Crytek’s game used to have around 20,000-30,000 players on Steam regularly, but now, thanks to the new update, it has over 55,000 players, according to SteamDB.
This is huge for Hunt: Showdown. The 1896 update makes the game look better with new graphics from the latest CryEngine version and better lighting and sound. Because of this, Crytek is stopping support for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions. But don’t worry if you have those versions; you can get a free upgrade to PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. The update also adds a new map in the Colorado Rocky Mountains (the first map not in Louisiana swamps), plus new enemies, weapons, weapon variants, and cosmetics.
Interestingly, this update also changes the game’s UI a lot. Some fans don’t like it because they think it was made more for console players and doesn’t work well. That’s why recent reviews on Steam are “Mixed,” even though overall reviews are “Very Positive.” One review said the UI “barely functions,” while another called it “disgusting.”
People sometimes get upset when games change too much.
There are also changes in how you play the game. For example, some Hunter traits like Necromancer have been adjusted. Hunters now burn out faster if they are downed and on fire. Choke bombs last shorter, trap placements are better, and bullet physics have changed (including bullet drop). Headshots will always be instant kills now. Plus, weekly challenges are the same for all players and show up on the in-game map.
If you’re curious about Hunt: Showdown 1896, you can try it for free on Steam until August 19 or on Xbox until August 18. It’s also 20% off on all platforms until August 22—only $24 instead of $30!
