The extraction first-person shooter Hunt: Showdown has been going robust for 5 years and has gotten dozens of patches and updates, however none as large as the one which launched just lately. It’s such a major improve that the recreation itself bought a brand new identify — Hunt: Showdown 1896.
For those who’re not aware of Hunt: Showdown, it’s a multiplayer shooter on PC and console that mixes the supernatural with darkish realism. It’s a PvPvE extraction shooter that places you in the sneakers of a bounty hunter. To be able to declare your bounties, you have to enterprise throughout massive maps, kill supernatural creatures, and fend off your fellow hunters to outlive lengthy sufficient to succeed in the extraction level.
The recreation’s latest replace might need modified the identify, but it surely’s not a sequel or standalone enlargement. So in the event you bought the unique recreation, you have already got entry to Hunt: Showdown 1896 for no further price. All you need to do is obtain the replace, and also you’ll get upgrades to nearly each a part of the gameplay expertise. Let’s get into particularly what these enhancements are.
A New Engine(*5*)
All of it begins with the recreation’s transfer to CryEngine 5.11. That makes all the remainder of the upgrades potential, elevating the degree of what the dev group at Crytek can accomplish throughout the board. Along with enhancing issues like efficiency and visible constancy, the new engine can even permit Crytek to make future updates and react to neighborhood suggestions quicker. The central gameplay loop received’t considerably change, however the upgrades will give gamers on all platforms a extra immersive expertise.
Improved Console Efficiency(*5*)
Talking of platforms, the replace strikes Hunt: Showdown 1896 into the present era of consoles. It now runs natively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Collection X|S, and whereas meaning it’s not playable on PS4 or Xbox One, it additionally isn’t held again by the technological limitations of these consoles. It now runs at 60 fps and in HDR on all consoles, with quicker loading occasions and extra responsive enter, offering smoother gameplay.
Higher Lighting and Visuals(*5*)
On all platforms, the upgraded engine has allowed devs to enhance visible constancy, together with textures, lighting, and animations. With richer blacks and better high quality lighting, inside areas look extra life like and added visibility means extra particulars to identify. Character fashions have additionally been improved, whereas flowing water appears extra crisp and life like. These particulars could appear small on their very own, however they add as much as create a extra immersive expertise.
Audio Improve(*5*)
The recreation’s audio combine in common has been high quality tuned to offer extra readability and sound definition. The replace additionally provides assist for brand spanking new spatial audio choices, reminiscent of Dolby Atmos. For those who wish to play with headphones, you’ll even have entry to 3D audio. PC and Xbox gamers will profit from Microsoft Sonic for headphones, whereas PS5 gamers will get Tempest 3D audio compatibility.
New Content material(*5*)
Whereas the earlier enhancements refined what was already there, a brand new period wouldn’t be full with out brand-new content material that actually mixes issues up. Hunt: Showdown 1896 has that in spades. Up till now, the recreation has completely taken place in the swamps of Louisiana. However the new replace incorporates a one-year time skip and a shift in setting to the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
The new map, Mammon’s Gulch, focuses on verticality, with mountains stretching aboveground and mines burrowing under. It supplies distinctive sight strains and assault angles, including one other strategic layer to gameplay. And in the event you’re a longtime participant and fan of older maps, don’t fear, they’ll be returning in the coming months after getting revamps of their very own.
Mammon Gulch isn’t the solely addition. There’s additionally a brand new wild goal referred to as the Hellborn, in addition to an occasion referred to as Scorched Earth that sees new terrors spill out of fiery oil wells and underground mines.
The newest replace is stuffed with enhancements and new content material, but it surely’s simply the begin of a brand new period. Crytek will proceed to replace and high quality tune the expertise, as they’ve been for the previous 5 years. Whether or not you’re a veteran or a newcomer, there’s by no means been a greater time to dive in. Hunt: Showdown 1896 is out there for obtain now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Collection X|S. Blissful searching!