Hunt: Showdown – This is the roadmap for 2023 / 2024

In a new video, the developers of Hunt: Showdown have shared with us their new plans for the survival shooter.
General Manager David Fifield explained Crytek’s plans for the future, the rest of 2023 and the start of the upcoming year 2024.

What awaits us until the end of 2023

In the next few weeks

In a few days, we can expect the next event in the “Tide” trilogy, Tide of Corruption. Included in it, besides another iteration of the pact and skill system, will probably be the return of the “dark inferno” as a new weather condition.
The challenge system is also expected to be revamped and offer more variety.

There will also be some new weapons as well as many new skins that we can unlock.

A new feature that will come into play is weapon inspection, which will allow you to admire your skins in the game. At first, this feature will be available with pistols, melee weapons and some tools, with more to follow.

On the occasion of Halloween, there will be another Twitch Drops campaign that will run in time with the event.
Here you can get a new hunter, some weapon skins and pendants, as well as loot boxes (weapons, tools, …) and event points by watching on Twitch.

Until the end of the year

As we move towards winter, we can expect the Winter Update. Probably this will also contain the final event for the year, but this is not yet confirmed.

One of the things planned for the rest of the year is the revision of the prestige system. In a first part, many basic weapons will be unlocked earlier to make the progress smoother after a restart.
If you want, you can also increase your hunter slots from 50 to 75 with an upcoming update.

In terms of skills (traits), some changes are also planned. For example, some abilities will be combined (eagle eye / master marksman / sniper optics, for example).
Also the logic of the starting abilities, with which a fighter comes along, is to be adapted.

There is also good news for console players, because they will get new options to customize the game’s controls.
The “dead zone” of the controller as well as the aiming aid and its acceleration will be customizable in the future.

What’s on the agenda for 2024

The list for the coming year is already extensive:

CryEngine Upgrade

One of the most important items for Hunt: Showdown will be the upgrade to a new version of the CryEngine. The upgrades will be divided into “phases”, the first of which is planned for the beginning of 2024.

This first phase will bring support for technologies such as DirectX 12, FSR 2.1.2 and Direct Storage, as well as HDR.
At the same time, it also means that the minimum requirements for Hunt: Showdown will be raised at that time.

For consoles, the upgrade means two things – the official launch of the next-gen versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and the discontinuation of the last-gen versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
But don’t worry: you’ll be able to upgrade your version for free and take your game progress with you. What’s more, this move won’t happen until April 2024 at the earliest.

As a small bonus, console players will also be able to change the buttom mapping of their controllers in the future and get a revamped weapon wheel.

At the same time as the engine upgrade, a new, fourth map for the game will be released, which will be set in a new biome.

Technical improvements

Also planned for the coming year is the transfer of all Crytek services to a decentralized system.
This will allow updates without server downtime and should also prevent problems with one game region from affecting others.

This should also improve the responsiveness of interactions that affect inventory and bloodline.
Another side effect of the rebuild and a more stable server environment should be fewer problems like rubberbanding, a smaller window for the so-called “trade kills” and a better projectile calculation.

Improvements for matchmaking & communication

In addition to these technical improvements, matchmaking will also be reworked again, making it less exploitable and fairer for all players.

There is also good news for all duo players, as they will be able to team up with a third random player from the Internet in the future, which is currently not an option.

Of course, the planned revision of the voice chat is also fitting. With the team voice chat, only the team will hear the communication and no longer every player in the vicinity.
In addition, communication will be possible regardless of the status of the character (knocked out, death, …) and without distance restrictions.

The complete roadmap with all points and details can also be found in the following overview:

Roadmap 2023 / 2024

Rest of 2023

October 2023

• Event: Tide of Corruption
• Twitch Drops Campaign for Halloween
• Weapon Inspection

Q4 2023

• Winter Update
• Expansion of hunter slots from 50 to 75
• Prestige system revision (part 1 – weapons)
• Trait revision
  • Summary of some skills
  • More logic in starting the ability set with the hunter
• Revision of the challenges
• Console / Game-Pad
  • “Dead Zone” customization option
  • Target assist and acceleration options

Plans for 2024

Early 2024

• Console / Gamepad
  • Custom button mapping
  • Weapon wheel revision
• Revision of prestige system (part 2 – rewards)
• Technical improvements
• Change to a decentralized system of all services
• Updates possible without downtime
• More responsive interactions concerning inventory and bloodline (menu / ingame)
• Server performance improvements (less “rubberbanding”, smaller window for “trade kills”, better projectile calculation)
• Revision of matchmaking (better calculation, possibility to find a random teammate in pairs)
• Revision of voice chat for teams
  • Team voice chat also audible only for the team
  • Voice chat can be used independent of the state of the hunter (knocked out, dead, …) and distance
• Even more focus on the fight against toxicity, exploits and cheaters
• CryEngine Upgrade – Phase 1
  • Currently planned for early 2024
  • New map with new biome
  • Increase in minimum requirements for PC & consoles
  • Official launch for PS5 & Xbox Series X/S
  • Discontinuation of PS4 & Xbox One versions
    • Free upgrade option for players
  • Complete overhaul of the user interface
  • Technical innovations
    • Support for Direct X 12
    • Support for FSR 2.1.2
    • Direct Storage support
    • Support HDR