The game is set in 1942, i.e. when the convoy system was finally introduced by the US Navy in response to operation ‘Drumbeat’ and the bloodbath that the U-boats had caused along the US east coast. Take command of a meticulously reconstructed Fletcher-class destroyer and lead your crew against nazi U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic!

In Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter, get ready to immerse yourself in a comprehensive World War II simulator that will have you take on the role of captain on USS Janson (DD-524), a fictional Fletcher-class destroyer based on USS Kidd (DD-661). This means that you will be tasked with all the crucial responsibilities of an anti-submarine destroyer attack team. You can choose to automate certain tasks to focus more on the operational side of things, but you can also do it all yourself, from identifying enemy vessels in the distance and plotting their projected inbound trajectories to positioning and commanding allied forces to intercept and attack enemy hostiles. Take complete control of your destroyer and engage in combat in any way you believe is necessary to protect the allied convoy entrusted to you.

Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter is tailor-made for experienced simulator veterans that are looking for the most realistic experience in the market. The game will have you jumping on the controls of a fully-equipped battleship with limited battlefield awareness, using authentic instruments and naval attack procedures to locate and eliminate enemy U-Boats. The intricacy and attention to detail present in each navigation tool, plotting table, radar, battle-station, etc. will provide you with a level of immersion rarely seen in the genre.

The plot of Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter will be conveyed via highly detailed cutscenes which strongly tie into the game’s choice and consequence mechanic. The captain’s strategic decisions, as well as certain story-related aspects of the game will be controlled by the player, with consequences for both the situation in combat and plot development. Gameplay as such will focus on several key locations on-board: the combat information centre, the bridge, the sonar room, the engine room, and observation posts. The player will be able to switch between these locations at any moment in the course of the battle.

Publisher Daedalic Entertainment and developer Iron Wolf Studio announced that Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter is now available through Steam Early Access for PC, and will remain so for about 6-8 months.

“The current state of the game delivers a stable and polished core experience, with high replayability thanks to custom scenarios and generated challenges. The core of the game, that being the player’s interactions with the ship, is already well realized and in a state that we are proud of.”

“We want to implement some features that would thrive and profit from Early Access feedback: Rescuing survivors, torpedo attacks against the escorts, a campaign, quality of life and miscellaneous features. The core features of Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter are already in place, but new content and features will turn the game into its final form over the Early Access period.”

Key Features:

• Procedural battle generation with randomized weather, time of day, and enemy attack patterns, allowing for a virtually infinite number of battle scenarios.
• A detailed Fletcher-class destroyer model with 5 locations meticulously recreated in state-of-the art 3D: the bridge, the combat information center, the sonar room, the gun director, and the lookouts’ station.
• Over 300 voice reports recorded by professional voice actors, navy school cadets and US Navy experts for unparalleled immersion and situational awareness.
• A total of 10 different battle stations covering the most essential duties of the anti-submarine attack team, each complete with its key instruments and gear to give you the edge over the enemy.
• 4 different convoy battle configurations (small, medium, large, and custom).
• A dark, thematic soundtrack comprising 4 multi-layered pieces that dynamically adjust to the level of tension between you and the enemy.
• Varied U-boat captain profiles: aggressive, sneaky, patient, or cold professional - each of them with an ace up their sleeve.

Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter is in development for PC (Steam), scheduled for 2023.