Savage, nightmarish monsters roam the Louisiana swamps, and you are part of a group of rugged bounty hunters bound to rid the world of their ghastly presence. Banish these creatures from our world, and you will be paid generously—and given the chance to buy more gruesome and powerful weapons. Fail, and death will strip you of both character and gear. Your experience, however, remains in your pool of hunters—called your Bloodline—always.
Hunt’s competitive, match-based gameplay mixes PvP and PvE elements to create a uniquely tense experience where your life, your character, and your gear are always on the line. At the beginning of each match, up to five teams of two set out to track their monstrous targets. Once they’ve found and defeated one of these they will receive a bounty—and instantly become a target for every other Hunter left on the map. If you don’t watch your back, you’ll find a knife in it, and your last memory will be of another team of Hunters walking away with your prize. The higher the risk, the higher the reward–but a single mistake could cost you everything.
Hunt: Showdown 1896, the next chapter of Hunt, where players can join a whole new experience as we leap forward chronologically and head west of the Bayou backwaters to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Crytek announced the imminent arrival of Road to Hell, a major new in-game Event coming June 9th, 2026 to Hunt: Showdown 1896. Road to Hell plunges players into a doomed crusade against the Corruption, telling the story of the rogue 26th Regiment and the Strongholds where their hubris was drowned in madness. Launching alongside the Event, Update 2.8 brings a host of changes and novelties, including new weapons and Points of Interest.
Decrepit Battlefields
Two military scouts have vanished in Louisiana and Colorado. Concerned, Commander Whitlaw attempts to launch a rescue mission, but his request is declined by the military. Defiant, he forms the rogue 26th Regiment. Backed by a mysterious figure known as the Desolation’s Delegate, The 26th Regiment marches into the Incursion Zone confident in their training and firepower.
They meant to find their comrades, to cleanse the bayou and the gulch of Corruption. What they achieved was a military disaster. Their arrogance is torn, gnawed upon, hunted down, and scattered by monsters and hostile Hunters. The 26th Regiment finds only despair and madness. Their final Stronghold becomes a monument to their undoing.
Players will explore the sprawling Stronghold Compound, and scavenge Military and Medical Supply Points left behind by The 26th Regiment. Deep within the massive redoubt lies a rotting, caged Boss Target, a mystery to solve for those who breach the Compound. Former members of The 26th haunt the area, now mere Corrupted mindless Grunts.
Among the debris of the Stronghold, daring Hunters may find: Destiny’s Dial, Sealed Rewards, and Tarot Cards. More secrets await at the Compound.. who knows what other artifacts can be reclaimed during Road to Hell? Each visit is a chance to reclaim a piece of The 26th tragic legacy.
Extraction and Supply Points are hidden at first, revealed by interacting with Scouting Maps found at Stronghold Compound, Military Supply, or Medical Supply. They're also revealed when banishing a Boss Target or picking up a Bounty Token.
New Firepower
The 26th Regiment attacked the Corruption head‑on and brought significant firepower. Will players be able to find and tame it?
Maxim 1895
- A heavy in-world weapon, the Maxim gun was torn from the mount. On a Bounty Hunt, it becomes a heavyweight makeshift weapon. Fired from the hip, the Maxim gun has a large and unpredictable bullet spread.
- The Maxim is a heavy gun and slows Hunters down by 25% when carried. This prototype gun can also easily overheat, causing a malfunction that requires manual clearing.
- As an in-world weapon, it cannot be extracted or kept in a Hunter’s inventory.
- Bags of ammo are affixed to the sides and carried with the gun. The Maxim holds 50 Incendiary rounds by default and cannot be resupplied.
1890 Cavalry Rifle
- A new single‑shot long ammo rifle arrives for Hunters who prize precision and power. It deals 139 damage with a muzzle velocity of 380 m/s, carries 1/18 rounds, and is compatible with the “Fast Fingers” Trait. Custom Ammo types include FMJ and High Velocity.
New Faces
Road to Hell brings a new Battle Pass with 50 rewards for players to discover and earn: medals, signets, luxurious and gritty Legendary Skins, and much to fight over in the legacy of The 26th Regiment.
New Legendary Hunters join the fray:
- Commander Whitlaw formed The 26th Regiment; now only a gun can steady his shaking hands. Sergeant Riggins stayed loyal until he cracked, now hungering for occult knowledge.
- The Foxhound arrives with a full set of specialized Legendary Skins, working to harness the power and nightmares of Mother Nature.
- Another Legend appears: The Ol’ Cowpoke, Dusty Ivo, on a mission for rootin’ tootin’ revenge against the whippersnappers keen on silencing horses to save their own hides. He once sold those horses to Davant Ranch—look how that all turned out!
- Others itch to traipse through the Corrupted battlegrounds. First among them is The Ironclad (also known as Ned Kelly), arriving with a DLC on June 10th. Hailing from the chaotic badlands of old Australia, Ned was laying low in the years since his alleged death. When he discovered what was happening in Louisiana, he knew it was time to don his old armor once again. It’s time for The Ironclad to show all these Hunters just what a bushranger can do.
Road to Hell also brings brand a new single by Port Sulphur Band, releasing June 8th. Available now to pre-save on Spotify.
A Free Story Challenge
Road to Hell is a perfect time to discover new stories and knowledge about bounty hunting. Included with the Event is a free Story Challenge: Let the Gunshots Ring. Designed for new and weathered players alike, this Story Challenge follows John Victor, a well-seasoned Hunter who is ready to show you the ropes. Let the Gunshots Ring can also guide newer players through tasks and Challenges meant to teach them about the game, as well as start their Hunt: Showdown 1896 journey on the right foot by earning themselves a free Legendary Hunter.
Update 2.8
Road to Hell brings a whole new vision, transforming the maps and offering deadly weapons to players, but it also brings the significant Update 2.8. More details on balancing changes and fixes for community‑reported issues will be announced on release, with deep dives into additional features in the coming weeks and a Developer Livestream on June 2nd.
Set the Sights
Road to Hell will challenge players to walk the same blood‑soaked ground that broke an entire regiment. With a prototype Maxim gun, a tragic story of descent from the heights of hubris into madness, Road to Hell welcomes all Hunters for a stroll through the decrepit battlefields of Hunt: Showdown 1896 on June 9th, 2026.
Even in death, you will be able to progress among the ranks of Hunters via your Bloodline. Though one character may die, their experience will be transferred to your Bloodline, where it can be applied your other Hunters. If you make it off of the map alive, you will be able to use the money and experience you earn to kit out new Hunters and prepare for the next match. If you die, you lose everything but your experience.
Dark Sight allows Hunters to see into the veil between worlds, making that which cannot be seen by mortal eyes visible to those who have been initiated. Use Dark Sight when you are tracking monsters, and a ghostly light will guide you toward your next target. Dark Sight also marks players carrying a bounty, making them more vulnerable to ambush while trying to escape.
Hunt: Showdown 1896 is available for PC (Steam), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
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