Way of the Hunter 2 News

[p]Way of the Hunter 2 is heading into Early Access on March 26 - and you’re invited to help shape the next evolution of hunting simulations![/p][p]Can't wait? Wishlist on Steam and stay tuned: [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]About Way of the Hunter 2:[/p][p]Way of the Hunter 2 takes players into the vast wilderness of North America, delivering a next-level open-world hunting experience set in the breathtaking landscapes of Canada. Track and hunt a wide variety of wildlife, from large game such as moose, elk, bears, and bison to smaller animals and birds. Designed as the ultimate hunting simulator, Way of the Hunter 2 builds on player feedback and years of iteration to create the most authentic and immersive hunting experience to date. The game is coming soon to Steam Early Access. Stay tuned for more info! [/p][p][/p][p]Can't wait? Wishlist on Steam and stay tuned: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]More info about Way of the Hunter 2: [/p][p]Website: https://wayofthehunter2.thqnordic.com[/p][p]Discord: https://discord.gg/wayofthehunter[/p][p][/p][p] [/p]

[p]Last 24 hours of the Way of the Hunter 2 Demo! Thank you to everyone who played the Way of the Hunter 2 demo during Steam Next Fest. Because of your support, the demo reached #47 most played among all demos in the festival!

The demo for Way of the Hunter 2 Demo is available until tomorrow, March 6, 4 PM CET: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]
We’ve already gathered a huge amount of great feedback from you, and we’re actively implementing many of your suggestions as we move toward Early Access. Your input is helping us refine systems, improve the experience, and shape the next stage of development. If you haven’t tried the demo yet, there’s still a little time left. Jump in, explore Way of the Hunter 2.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]
Thank you for being part of the journey!

___
More info about Way of the Hunter 2: 

Website: https://wayofthehunter2.thqnordic.com/[/p][p]Discord: https://discord.gg/wayofthehunter[/p][p] [/p][p]Wishlist Way of the Hunter 2 on Steam: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p]

[p]We’ve been closely monitoring your feedback during Steam Next Fest, and while the team is busy at work, we’ve addressed several high-priority issues reported by players. A new patch for the Way of the Hunter 2 Demo is now live, focusing mainly on audio improvements and stability fixes.
[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Way of the Hunter 2 Demo: (Steam) Version 0.0.1.182301 patch notes:[/h3]

• [p]Tweaked: All animal footstep sounds (volume and perception adjustments)[/p]
• [p]Tweaked: All animal sounds sound balance (distance volume and reverb)[/p]
• [p]Tweaked: Dog footstep sounds (volume reduced, unintended reverb removed)[/p]
• [p]Tweaked: Gunshot sounds (remixed and volume adjusted)[/p]
• [p]Fixed: Cutscene voice-over linked to incorrect audio slider[/p]
• [p]Fixed: Stability improvements[/p]

[p][/p][p]Thanks for playing the demo and sharing your feedback, it helps us tremendously. If you encounter any issues, please report them via the THQ Nordic Redmine.[/p][p][/p][p]Thank you, and happy hunting![/p]

[p]We heard you like surprises. So we pressed the big red button. As part of Steam Next Fest (February 23 – March 2), you can dive into the playable demo of Way of the Hunter 2 starting today![/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]Play Way of the Hunter 2 demo:[/p][p]https://thqn.net/woth2-demo-steam[/p][p][/p][p]About Way of the Hunter 2:[/p][p]Way of the Hunter 2 takes players into the vast wilderness of North America, delivering a next-level open-world hunting experience set in the breathtaking landscapes of Canada. Track and hunt a wide variety of wildlife, from large game such as moose, elk, bears, and bison to smaller animals and birds. Designed as the ultimate hunting simulator, Way of the Hunter 2 builds on player feedback and years of iteration to create the most authentic and immersive hunting experience to date. The game is coming soon to Steam Early Access. Stay tuned for more info! [/p][p][/p][p]Wishlist Way of the Hunter 2 on Steam: [/p][p]https://thqn.net/WOTH2-Steam[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]The demo features approximately 25% of the full map, with visible area borders on the hunting map.[/p]

• [p]Approaching the border triggers a warning.[/p]
• [p]Crossing the border teleports you back to the lodge.[/p]

[p]The Way of the Hunter 2 demo focuses purely on delivering a first gameplay experience. Character progression is currently limited, you will not gain XP from hunting, nor will you be able to unlock or develop skills.
[/p][h3]Gear and Arms Available in the demo[/h3]

• [p]Primacy Stalker – 28 ga[/p]
• [p]Vanhoutte Stinger 22 – .22 LR[/p]
• [p]Strasser RS 700-22 – .22 LR[/p]
• [p]Primacy Safari Elite – .375 H&H Magnum[/p]
• [p]Primacy Advance Shift – .338 Lapua Magnum[/p]
• [p]Primacy Advance DK94 – 6.5×55 mm Swedish Mauser[/p]
• [p]Primacy Classic Hunter MK II – .308 Winchester[/p]
• [p]Buffden Apex Predator – 18-inch bolt[/p]
• [p]Skye Ferran Wonder – 32-inch arrow
  [/p]

[p]Additional Equipment[/p]

• [p]Scopes & attachments[/p]
• [p]Calls[/p]
• [p]Binoculars[/p]
• [p]Tripod stand[/p]
• [p]Hunting blind[/p]
• [p]Decoys[/p]
• [p]Tent[/p]
• [p]Backpack[/p]
• [p]Shooting stick
  [/p]

[h3]Wildlife Featured in the Demo[/h3]

• [p]American wolverine (Gulo Gulo Luscus)[/p]
• [p]Dall sheep (Ovis Dalli Dalli)[/p]
• [p]Eastern wild turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo Silvestris)[/p]
• [p]Gray wolf (Canis Lupus Occidentalis)[/p]
• [p]Grizzly bear (Ursus Arctos Horribilis)[/p]
• [p]Mallard (Anas Platyrhynchos)[/p]
• [p]Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus Hemionus Hemionus)[/p]
• [p]White-tailed deer (Odocoileus Virginianus Borealis)[/p]
• [p]Wood bison (Bison Bison Athabascae)
  [/p]

[p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]For Best Performance, Update Your Drivers[/h3][p][/p][p]We strongly recommend updating your GPU and CPU drivers before playing. The game runs on Unreal Engine 5, which receives frequent updates and performs best with up-to-date drivers. Updating drivers can significantly reduce crashes and FPS drops. That said, we're still working on the optimisation and performance refinements.[/p][p]If you encounter a crash, please report it to us. Please note that in some cases, crashes may result in partial progress loss. For example, crashing during a mission objective may reset that mission’s progress.[/p][p]You may also encounter minor environmental issues, such as:[/p]

• [p]Getting stuck on rough bridges, stumps, or small trees.[/p]
• [p]Fast travel can be used as a temporary workaround.[/p]

[p]Overall performance is still being optimised, please keep this in mind during your playthrough. If you encounter any issues, we appreciate your feedback as we continue refining the experience.[/p][p][/p][h3]Known Issues[/h3][p][/p][p]This demo is a work in progress and includes only a portion of the full game experience. Way of the Hunter 2 is being developed and refined daily. Areas still under active development include:[/p]

• [p]In some situations, animals may behave unexpectedly. For example, they can become disoriented and swim in circles or move unnaturally in lakes.[/p]
• [p]Animal Senses – Animal sight, hearing, and smell are still being refined and will be further balanced across difficulty levels.[/p]
• [p]Animal life cycle per difficulty - on higher difficulties, animals follow their daily cycles with less reliability. Its current effects are subtle and will undergo further balancing.[/p]
• [p]Additional language support (currently English only).[/p]
• [p]PS5 controller support is not yet implemented for the PC version.[/p]
• [p]Player and dog names – Custom names entered at the start of the game may not display correctly in certain parts of the UI and dialogue interfaces.[/p]
• [p]Dog in the tutorial – In the moose tutorial sequence, the dog may appear inside the moose model. This is a known visual bug.[/p]
• [p]In the tutorial, the turkey’s head may display rendering issues in the trophy screen (claim screen).[/p]
• [p]Shadow Rendering on lower settings – on medium graphics settings, shadowed areas may appear overly glossy or unnaturally shiny.[/p]
• [p]The Hunter Assist feature does not currently highlight animal organs, although the tutorial references this functionality. This feature is not yet implemented in the demo.[/p]
• [p]Some voice-over lines are not yet implemented. In these cases, only subtitles will be displayed.[/p]
• [p]Performance Optimisation – The game is still being optimised. Players may experience FPS drops or performance dips, particularly in dense forest areas, near water, while driving vehicles, or during longer play sessions. Stability and hardware optimisation are actively being improved.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]How to Submit Bugs & Problems:
[/h3][p]If you encounter any issues, please report them via THQN Redmine using THIS LINK.[/p][p]When reporting an issue, please include:[/p]

• [p]Issue description – a clear summary of the problem (e.g. “Mule deer freezes in place after being shot”)*.[/p]
• [p]Reproduction steps – what led to the issue.[/p]
• [p]Reproduction rate – once, or every time, or a verbal description of how often it happens.[/p]
• [p]Attachments – screenshots, videos, saved file if needed.[/p]
• [p]Location details – include a screenshot of the hunting map if the problem is location-specific[/p]

[p]Clear and detailed reports help us enormously. Thank you for taking the time to document the issues.
[/p][p]How to access your save file (in case you run into blockers or critical issues):[/p]

• [p]Press Windows + R[/p]
• [p]Paste the following path: %LocalAppData%\\WOTH2\\Saved\\SaveGames > press Enter[/p]
• [p]Copy the file SaveData.sav[/p]
• [p]Paste it to a safe, accessible location (e.g. desktop)[/p]
• [p]Attach the save file via Redmine[/p]

[p][/p][p]Thank you, enjoy the demo, and happy hunting!

[/p][p][/p][p]More info about Way of the Hunter 2: [/p][p]Website: [/p][p]https://wayofthehunter2.thqnordic.com[/p][p] [/p][p]Discord: [/p][p]https://discord.gg/wayofthehunter[/p][p] [/p][p][/p]

[p]In this dev diary, we introduce the hunting dog planned for Way of the Hunter 2. The video focuses on its role within the hunting experience, its behaviour, and the design decisions behind creating it as a companion rather than a simple gameplay tool.[/p][h3]Watch the new Dev Diary here:[/h3][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]The hunting dog is based on the Foxhound, a scent-driven breed known for following trails over long distances. In Way of the Hunter 2, the dog can search the surrounding area for animal signs, help identify active life zones, and track wounded animals by following blood trails.[/p][p]The dog starts with an initial set of abilities. These skills can be improved over time through use and bonding. As the bond increases, the dog becomes more obedient, reflecting the importance of interaction and training. Players will be able to name their dog and see it gradually become more reliable as its skills develop. A significant part of the development effort went into animation and movement. The team studied real dogs to recreate behaviours such as searching patterns, quartering, tracking, resting, and environmental reactions. The dog’s animations include multiple locomotion speeds, as well as detailed idle and action states, treating it as an active participant rather than a background element.[/p][p]The hunting dog is designed as a supportive feature and is not required to engage with the hunting systems. Players can choose whether or not to use the dog, depending on their preferred playstyle. Hunting remains fully functional without it. Overall, the goal of the hunting dog is to add presence to the world and provide optional support during hunts, helping the wilderness of Way of the Hunter 2 feel even more inhabited and grounded.
[/p][p][/p][p]Thank you for your support, hunters. You can also check out our previous dev diary, A new game, a new engine, where we introduced the development of Way of the Hunter 2 and shared some of the foundational ideas behind the project, including why we decided to create a sequel and why we chose to move to a new engine. More information about Way of the Hunter 2 will be shared as development continues. [/p][p] [/p][p]Wishlist Way of the Hunter 2 on Steam: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]More info about Way of the Hunter 2: [/p][p]Website: https://wayofthehunter2.thqnordic.com [/p][p]Discord: https://discord.gg/wayofthehunter [/p][p][/p][p]Enjoy & stay tuned![/p][p][/p]