Launched alongside Update 2.7, Crytek has unveiled a new in-game event for Hunt: Showdown 1896 in “Devil’s Trail”. The event introduces game-changing scouting and tracking mechanics, a new big Battle Pass with plentiful rewards, a fire-spitting new monster, and “comprehensive improvements” for new players.
Devil’s Trail offers a unique tactical twist for players: making information the most valuable currency. Supply Points, Extraction Points, and new Event-exclusive Burned Convoy locations are now hidden from the start of your mission. As a result, players must actively uncover them using Scout Towers scattered across the map, which contain interactive Scouting Maps that reveal hidden locations, new Tarot Cards, custom ammunition, and Traits.
The new event makes it even more responsive to player presence, creating more environmental storytelling. Everything you do leaves traces, and everything you see tells a story. Examples include doors that never fully close once opened, ammo crates and First Aid kits remain visibly used, used Traits leave scorch marks and more.
As for the new Tarot Cards, they take tracking to another level:
- The High Priestess reveals the direction of the nearest enemy Hunter, confirming whether you’re truly alone
- The Pathfinder shows all Clues discovered by any Hunter on the map, helping you understand where the action is
And the new “All Ears” Trait transforms Dark Sight into a directional listening device, reducing ambient noise and amplifying enemy sounds in your view direction, which will come in handy during difficult weather conditions.
Players will also have a new monster on their hands with the Firebreather. Found among groups of Grunts, this Corrupted pyromaniac spews fire, while engaging it in melee results in small bursts of fire erupting from its body with each strike. Water Bottles and Choke clouds kill it instantly, and water temporarily disables its fire breath. Just don’t go throwing explosives around it.
The update also aims to ease new players into Hunt: Showdown 1896 with a whole host of improvements. For example, monsters and Boss Targets are introduced gradually until Bloodline Rank 10, with Boss Target health reduced for newer players. Hunter Bot difficulty also scales with player level. A new cross-platform invite system debuts with this update, allowing players across Steam and the Microsoft Store to team up, while PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series players can now team up together on the console side.
Cryek also teased future updates for Hunt: Showdown 1896, kicking off in mid-April with the return of the “Inferno” Time of Day with increased Hellborn activity, a new Firefighter Supply, and a DLC release.
Devil’s Trail is live now for Hunt: Showdown 1896 on Steam, the Xbox Series and PlayStation 5 until June 10.