Hunt: Showdown 1896 recently faced a wave of criticism following its August 15 update, which introduced a new engine upgrade and an overhauled user interface (UI). Despite the backlash, which saw the game’s review score drop on Steam, the extraction shooter managed to shatter its previous concurrent player record, indicating strong continued interest among the player base.

The Update: A Controversial Overhaul

On August 15, Hunt: Showdown was rebranded to Hunt: Showdown 1896, coinciding with the release of a significant update. The update included a new engine upgrade, but the most controversial change was the revamped UI, which many players criticized as a downgrade. This led to a flood of negative reviews on Steam, with players expressing dissatisfaction with the new interface.

Crytek had previously announced in May that the engine upgrade would mark the end of support for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game. However, players were reassured that they could upgrade to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions at no additional cost, with all progress being carried over.

Record-Breaking Player Count

Despite the mixed reception, the allure of new features drew a substantial number of players back to the game. On August 15, just hours after the update went live, Hunt: Showdown 1896 set a new record with 60,124 concurrent players, surpassing its previous peak of 45,091 players, according to data from SteamDB.

The surge in player count was likely influenced by a combination of factors, including a free weekend and a recent price adjustment for the game. Even though the numbers have since stabilized, Hunt: Showdown 1896 continues to maintain a healthy player base, ranging between 28,000 and 38,000 concurrent players.

Crytek’s Response: Addressing Player Concerns

In response to the criticism, Crytek has been proactive in addressing player concerns. The studio acknowledged the backlash and promised significant improvements to the UI. In a developer update video, the game’s design director outlined plans for future updates, which will focus on enhancing key aspects of the UI. These include improvements to hunter and gear selection, game mode filtering, inventory presentation, and the introduction of a new statistics screen.

While a specific timeline for these changes has not been provided, Crytek has committed to refining the UI to better meet the expectations of the community.

Final Thoughts

The recent developments surrounding Hunt: Showdown 1896 highlight the game’s resilient community and Crytek’s responsiveness to feedback. Despite initial negative reactions to the update, the game’s ability to break its concurrent player record suggests a dedicated player base eager to explore the new content. As Crytek continues to refine the game, Hunt: Showdown 1896 is likely to maintain its strong presence in the competitive gaming landscape.

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