Wargaming has launched Steel Hunters, its free-to-play mech hero shooter, into Early Access on Steam and Wargaming Game Center. The game blends Battle Royale and Extraction mechanics, pitting players in intense duo PvPvE matches as customizable mechs called Hunters.
Despite being in early access, Steel Hunters will not wipe progress upon launch. The game peaked at 4,479 players on Steam on launch day, which isn’t too shabby.
Early Access Features
- 7 Playable Hunters: Control Razorside, Heartbreaker, Fenris, Ursus, Trenchwalker, Prophet, and Weaver, each with unique abilities. An 8th Hunter will arrive during Early Access.
- Destructible Maps: Battle across Crimson Ridge, Maryland Heights, and Stonecutter Keep.
- New Game Mode: The Last Stand replaces Starfall Harvest as the primary mode.
- Revamped Progression: A streamlined System Tree replaces the old four-path skill system.
- No Progress Wipes: All unlocks and progress from Early Access will carry over to full launch.
Battle Pass & Monetization
- Free Battle Pass (April 2–29): Earn skins, boosters, credits, and Hunter upgrades.
- No Monetization Yet: Wargaming emphasizes player feedback first, with purchases disabled during Early Access.
Development Goals
- Refine balance, performance, and stability based on community input.
- Add new Hunters, maps, and features before full launch.
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