February 3, 2026

One of the most requested features steps into the spotlight. We take a closer look at the hunting dog planned for Way of the Hunter 2, its role in the hunt, how it’s trained, and the ideas behind making it a true wilderness companion.

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.

Watch the new Dev Diary here:

One of the most requested features is stepping into the spotlight: The hunting dog in Way of the Hunter 2.

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.

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.

One of the most requested features: a closer look at the hunting dog in Way of the Hunter 2.

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.

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.

Wishlist Way of the Hunter 2 on Steam now.