It’s been a while since our last Hunter Log in December, and a lot has happened since then. First of all, thank you for your patience and for sticking with us through months of updates, fixes, and new gear. This Log is our chance to look back at what we’ve built together in 2025 so far. So, let’s take a moment to walk through the highlights of the recent additions to Way of the Hunter, what our studio and community have been up to, and give you a glimpse of what’s still ahead before the year closes.
So Far in 2025 Updates Recap
The year kicked off with update 1.26.7 and a big change to the Hunting Map UI. Many of you had asked for clearer tools to manage herds, and we listened. The new design gives you more clarity, shows the in-game year, and makes all the raw data easier to understand. Our goal was simple: help you make smarter hunting choices, while keeping the system easy to use. For more details, check out our summary on Strategic Habitat Management & Herd Fitness.
We made several improvements to multiplayer, including a ping system, join/leave notifications, and an updated server browser to make teaming up smoother. PC players also received new FSR2 and DLSS presets, while PS5 Pro players gained additional visual options to balance performance and image quality.
Not long after, we rolled out more variety in the wildlife, new albino rare furs for Sambar deer, Gemsbok, and Springbok, plus fresh antler variations for White-tailed deer - all in update 1.26.8.
Update 1.27 was a big step for both us and you. Night vision, something many of you had been asking for since launch, finally made its way into the game. The Night Hunting Pack DLC brought a full set of night vision gear - scopes, binoculars, and more, plus a free rifle scope for all players, even if you don’t own this or any prior DLC.
That same update brought another community-driven change: HUD customization. We know some players prefer an uncluttered screen, so we've made it more customizable, letting you adjust it to match your own hunting style.
We gave our Content Creators early access to this update, and many released videos about the new packs. One we’d like to spotlight is Sightless’s video on the Night Vision DLC, where he covers the update news, showcases the gear in the field, and shares his impressions of the equipment.
This year also gave us the chance to welcome new partners. A passionate Way of the Hunter fan from Integrix optics reached out with the idea of bringing their brand into the game. Talking to Way of the Hunter players who also work with real equipment made this collaboration even more special, and we were proud to introduce the Integrix iX6 3–18x44 rifle scope. Shortly after, we celebrated our third anniversary with another exciting addition - Bergara. Their B-14 Wilderness HMR in .300 PRC joined the game as a free update and quickly became a community favorite.
As a bit of behind-the-scenes insight, our team had the opportunity to test the B-14 Wilderness HMR in real life. We also captured its sounds and brought them directly into the game, so what you hear is as authentic as it gets. We’ll be sharing a video of the experience with you soon. Right now, we’d like to give a special thanks to Amelie Eichinger-Noll, as well as to Matthias Schultner, for recording with his HMR Wilderness out in the wild.
These collaborations mean a lot to us, and we’re really thankful to have both Integrix and Bergara as part of the Way of the Hunter family.
August closed with the release of the Hunter’s Advantage Pack DLC. It brought in three new rifles and a versatile electronic caller. Among them, the Mordecai Doublejab in .416 Remington Magnum stands out as a powerhouse for close encounters with big game like Cape buffalo. The Prairie Hunter Jack, a lever-action in .44 Remington Magnum, is built for smooth, quick shots on medium game. The Universal Electronic Caller pulls all 47 calls into one compact device, making sure the advantage is always on your side.
And that brings us to the present. Thank you for all the feedback and bug reports since the last update. They’ve been invaluable in helping us track down some of the trickier issues. The next update will include improvements to the e-caller, SFX adjustments, and a new resident that will soon join the herds in Tikamoon Plains: massive, majestic, and ready to roam the grasslands.
Community Highlights
Back in May, we hosted a screenshot contest highlighting White-tailed deer and their new antler variations. You rose to the challenge and submitted some fantastic entries — thank you to everyone who participated! With so many screenshots, our internal judges had a difficult time deciding, but in the end, the winners stood out. Each received a game or DLC key for the platform of their choice. Here are the winning screenshots:
You’ve been sending us some outstanding screenshots, and throughout this article, we’ve included a few highlights. From rare fur trophies and close-up animal shots to beautiful moments captured on your hunts, the community has been sharing some really impressive creations.
For this Hunting Log, we also wanted to spotlight community videos that can be especially helpful for anyone looking for tips and tricks. Big thanks to HUNT, who brings plenty of energy and fun to his beginner-friendly guides, and to FeiYen The Hunter, whose calm and clear approach makes understanding ammo choices much easier:
We also enjoy seeing the community challenges from LiquidFire, and he created an insightful video about efficient culling in Way of the Hunter. He takes a deep dive into effective hunting, explaining his approach, stacking strategies, and everything it involves.
Of course, this is just a small glimpse of the content our community creates. If you’d like to share your hunts, exchange tips, or connect with fellow hunters, our official Discord server is the place to be. With more than 14,000 members, including content creators, moderators, and our dev team, it’s a welcoming space we’d love you to join. Click here to join us!
Way of the Hunter OST
We’ve made it easier to enjoy the Way of the Hunter Original Soundtrack! In addition to YouTube and the free copy in your Steam library, you can now stream it on Spotify and iTunes:
🎵 Listen to Way of the Hunter OST on Spotify.
🎵 Listen to Way of the Hunter OST on iTunes.
Behind the Lodge Doors
We’re proud to share that Way of the Hunter has passed 1 million copies sold since launch in August 2022. It’s more than just a number, it’s proof of the amazing community that’s grown around this game, and we couldn’t be more thankful.
We also made time to celebrate as a team. We marked Nine Rocks Games’ 5th anniversary with a BBQ, always a good way to recharge before diving back into work. Inside the studio, we’ve also welcomed new faces to the team. Jozef joined as our marketing manager, and Igor came aboard as a new scripter.
In June, we went to Game Access in Brno, sharing a booth with friends from Ashborne Games and Warhorse Studios. Visitors stopped by to play, chat, and enjoy a cold drink with us.
Looking back, we’re proud not only of the game but also of the community that’s grown around it. Your feedback, creativity, and support fuel everything we do, and we’re excited for what’s still to come.
Tracks Ahead
Let’s circle back to that last point. This year, as many of you noticed, we haven’t shared a detailed roadmap. The truth is, plans in game development tend to shift constantly - sometimes faster than we’d like. We’ve shared news when things were certain, and held back when they weren’t, to avoid giving you promises we couldn’t keep. We appreciate your support and the passion you show for Way of the Hunter.
We’re looking forward to sharing more with the community as we continue to solidify our plans and prepare the road ahead for Way of the Hunter. We know you’re eager for news, so we can at least tell you that while part of the team remains fully focused on future updates, others have already been laying the groundwork for the next game at Nine Rocks Games. We’re not ready to spill the beans just yet, but rest assured that there are good things in store, and we’ll share them when we’re able.
What we can say is this: Way of the Hunter still has plenty ahead. In the foreseeable future, you can look forward to multiple new animals, additional rifles, ongoing fixes and improvements, and a small free USA map that will introduce one of the new animals.
And as a little bonus from the community, here are some funny screenshots from the category: Hunter’s Final Moments.
Until the Next Hunt
Thank you for being part of our hunting community. If you’d like to share your thoughts, you know where to find us - our lodge doors are always open, and the links are waiting just below.
Happy hunting!
On behalf of Nine Rocks Games,
Miriam, Community Manager
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