Next Hunting Adventure: Everything We Know

For whatever reason, developer Nine Rock Games has chosen not to name its new sequel Way of the Hunter 2. Perhaps to separate the two entities from one another. Yet, from Next Hunting Adventure’s trailer, it’s clear that this is very much the same game, only bigger and better. 

As any loyal fan of Way of the Hunter will tell you, it was one of the best hunting games of all time. So, we can, though still cautiously, look forward to an even better sequel. Thought tracking down herds, and learning their patterns and behavior was fun? It ’s about to get even better, with herd genetics and reserve management.

Let’s dive further into the specifics of all Nine Rock Games and THQ Nordic promises in our Next Hunting Adventure: Everything We Know article below.

What is Next Hunting Adventure?

Next Hunting Adventure is an upcoming hunting game set in the open world of North America. It’ll be a lot similar to Way of the Hunter, coming from the same developer and publisher. Players will still be engaging in a core hunting gameplay loop. They will explore the Canadian wilderness, tracking down different animal species, big and small. 

Story

The setting for Next Hunting Adventure will be in North America, featuring a massive open-world wilderness. You’ll mostly be hunting different animals, from big ones like bears, bison, moose, and elk, to small species like rabbits, turkeys, and various bird species. Afterward, you’ll display your wins in your lodges, presumably dispersed around the virtual world.

But there might actually be a concrete story players will unravel. You’ll have several unique challenges to complete, taking place across two stunning environments. Here, you’ll meet with delightful NPCs. For the map of New Laurentia, however, players will work with a dog trainer, as well as the warden of the reserve, to bust open a mystery surrounding the local moose population. Apparently, they’ve started to behave funny.

Gameplay

At its core, Next Hunting Adventure is a hunting simulator. It’ll mimic the real-world hunting experience, aiming to be authentic, but also provide the most advanced visuals and gameplay. The developers will be borrowing gameplay elements from their first game, Way of the Hunter, hopefully learning from their mistakes, and incorporating audience feedback.

More specifically, you can look forward to a dog companion, tagging along on your hunting adventures. The dogs will be able to track down blood trails, wounded animals, and even identify different animal signatures. Plus, they’ll be able to learn and get better at their job through training and exercise.

Like in Way of the Hunter, you’ll be able to review your shots, seeing where you might improve on placement and trajectory, among other nitty-gritty. With every analysis, you should be able to pinpoint areas of improvement.

You’ll also have lodges, acting as your hub of operations. Here’s where you’ll plan for hunts, show off your trophies, and level up your equipment. You’ll unlock upgrades that help you become a better hunter, with a hint of, also, building the perfect lodges yourself. There won’t just be one, as well. Rather, a unique lodge for every map.

As for equipment, they’ll serve to help sharpen your hunting skills through better immersion and realism. Tools like night vision goggles, as well as monitoring tools for managing your habitats.

Lastly, Next Hunting Adventure will feature both single-player and online co-op modes. 

Development

Developer Nine Rocks Games and publisher THQ Nordic are at the driver’s seat of bringing the upcoming Next Hunting Adventure to market. They’ve just announced that the game is in development, identifying it as the next follow-up to Nine Rocks Games and THQ Nordic’s own Way of the Hunter. 

As such, it’s surprising that the new game hasn’t been named Way of the Hunter 2. With the release date still unclear, though, perhaps the studios will still make changes to the name, along with definite updates and polishing up of the gameplay. 

In the developers’ own words, they claim that the new game will be better than their first go at hunting simulation. That the first game was merely a foundation that will go on to feature “many updates, expansions, and true long-term support.”

It’s certainly promising that the developers have collaborated with over ten different real-world brand partners, ranging from gun manufacturers to industry precision optics and equipment. They really are focusing on realism, from the environments to the gear.

Trailer

Next Hunting Adventure’s announcement teaser trailer looks pretty good already. Nine Rocks Games reveals they’ve received feedback from over 1 million players and plan to incorporate their findings in the new game. They claim to be building the “ultimate hunting game,” which includes a massive hunting world that will expand and evolve for years to come. 

But first, you’ll begin your journey in New Lorentia, where other hunting fans await. There’ll be management gameplay, where players work to revive the reserve by working with the locals. Eventually, you’ll earn the responsibility to manage the reserve by yourself. Moreover, you’ll unlock heavy-duty trucks. It’s definitely exciting to have vehicular traversal, given the expansive maps Nine Rocks Games teases. 

But lots of details are still unclear, like whether you’ll be the only one driving the trucks around or NPCs will also have their own. Can you hunt with the trucks? What specific species will be there? In what ways will herd genetic management be improved? So can’t wait.

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

It’s unclear when Next Hunting Adventure plans to drop on Steam. However, it seems that it’ll be a PC-exclusive once launched. Editions are also unclear at this time. 

It’s interesting that Way of the Hunter launched on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms. It also featured a Standard, Elite, and Ultimate edition, as well as several DLCs. So, maybe the new game will follow in its predecessor’s footsteps.

To stay in the loop of all upcoming updates and announcements, please keep checking the social media handles of developer Nine Rocks Games and publisher THQ Nordic.