Open-World Hunting Simulation
Way of the Hunter 2 Wiki
Follow animal tracks across North American wilderness and an African reserve. Work with your hunting dog, choose your equipment and review each shot before adding trophies to your lodge.
- Full release Sep 29, 2026
- Patch 1.1 — Steam news Oct 1, 2026
- 28 Launch Species
- 2 Hunting Reserves + HQ
- 20+ Firearms
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What is Way of the Hunter 2?
Way of the Hunter 2 is an open-world hunting simulation developed by Nine Rocks Games and published by THQ Nordic. Track wildlife, study animal behavior and take carefully planned shots in single-player or online co-op.
Explore New Laurentia and Kilimaya Reserve, then expand your Hearth & Hunt headquarters in the Rocky Mountains. Hunting dogs, shot review, habitat improvements and trophy displays give each expedition a purpose beyond the shot.
Browse guides
- Publisher
- THQ Nordic
- Hunting Areas
- 2 Reserves + Headquarters
- Animal Species
- 28 at Version 1.0
- Firearms
- 20+
- Platforms
- Windows PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
- Genres
- Open-world Hunting Simulation, Simulation, Adventure
- Modes
- Single player, Co-op
- Release date
- 2026-09-29
- Developer
- Nine Rocks Games
Latest Updates
Start Here
- 1
Beginner Guide
Learn the controls, complete the opening tutorial and prepare for your first successful hunt.
- 2
Tracking & Shot Placement
Read animal signs, follow blood trails and use shot review to understand where your bullet landed.
- 3
Weapons & Ammunition
Compare rifles, shotguns and ammunition before choosing equipment for your target animal.
- 4
Hunting Dog Guide
Learn how your dog finds animal signs and wounded game, and how practice improves its tracking skills.
Way of the Hunter 2 Hunting Guide Hub
Eight in-depth guides covering beginner basics, weapons, animals, maps, co-op, your hunting dog, herd management and trophy lodges.
Explore the wiki
Guides
Step-by-step Way of the Hunter 2 guides for beginners and returning hunters.
Equipment
Way of the Hunter 2 weapons, ammunition, callers and vehicles compared.
Animals
All 28 Way of the Hunter 2 animals, their regions and where to find them.
Maps
Way of the Hunter 2 maps: New Laurentia, Kilimaya Reserve and need zones.
Online
Way of the Hunter 2 online co-op, crossplay status and community hubs.
Buying
Way of the Hunter 2 editions, platform availability and reviews before you buy.
Updates
Way of the Hunter 2 patch notes, update roadmap and release information.
Support
Fixes and settings for Way of the Hunter 2 crashes, controllers and performance.
Way of the Hunter 2 Beginner Guide
Prepare for your first hunt with the tutorial, tracking tools and shot review. Learn the basics before moving on to specialized equipment and herd management.
- 1
Complete the opening tutorial to learn the game's hunting controls and equipment.
- 2
Adjust Hunter Assist in Settings > Game, including the high-contrast animal-track option added in Version 1.0.
- 3
Follow animal signs and blood trails to locate wildlife and recover wounded animals.
- 4
After a shot, use Shot Review to inspect the bullet's trajectory, speed, angle and placement.
Way of the Hunter 2 Weapons and Ammo Guide
Explore more than 20 firearms and learn how ammunition choices affect penetration and wound cavity size. Follow the confirmed loadout process to carry compatible ammunition and equip your rifles.
- 1
Open the Shop from your lodge laptop or the vicinity menu to purchase alternate ammunition; each weapon also has a free default ammunition type.
- 2
Open Storage and select the rifles or shotguns you want to carry.
- 3
Fill your ammunition slots: 2 without a backpack, 4 with the default backpack or 6 with the large backpack.
- 4
Equip compatible ammunition to your rifle; compatibility indicators use green for matching ammunition and red for mismatches.
Way of the Hunter 2 Animals Guide
Browse the 28 animal species included at the Version 1.0 launch and identify their hunting regions. Compare North American game with African wildlife before choosing your next target.
- 28 Launch SpeciesVersion 1.0
Version 1.0 includes 15 species in New Laurentia and 13 in Kilimaya Reserve.
- North American Game
New Laurentia includes Western moose, Rocky Mountain elk, Wood bison and Grizzly bear.
- African Wildlife
Kilimaya Reserve includes Greater kudu, Blue wildebeest, Southern lion and Nile crocodile.
- Dangerous Encounters
The African reserve also features Common hippopotamus and Cape buffalo alongside lions.
Way of the Hunter 2 Maps Guide
Compare the two large hunting reserves and the smaller Rocky Mountain headquarters map. Learn where each region fits into your journey and how tents support travel and time management.
- New Laurentia
A 100 km² North American hunting map.
- Kilimaya Reserve
A 100 km² African hunting map.
- Hearth & Hunt Headquarters
A 16 km² Rocky Mountain hub with an expandable lodge and hunting opportunities.
- Portable Camps
Tents provide fast travel, time skipping and shelter while waiting out bad weather.
Way of the Hunter 2 Multiplayer Guide
Explore online co-op, platform compatibility and the differences between multiplayer and solo worlds. Check current features before planning a session, with future additions clearly identified.
- Co-op Hunting
Online free-play co-op is available for exploring reserves and hunting with a friend.
- Cross-playVersion 1.0
Version 1.0 does not support cross-play between PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
- Separate Populations
Single-player and multiplayer use separate worlds and animal populations.
- Future MultiplayerPlanned
Shared persistent worlds and co-op expeditions remain on the developer's post-launch roadmap.
Way of the Hunter 2 Hunting Dog Guide
Find out what your companion can track and how its skills improve through regular use. Learn to locate animal signs, follow blood trails and recover wounded game.
- Find Animal Signs
Your dog can search for signs left by wildlife.
- Follow Blood Trails
The companion follows blood trails to help locate wounded animals.
- Improve Through Use
Regular exercise and practice improve the dog's tracking skills over time.
- Advanced TrainingPlanned
Additional advanced dog-training features are planned for a post-launch update.
Way of the Hunter 2 Herd Management Guide
Learn how animal-group fitness affects future populations and how habitat repairs support local herds. Plan reserve maintenance through feeder upkeep, pollution removal and invasive-species cleanup.
- Population Fitness
Managing animal-group fitness influences the quality of future populations.
- Restore Habitats
Infrastructure improvements can restore damaged habitats and raise local herds' fitness potential.
- Maintain the Reserve
Reserve activities include maintaining feeders, removing pollution and clearing invasive species.
Way of the Hunter 2 Trophies and Lodge Guide
Turn successful hunts into a collection displayed across your hunting lodges. Explore procedural trophies, taxidermy displays and the expandable Hearth & Hunt headquarters.
- Procedural Trophies
Trophies are procedurally generated, allowing individual animals to produce varied results.
- Taxidermy Displays
Lodges support wall-mounted taxidermy and floor display stands.
- Headquarters Expansion
Expand the Hearth & Hunt headquarters lodge with additional rooms and trophy-display space.
- Across the Reserves
The headquarters can display trophies collected from different hunting regions.
Way of the Hunter 2 FAQ
Common questions about Way of the Hunter 2, answered for new hunters and returning players on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Has Way of the Hunter 2 fully released, and where can I play it?
Yes. Way of the Hunter 2 fully released on September 29, 2026 for PC through Steam and GOG, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Steam Early Access began on March 26, 2026.
Does Way of the Hunter 2 have multiplayer, and how many players can join?
Online co-op is available. The developer's Version 1.0 FAQ describes two-player free-play co-op, while console stores list up to four online players. These sources disagree; check your platform's current build before planning a larger group.
Does Way of the Hunter 2 support cross-play?
Version 1.0 does not support cross-play between PC, PlayStation and Xbox. The developer is investigating it but has not confirmed a release date.
Which hunting areas are in Way of the Hunter 2?
The game includes New Laurentia in North America, Kilimaya Reserve in Africa and a smaller Rocky Mountain headquarters map centered on the expandable Hearth & Hunt lodge.
What does the hunting dog do in Way of the Hunter 2?
Your dog detects animal signs, follows blood trails and tracks wounded animals. Regular exercise and training improve its skills.
Can I play Way of the Hunter 2 offline?
Yes. Single-player can be played offline, including on consoles. Multiplayer requires an online connection.
Is Way of the Hunter 2 officially supported on Steam Deck?
No. The developer says it can be launched on Steam Deck, but it is not officially supported or optimized for the device and may require manual configuration.
What are the minimum PC requirements for Way of the Hunter 2?
The current Steam listing requires 64-bit Windows 11, a Ryzen 5 3600X or Core i5-9600K, 16 GB RAM, an RTX 2060 or RX 5600 XT, DirectX 12 and 38 GB of available storage.
What does the Way of the Hunter 2 Deluxe Edition include?
The Deluxe Edition includes the base game and Season One Season Pass. The pass covers eight DLCs planned for the first year after launch; this does not mean all eight are already available.
Can I change the weather in Way of the Hunter 2?
Patch 1.1 adds a Long-Term Weather Forecast option through the in-game menu. Changes take effect after 48 in-game hours, and snowy-weather probability is separate from animal aging.
Ready for Your First Way of the Hunter 2 Hunt?
Prepare your equipment, learn to follow wildlife and turn your next hunt into a trophy worth displaying.