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All about Steel Hunters from Wargaming – creators of World of Tanks

All about Steel Hunters from Wargaming – creators of World of Tanks

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The World and Story of Steel Hunters

The events of the game Steel Hunters take place on a post-apocalyptic Earth, where life has been destroyed by a catastrophe of alien origin. After this catastrophe, a unique and valuable resource known as Starfall appeared on the planet. The remnants of humanity now either inhabit space or hide underground, trying to survive in the conditions of the new world. Players will have to explore this dangerous and mysterious world, fight for resources and discover the secrets left by the former civilization.

Starfall is an important resource for humanity, and its collection is a priority. For this purpose, there are specially trained specialists who operate combat mechs called hunters. Various corporations operate in the market, competing and battling with each other in an effort to acquire as much Starfall as possible. This valuable resource is of immense importance, and its extraction opens new opportunities for technological and economic development. In a highly competitive environment, corporations are using various strategies to improve the efficiency of their operations and increase Starfall production volumes.

Screenshot: Steel Hunters / Wargaming game

Steel gameplay

Steel Hunters is a unique development from Wargaming, different from the company's previous projects. It is a PvPvE action shooter in which players team up in two-person teams and fight in a battle royale-like environment. Wargaming describes Steel Hunters as a "heroic third-person shooter" that combines elements of battle royale, MOBA, and extraction. The game offers dynamic battles and innovative mechanics, making it attractive to fans of the genre.

Players control combat mechs, each with unique skills and roles. The game features various classes, such as a machine gunner who uses grenades, a robot capable of setting up screens, a sniper, and a mech that can call in a drone for support. Seven hunters will be available at launch, and a new character will be added with each new season.

Players form teams of two and drop onto a small map consisting of six squads. The main objective is to acquire Starfall and then extract it, similar to Hunt: Showdown. Gameplay focuses on fighting for control of resource towers. Destroying opponents is not mandatory, but such a strategy can lead to victory without the need for evacuation.

Screenshot: Steel Hunters / Wargaming game

On the game maps, in addition to opponents, there are drones, which must be destroyed to obtain resources and upgrades for your mechs. High-level upgrades can be found in chests, which are constantly being fought over by players. Locations also feature various points of interest worth fighting for. For example, with enough effort, you can transform into a Colossus—a massive robot capable of destroying everything in its path. This adds an element of strategy and variety to the gameplay, making each session unique and exciting.

Each mech in MOBA games fulfills a unique role and has specific abilities. Some mechs focus on healing, others create defensive barriers, others provide team support, and still others deliver powerful missile attacks. Mech abilities effectively complement each other, allowing for a harmonious team strategy. In the game, it is important to act carefully and harmoniously, avoiding unnecessary risks and interacting with partners to achieve victory.

One ​​of the maps available in the closed beta test. Screenshot: Steel Hunters / Wargaming game.

Impressions from the Steel Hunters Playtest

In Steel Hunters, the key element is the ability to interact with a partner and avoid mistakes in the game. The developers call this Duo Symbiosis, which is a marketing term for effective cooperation in a pair. All game mechanics are built on this interaction.

Unfortunately, I was only able to play in random matchmaking mode, and it is difficult to organize teamwork in this format. For more effective interaction, you need a reliable partner who can communicate via the audio system. This will significantly improve the gameplay and allow you to achieve better results.

In Steel Hunters, teams clash constantly. From the very beginning of the match, a chest drops nearby, and the other team immediately rushes to it. The first skirmish typically occurs without significant upgrades—two or three drones can be destroyed en route to the chest, but they don't yield many resources. Thanks to its fast pace, Steel Hunters differs from slower games like Hunt: Showdown, offering dynamic and intense battles. In combat, players must hide behind rocks and flank opponents. It is important to note that without well-coordinated teamwork, it is almost impossible to succeed in this game.
Screenshot: Steel Hunters / Wargaming game

I mainly played as a sniper. This character class has low health but can become invisible for a short time. However, the cooldown of the invisibility ability should be reduced, as it proves to be of little use. Overall, the developers should pay attention to character balance before the open beta test to improve the gaming experience.

In my case, no one transformed into a Colossus, and other map features were also hardly used. The game moves so quickly that there is no time for anything except destroying opponents. Overall, Steel Hunters is fun to play even in this format, but it would be better if the game more encouraged the use of all available abilities. A variety of gameplay elements could make the game more engaging and rich, allowing players to fully realize the potential of the map and mechanics.

Steel Hunters impresses with its graphics thanks to the use of Unreal Engine 5 and demonstrates excellent performance. Locations are filled with a variety of structures that effectively collapse upon player interaction. However, there are some comments regarding the mech design: some models do not look expressive enough. However, it can be part of a strategy for selling cosmetic elements.

Steel Hunters System Requirements

The minimum project requirements include the basic aspects necessary for its successful implementation. First of all, a clear definition of goals and objectives is necessary. It is also important to have a detailed plan that will serve as the basis for all stages. Equally important is the selection of an appropriate team of specialists with the necessary skills and experience.

The next key element is target audience analysis, which will allow you to tailor the project to the specific needs of users. In addition, it is important to consider technical requirements, such as the stability and security of the platform on which the project will be implemented.

Another important aspect is the deadline. Clear timeline planning will help avoid delays and ensure work efficiency.

Therefore, compliance with the minimum requirements is the key to the successful implementation of the project and its meeting customer expectations.

  • 64-bit processor and operating system.
  • Processor: Intel Core i5 8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600.
  • RAM: 16 GB RAM.
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon Vega 64.
  • Disk space: 32 GB.

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  • 64-bit processor and operating system.
  • Processor: Intel Core i5 9600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600.
  • RAM: 16 GB RAM.
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT.
  • Disk space: 32 GB.
Screenshot: Steel Hunters / Wargaming game

Steel Hunters Release Date and Monetization

Monetization in the game will be typical for session projects and will include cosmetic items and battle passes. However, Wargaming representatives cannot yet determine the exact further strategy. In World of Tanks, some premium tanks are so effective that they raise concerns about the pay-to-win model. Hopefully, Steel Hunters will avoid these issues.

At the time of writing, the exact start date of the open beta remains unknown. However, given the positive feedback from the first playtest, it is likely to take place in the first quarter of 2025. Stay tuned for important announcements.

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