theHunter: Call of the Wild™

Released Feb 2017

Discover an authentic hunting game in a dynamic open world that reacts to your every move. Track prey, face unscripted encounters, and master the hunt alone or with friends.

89% positive · 204K reviews

Not yet

Released, but content still planned

High confidence

Content Planned

Not yet

Released, but content still planned

High confidence

Content Planned

Where to get it

Free on Steam

Steam Free

Evaluation

theHunter: Call of the Wild launched on February 16, 2017 and has received a sustained stream of paid and free content ever since, now spanning 60 DLC items including hunting reserves, weapon packs, cosmetic packs, hunting dogs, and equipment. The most recent major content release is the Peru Hunting Reserve (June 16, 2026), bringing 10 new animal species across 3 distinct biomes, 60 new story missions, a new crossbow weapon, and an Animal Sanctuary system. As recently as August 11, 2026, the developer posted marketing content tied to Peru (a limited-edition plush), confirming continued engagement with the game just 8 days before today's date. The developer's release cadence has been consistent and prolific: Salzwiesen Park (December 2024), Rapid Hunt Rifle Pack (March 2025), Alberta Hunting Preserve (June 2025), Scotland Hunting Reserve (December 2025), and Peru Hunting Reserve (June 2026) — major releases roughly every 3–6 months, with weapon packs and feature patches filling the gaps between them. Most significantly, a May 22, 2026 community Q&A from the developer explicitly confirmed that another map DLC is in development beyond Peru, with new animals, a new Great One exclusive to that map, and hints about its setting. The developer also noted they are working on improving their technology to eventually deliver an African reserve. These statements make clear that the Peru DLC was not the final release in the pipeline. The store description continues to describe the game as "regularly updated in collaboration with the community," consistent with the developer's ongoing content schedule. All available evidence points to continued active content development with no indication that development is winding down.

Evidence

Peru Hunting Reserve launched with 10 new animal species, 3 biomes, 60 story missions, a new crossbow, and an Animal Sanctuary system.

news post · Jun 16, 2026 source content shipped

high

Developer community Q&A explicitly confirms another map DLC is coming soon with many new animals, a new Great One exclusive to that map, and hints about its location. Developer also discussed ongoing tech improvements aimed at eventually delivering an African reserve.

news post · May 22, 2026 source content planned

high

Content

61 of 61 released · no outstanding content

Released

theHunter: Call of the Wild™ - Old West Weapon Pack

Sep 2026

Released

theHunter: Call of the Wild™ - Peru Hunting Reserve

Jun 2026

Media

Details

Developer

Expansive Worlds

Publisher

Avalanche Studios

Achievements

160

Platform

Windows

Controller

full support

Steam Deck

Playable

Players

Single-player · Multiplayer · Co-op

Hunting Open World Nature Relaxing FPS Stealth Simulation Survival Realistic Sandbox First-Person Walking Simulator Shooter Immersive Sim Sports

About this game

Discover an authentic hunting game in a dynamic open world where the wild reacts to your every move. Master the hunt by tracking prey and staying prepared for unscripted encounters. Explore on your own or with friends.

Explore an authentic open world hunting experience, set in a dynamic environment teeming with life. The wild offers constant, unscripted encounters, continuously responding to your presence.

A LIVING, BREATHING WILDERNESS

Journey across the rugged Layton Lake District in North America or explore the leafy European landscapes of Hirschfelden. Discover a diverse range of regions, each home to its own unique flora and fauna. Experience the dynamics of complex animal behavior, changing weather events, full day and night cycles, highly realistic acoustics, and scents carried by the wind.

YOUR HUNT, YOUR CHOICE

Choose your rifle, sidearm, shotgun, or bow with care, matching your loadout and ammunition to your prey. From jackrabbits and mallards to black bears, elk, and moose, every hunt demands its own approach. Read unique animal behaviors, adapt to the environment, and make your shot count.

HONOR THE HUNT

Every hunt has a unique story to tell, and some you might want to remember forever. Display your most prized harvests in your trophy lodge, and preserve those memories for years to come.

ALWAYS EVOLVING

Developed in close collaboration with the community and shaped by years of player feedback, theHunter: Call of the Wild keeps evolving to offer an authentic hunting experience. With regular updates of free and paid content, including new reserves and equipment, the hunt you return to is never quite the one you left.

TOGETHER IN THE WILD

Experience online multiplayer for up to eight players in breathtaking hunting reserves. Collaborate and strategize with friends, or compete to take down the most impressive harvest. You can access any paid DLC reserve as long as one member of your hunting party owns it.

EXPAND YOUR HUNTING EXPERIENCE

Take your journey further with a collection of paid content. Choose from 18 global reserves, stretching from frozen northern land, to dry African plains to dense jungle rivers. Experience new ways of hunting with equipment like precision modern rifles or classic black-powder weapons, and adapt to the trail with ATVs, mobile tents, ground blinds, and hunting dogs. The path ahead is as wide as you choose to make it.