Crytek's atmospheric extraction shooter Hunt: Showdown 1896 receives a substantial update with the new Garden of the Witch event, bringing fresh content alongside significant balance changes and bug fixes. As the developer shifts focus toward improving overall gameplay experience in 2025, this update represents a strategic rebalancing of stealth mechanics while introducing new characters and weapons to the bayou.
Garden of the Witch Event Introduces Faction Warfare
The latest event centers around a thematic clash between nature and industry, introducing five new Legendary Hunters divided into opposing factions. The Bruja faction consists of swamp medics who specialize in cultivating healing herbs and organic mysticism, while the Welders are metallurgy-obsessed brothers who combat the Corruption through industrial occult practices and fire. Standing apart from these groups is the enigmatic Servant of the Void, a doomsayer who warns of impending apocalypse and punishes non-believers.
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| A figure from the Garden of the Witch event approaches a mysterious wooden structure, embodying the thematic clash of nature and industry |
New Weapons Expand Arsenal Options
Update 2.3 delivers several new weapons to Hunt: Showdown's already impressive arsenal. Players can now wield the 1865 Carbine Silencer, described as a fast-reloading mid-range powerhouse. Additionally, two shortened Mosin Nagant variants join the lineup: the Mosin Obrez Match and Mosin Obrez Sharpeye, which deliver significant damage but with slightly reduced range compared to the standard Mosin-Nagant. The update also introduces custom 1865 Carbine Subsonic Ammo, featuring smaller, heavier bullets with reduced gunpowder for quieter shots—perfect for stealthy approaches.
Stealth Mechanics Rebalanced
In a significant gameplay adjustment, Crytek has reduced the base damage of all silencers by 10%. This change reflects the developer's admission that they had previously undervalued stealth mechanics, stating, we want to increase the cost of silence, and make sure the advantage it grants is counterbalanced appropriately. This rebalancing aims to create more meaningful trade-offs when players opt for silent approaches in the bayou.
Event-Exclusive Traits Return with Modifications
Garden of the Witch brings back three Scarce traits from previous events: Blademancer, Corpse Seer, and Gunrunner. Blademancer allows players to retrieve ammo using Dark Sight but has been nerfed to no longer deal extra pull-out damage. Corpse Seer grants Dark Sight boosts when looting fallen Hunters, while Gunrunner enables equipping a second large or medium slot weapon. These limited-time traits add strategic depth to gameplay during the event period.
New Rare Supply System Replaces Sealed Hoards
The update introduces a new loot mechanic called Rare Supply, which functions similarly to previous events' Sealed Hoard feature but with dynamic placement. Only one Rare Supply point appears per mission, essentially creating a valuable loot room that moves between various locations. These supply points are marked by black canvas and unique map icons, making them identifiable but likely contested hotspots during matches.
Extensive Bug Fixes and Quality-of-Life Improvements
Crytek has addressed numerous technical issues, with a particularly notable fix preventing bunnyhopping snipers by resolving a bug where shooting while jumping resulted in 100% accuracy. Other fixes include preventing dead Hunters from being ignited when touched by burning players and resolving an issue where players could appear to be killed by opponents who were already visually dead. The network experience has also received improvements as part of Crytek's 2025 focus on enhancing overall gameplay.
Limited-Time Discount Celebrates Update
To celebrate the Garden of the Witch update, Hunt: Showdown 1896 is currently 50% off until April 3, 2025, bringing the price down to USD$14.99/£12.99. This discount offers an attractive entry point for new players interested in experiencing the recently overhauled extraction shooter and its latest content.