Hunt: Showdown 1896 - The “Road to Hell” event begins on June 9 with Update 2.8

Hunt: Showdown 1896 is getting a new major event called “Road to Hell,” along with Update 2.8. Starting June 9, you'll be making your way through the remains of the failed 26th Regiment in this PvPvE shooter.

The next major in-game event for Hunt: Showdown 1896 is in the starting blocks—nearly 7 years after the game’s release. Player numbers remain fairly steady, hovering between 30k and 50k. So the fanbase is still sticking with the game. “Road to Hell” could also make the game appealing to new players, as it takes you into the bloody history of the 26th Regiment—a unit that marched into the Corruption Zones with firepower and delusions of grandeur, only to suffer a spectacular defeat. What remained of it: decaying strongholds, contaminated ex-soldiers as Corrupted Grunts, and plenty of loot for hungry Hunters.

New Weapons, New Hunters

The event also brings fresh firepower to the new setting: The heavyweight Maxim 1895 machine gun can be fired from the hip, but it slows your Hunter down by 25 percent and tends to overheat. For fans of precision, there’s the new 1890 Cavalry Rifle, a single-shot weapon with 139 damage points and compatibility with the “Fast Fingers” trait.

Joining them are new Legendary Hunters like Commander Whitlaw, Sergeant Riggins, and the quirky Ol' Cowpoke Dusty Ivo. On June 10, The Ironclad—better known as Ned Kelly, the legendary Australian bushranger—will also be added via DLC.

Battle Pass, Story Challenge, and Update 2.8

The new Battle Pass for Hunt: Showdown includes 50 rewards, including Legendary Skins and medals. New players can take advantage of the free Story Challenge “Let the Gunshots Ring,” which offers a free Legendary Hunter as a reward. Update 2.8 also delivers balancing changes and community fixes—details will be available during the developer livestream on June 3. “Road to Hell” launches on June 9, 2026.