In an exciting new announcement, developer Wargaming has revealed a new, mech-based extraction shooter, Steel Hunters, at The Game Awards. The project marks a departure for Wargaming, best known for games like World of Tanks, World of Warships, and World of Warplanes, but has some exciting gameplay aspects that may prove especially appealing to fans of mechs, hero shooters, and extraction shooters.
As announced at The Game Awards, Wargaming's newest upcoming title is Steel Hunters - a third-person, multiplayer shooter where players pilot mechs with unique abilities. The game is a team-based PvPvE experience, pulling elements from hero shooters, battle royales, and extraction shooters. It aims to emphasize tactical play, encouraging players to work with their teammates to gather resources, fight opposing teams, and achieve victory through either extracting with their loot or remaining as the last team standing.
In a notable departure from Wargaming's past projects, like World of Tanks, Steel Hunters's sci-fi setting places players in control of unique mechs called Hunters. Each hunter has its own distinct playstyle and set of abilities, making the game comparable to a hero shooter like Marvel Rivals. Where it can diverge from hero shooters, however, is in its objectives, which pull more from extraction shooters and battle royales.
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Currently, Steel Hunters has no set release date, but a PC beta for the game went live shortly after its announcement at The Game Awards. Players can sign up for the beta on the Wargaming website or Steam, and it will run until December 22. Plans for further betas or a final release aren't set but are likely to be announced in 2025. Importantly, Steel Hunters will be a free-to-play game at release, following the example of most of its competitors and lowering the barrier to entry.
Steel Hunters Has Potential - & Plenty Of Competition
Wargaming's Newest Project Will Have To Overcome Several Live-Service Competitors
While Steel Hunters is definitely a project to follow for fans of the mech genre, the game is almost guaranteed to have tough competition across multiple genres, with games like Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals, and Escape from Tarkov already having established, entrenched audiences who may not be likely to move to another game. Moreover, even in the mecha niche, Steel Hunters is likely to face competition from at least one other upcoming mech shooter, Mecha BREAK, which releases in Spring 2025 and might make it difficult for Steel Hunters to establish an audience of its own.
With several other live-service games already under its belt, however, Wargaming seems relatively well-positioned to maintain Steel Hunters as an ongoing experience. While it can be hard to predict the success of certain games, Steel Hunters seems like a promising new title and something for mech fans and shooter fans to look forward to.
Steel Hunters
In Steel Hunters, players pilot colossal mechs, known as Hunters, in intense 22nd-century gladiatorial combat. Strategic gameplay emphasizes outsmarting opponents over sheer reflexes, with customizable loadouts and dynamic arenas enhancing the tactical depth.
In the interest of full disclosure and transparency, Screen Rant confirms it is on the judging panel at The Game Awards 2024. Our editorial process is separate from our contributions to judging, and as such, our panel inclusion does not compromise our journalistic integrity.
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