Way of the Hunter 2 Locks In September 29 for Its Full Launch, With Consoles and a Hunting Dog Along for the Ride

Way of the Hunter 2 finally has a real finish line. During the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase on August 7, publisher THQ Nordic and developer Nine Rocks Games announced that the hunting sim sequel leaves Steam Early Access and launches in full on September 29. That date also marks the console debut, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions arriving day and date alongside the finished PC release on Steam and GOG.

The game has been in Early Access since March 26, so the studio is landing almost exactly on the six month runway it originally promised. That kind of punctuality is rare enough in Early Access that it deserves a mention on its own.

Video: Xbox on YouTube

What the full version adds

The headline feature is the hunting dog, a first for the series. Your companion tracks game, picks up blood trails after a shot, and improves as you train it, which should take some of the sting out of losing a wounded animal in dense brush. The new trailer leans into it hard, showing the dog working alongside not just you but a second hunter, a nod to the multiplayer that Nine Rocks has confirmed is planned but has not yet shipped during Early Access.

Beyond the dog, the 1.0 feature list includes a Shot Review system that breaks down every shot by trajectory, speed, angle and placement, plus a Hunting Lodge hub where you plan hunts, hang trophies and unlock upgrades. Early Access opened with New Laurentia, a ten by ten kilometer region inspired by the North American wilderness with thirteen huntable species, and the roadmap targets around thirty species across all maps by the full release. The Steam page also pitches an African savanna alongside the northern forests, with Cape buffalo among the big game, so the second region looks set to change the scenery dramatically.

The price goes up at launch

Here is the practical detail worth acting on: Early Access currently costs $29.99, and Nine Rocks has confirmed the full version jumps to $39.99. Buying now gets you the finished game in September for ten dollars less, and pre orders on the new platforms include a Heirloom Pack DLC bonus. We would still counsel a quick look at the reviews first. Steam player feedback sits at 74 percent positive overall, which is decent rather than glowing, though the recent trend is a bit warmer as updates have rolled in.

Our take is that this series has quietly become the more story flavored alternative in the hunting sim space, and the sequel hitting consoles the same day as 1.0 is the right call. The first game found most of its audience on PC, but a patient, pretty open world hunter feels tailor made for a couch and a controller. September 29 is a crowded corner of the calendar, but this one is not fighting for the same players as the big shooters landing around it.