As Halloween approaches, Hunt: Showdown 1896 is ramping up the chills and thrills with its latest event, “Harvest of Ghosts,” and an exciting limited-time game mode, “Bounty Clash.” From October 16 through November 25, 2024, Crytek will be unleashing a wealth of new content that promises to elevate the spooky season for players who thrive on fast-paced action, strategy, and tense showdowns in the bayou.
New Limited-Time Game Mode: Bounty Clash
In Hunt: Showdown 1896, high stakes and high tension are the name of the game, and this Halloween, the new mode Bounty Clash cranks up the intensity. Available from October 16 to October 20—and returning every weekend during the Harvest of Ghosts event—Bounty Clash offers a rapid, bite-sized version of the game’s core bounty hunting gameplay. Players spawn into a random compound where a dead boss target awaits banishment. The challenge? Snatch the bounty token and escape before rival teams can take you down. With only 15 minutes to accomplish your goal, the pressure is always on.
What makes Bounty Clash particularly thrilling is that you’ll be bringing in Hunters from your existing roster, so the stakes are higher than ever before. If your beloved high-level Hunter falls in battle, it’s a devastating loss, making each decision feel razor-sharp. And the map variations—taking place in unique adaptations of Mammon’s Gulch or Stillwater Bayou—bring just enough novelty to keep things fresh, even for seasoned veterans.
For me, the prospect of 15-minute, high-octane battles that retain Hunt’s signature tension is incredibly exciting. This mode feels like a perfect way to get a quick adrenaline fix without committing to the longer classic matches. The only downside? I hope future updates will expand on this mode with even more map variations and perhaps additional objectives to keep things interesting as the mode becomes a regular fixture.
The “Harvest of Ghosts” Event: Pacts, Powers, and Prizes
The true meat of Hunt: Showdown’s Halloween festivities, however, comes with the sprawling Harvest of Ghosts event, running from October 16 to November 25. This event is a rich new chapter in Hunt’s ongoing story of corruption and chaos, introducing new game mechanics, rewards, and ways to play.
At the heart of the Harvest of Ghosts event is a mysterious new Hunter known as “Harvest,” who has become an avatar for Dark Sight, ushering in a new wave of chaos. This dark influence brings with it fresh tools like the Dark Dynamite Satchel, which adds a strategic twist with remote detonation via Dark Sight. The event’s new Pacts system is particularly intriguing, allowing players to align with one of three factions—each with its own gameplay-altering traits.
- Wilderness Pact: If you’re into stealthy gameplay, this Pact is perfect for you. It provides traits like Surefoot and Beastface, which give your Hunter the edge in mobility and navigation across the treacherous landscape.
- Pact of Omens: If you prefer to wreak havoc, the Pact of Omens is all about enhanced senses. Traits like Blast Sense and Pain Sense let you track enemies through sound and sight, making it ideal for tactical ambushes.
- Smugglers Pact: For the gun-loving Hunter, this Pact offers traits like Gunrunner and Greyhound, which favor fast, aggressive playstyles and heavy firepower.
Each Pact not only adds strategic depth to the game but also introduces ways to earn Pledge Marks and unlock exclusive rewards. One thing I’m especially excited about is the new weapons introduced during the event, such as the Bomb Launcher and the Maynard Sniper. These fresh tools, combined with Pact-specific traits, should open up all sorts of creative possibilities for players.
In addition, I love the fact that Harvest of Ghosts introduces Sealed Rewards at various points on the map. These provide even more incentive for exploration and risk-taking, allowing for multiple layers of strategy within a single match. It will be fascinating to see how players adapt to the event’s mechanics and which Pacts will emerge as fan favorites.
You can check out the chilling Harvest of Ghosts trailer here.
What I’m Hoping to See in Future Updates
While the Harvest of Ghosts event and Bounty Clash mode already promise a fantastic Halloween experience, I’m hoping Crytek continues to experiment with different event-based game modes. Something like a survival mode, where players have to fend off waves of both monsters and Hunters, could add a fresh layer of excitement.
Moreover, I’d love to see the story of the Corruption and its impact on Dark Sight explored more deeply in future updates. The lore of Hunt: Showdown is one of its strongest elements, and expanding on it with more cinematic events or narrative-driven missions would further immerse players in the haunted world of Hunt.
Stay Connected for More Updates
As always, Crytek is great at keeping the community updated, so be sure to follow them on social media for more announcements and teasers as we approach the Harvest of Ghosts launch:
For more information about Hunt: Showdown 1896 and to keep an eye on all future updates, visit their official website.
About Hunt: Showdown 1896
Hunt: Showdown 1896 transports players to the rugged, monster-filled wilderness of Colorado in a competitive, bounty-hunting shooter set in a dark, corrupted world. Balancing PvP and PvE gameplay, every match is a deadly race to banish terrifying monsters and escape with the prize—while fending off rival Hunters bent on taking the bounty for themselves. Whether playing solo or in teams, Hunt is a relentless fight for survival where danger lurks around every corner.
If you’re brave enough to face the darkness, you can play Hunt: Showdown 1896 now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.