Hunt: Showdown is celebrating its eighth anniversary with a series of community-focused events, including a new weapon skin contest and a retrospective look at the game’s evolution. The celebration comes as the extraction shooter continues to evolve with recent updates, including the introduction of the Flame Rifle and the return of the Bileweavers.
The game’s developers announced the anniversary celebrations on February 18, 2026, highlighting the community’s role in shaping Hunt: Showdown over the past eight years. Key moments cited include the “Moon Trilogy,” the “Tide Trilogy,” “Web of the Empress,” and “Post Malone’s Murder Circus Encore.”
A major update, 2.0, significantly altered the game, introducing the new map, Mammon’s Gulch, and an upgraded CRYENGINE. Throughout 2025, the development team focused on game health updates, community events, and new content, including the Flame Rifle.
The newly announced weapon skin contest invites players to submit designs for the Specter 1882 Bayonet, LeMat Carbine, Baseball Bat, Berthier Riposte, Springfield Marksman, and Nagant M1895. The winning design will be implemented into the game, and the creator will receive Blood Bonds, merchandise, and keys. Six additional designs selected by the community will also receive prizes.
Recent in-game events have included the “Web of the Empress,” which introduced the Bileweavers – spider-like enemies that infest compounds and create new tactical challenges. The event also featured “Destiny’s Dial,” a randomized reward system offering traits, buffs, and Hunt Dollars, similar to the fortune teller machine from Post Malone’s “Murder Circus” event. Tarot cards, offering powerful single-use effects, were also introduced.
The “Post Malone’s Murder Circus Encore” event brought the Flame Rifle to Hunt: Showdown, a scarce weapon designed to combat the Bileweaver infestation. The weapon, available in the Murder Circus Compound, utilizes pressurized liquid that ignites upon ejection, creating a burst of flames. The event also saw the return of the Bileweavers to all maps, altering the tactical landscape with their nests and the loot they protect.
Looking ahead, the Hunt: Showdown team has teased upcoming updates including the “Inferno” Wildcard Condition, new social features, and further in-game events. Details on these updates are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
The Hunt: Showdown team also showcased community creations, including fan art, crocheted characters like Plague Doctors and Hatfish, and a Hunt Dollar-themed book cover. These submissions were highlighted as a testament to the community’s creativity and dedication.
