Hunt: Showdown 1896 – Update 2.4 & the Judgement of the Fool-Event

A new chapter in Hunt: Showdown 1896 is about to begin! Update 2.4 brings with it the “Judgement of the Fool” event and promises one of the most extensive updates the game has ever received. Here’s everything hunters need to know about the upcoming new features.

“Judgement of the Fool” event: Three months duration

The “Judgement of the Fool” event starts on June 18, 2025 and runs until September 17, 2025. With a duration of three months, it is significantly longer than previous events – a direct response to community feedback that wanted more time to collect the rewards.

• Start: Thursday, June 18, 2025
• End: Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Event theme: Judgment and madness

The event revolves around justice, madness and the thin line between the two. The focus is on two new characters: the insane Fool and the fallen Pale Judge, both of whom want to enforce their own ideas of justice in the bayou.

New hunters: The Fool and the Pale Judge

The Fool – insane snake oil salesman

The Fool is a disfigured, maniacal snake oil salesman on the run. His face has been disfigured by the victims of his poisonous “Miracle Mouth All-Cure” after his fraudulent remedies caused more harm than good.

Available variants:

• Outlaw: The classic version of the disfigured salesman
• Fugitive: An alternative depiction

The Pale Judge – Fallen Lawman

The Pale Judge was once a respected judge from Mammon’s Gulch who traded in his judge’s gavel for a gun and a tarot deck. Now he pronounces judgments in the name of fate and has become a fallen lawman.

Fool’s Hideout: Risky rewards on every map

The new hideout system

One of the biggest new features is the Fool’s Hideout, a special area that spawns on every map. Here, players can exchange their collected Pledge Marks for exclusive rewards – but it is not a safe haven.

Rewards available in the Fool’s Hideout

• Trade Wager Spur – Cost: 1 Pledge Mark
  • Exchanges a Pledge Mark for a random regular trait
• Restoration Kit – Cost: 1 Pledge Mark
  • Fully restores health
• Master Clue – Cost: 1 Pledge Mark
  • Displays all boss targets on the map (except Rottjaw)
• Sealed Bounty Token – Cost: 2 Pledge Marks
  • Equivalent to a normal bounty token
• Event-exclusive Sealed Scarce Traits
  • Rare traits only available during the event

The Fool’s Hideout offers no protection from other players. Hunters still need to be careful and weigh the risk/reward ratio before entering the hideout.

Pledge Mark System: The new event currency

How Pledge Marks work

Pledge Marks are the central currency of the event. Players can carry up to 6 Pledge Marks at the same time and earn them in different ways:

Ways to collect:

• 1 Pledge Mark for every 25 event points
• 2 Pledge Marks for banishing a boss target in Bounty Clash
• 3 Pledge Marks for a victory in Soul Survivor

Risk element: stealing Pledge Marks after death

A particularly exciting element: Dead hunters can be robbed of their Pledge Marks. This creates an additional level of risk/reward and makes every decision in the game even more important.

Catalyst Trait System: Powerful ability enhancements

The event introduces a completely new Catalyst Trait System. When a Catalyst Trait is acquired, it will activate additional powerful effects for compatible traits.

Available Catalyst effects:

• Beastface + Catalyst
  • Normal effect: Reduces animal reactions
  • Catalyst effect: Animals are never triggered
• Vigilant + Catalyst
  • Normal effect: Increases Dark Sight range
  • Catalyst effect: Doubles Dark Sight range to 50 meters
• Fanning + Catalyst
  • Normal effect: Enables rapid fire with revolvers
  • Catalyst effect: Also works with certain two-slot pistols such as the Haymaker
• Kiteskin + Catalyst
  • Normal Effect: Less fall damage
  • Catalyst Effect: Never die from falling
• Painsense + Catalyst
  • Normal effect: Can see hunters who are bleeding, poisoned or burning in shadow vision
  • Catalyst effect: Increased pain resistance
• Frontiersman + Catalyst
  • Normal effect: Tools can be used one more time.
  • Catalyst effect: Improved environmental interactions

Event-exclusive traits: Return of old favorites

Popular event-exclusive traits return during the event:

• Corpse Seer: Grants Dark Sight seconds when looting dead players
• Gunrunner: Allows you to carry two large weapons at the same time

These traits will disappear from the game after the event ends.

New but familiar AI: Brute

The Brute is a new AI that will be familiar to you as a long-term player. Developer Crytek has brought back the Ursa Mortis bear from the previous Post Malone’s Murder Circus event, but without the drums and circus outfit.

However, it is not yet known whether the Brute is some kind of wild target or a normal monster.

DeSalle Map: Complete overhaul of the popular map

The popular DeSalle map returns in Update 2.4 in a completely overhauled form. The developers have redesigned the entire map with the full power of the CryEngine.

Visual overhaul:

• Completely new terrain and vegetation systems
• Revamped lighting and atmosphere
• New dressing passes for authentic bayou atmosphere

Gameplay optimizations:

• Improved flows in all compounds
• New windows, ladders, doors and paths
• Expanded tactical options

Revamped compounds

• Kingsnake Mine: Completely redesigned mine complexes with better defense and attack options
• Pearl Plantation: Expanded building structures and new routes
• Fort Bolden: Revised fortification with strategically placed cover options
• Stanley Coal Company: Improved industrial structures
• Ash Creek Lumber: Optimized sawmill layouts for more dynamic gameplay

New lighting systems

Each region receives unique lighting and time of day systems that give the map a distinctive atmosphere and deepen the gameplay experience.

Comprehensive interface redesign

Update 2.4 brings one of the biggest UI overhauls in the history of Hunt: Showdown. The entire user interface is being overhauled.

Redesigned screens

• Free Hunter Screen
  • Displays all available hunters at once
  • Faster selection and better overview
• All Hunters View
  • Integrated lore and backstories
  • Detailed character information at a glance
• Loadout Screen
  • Completely redesigned equipment overview
  • Direct access via the lobby
• Pause Menu
  • Vertical navigation replaces horizontal tabs
  • Visually redesigned for better usability

Gameplay- related UI improvements

• Team Loadout Display
• Immediately visible in the pause menu
• No more hidden submenus
• Real-time health display
• Live display of team member health bars
• Status effects are displayed in real time

Extended filter options

• Automatic reset after equipment changes
• Improved search functions

Quality of Life improvements

• Contraband Discard System
• “Don’t remember” checkbox for confirmation popups
• Streamlined inventory management
• Back to Lobby shortcuts
• Available on most screens
• Faster navigation between game areas
• Optimized queuing flow
• Players stay on the current screen when accepting invites
• Uninterrupted menu navigation

Audio improvements: Clearer sounds for better gameplay

• Comprehensive audio clarity
  • The developers have responded to community feedback and significantly improved audio clarity. Important gameplay sounds are no longer drowned out by ambient noise.
• Specific audio fixes
  • Fixed footstep issues
  • Several issues with muted or missing footsteps have been eliminated
  • More consistent footstep sounds in all environments
• Improved vertical audio distinction
  • Footsteps above the player sound “direct and bassy”
  • Footsteps below the player sound “sharper and more hollow”
• Optimized gunshot sounds
  • Improved distance estimation of gunshots
  • Clearer distinction between near and far

CrySpatial 3D audio system

The CrySpatial system has been further optimized:

• More frequent positioning updates
• Smoother and more precise audio perception
• Better spatial orientation
• Ambient audio adjustments
• Positioned ambient sounds
• Reduced presence in the overall mix
• Better differentiation of important gameplay sounds
• Environmental loops
• Less intrusive ambient sounds
• Focus on game-critical audio information
• Performance and technical innovations

Extensive optimizations

• Update 2.4 brings over 100 fixes in various areas:
  • UI improvements and bug fixes
  • Audio system optimizations
  • AI behavior pattern adjustments
  • Meta balance adjustments

Community feedback integration

The developers have listened closely to community feedback and integrated hundreds of player suggestions into the update. This can be seen in all areas of the game, from small quality-of-life improvements to fundamental gameplay mechanics.

Hunt: Showdown’s evolution continues

Update 2.4 “Judgement of the Fool” marks another milestone in the evolution of Hunt: Showdown 1896, setting new standards with the revamped DeSalle map, innovative event mechanics, revolutionary UI improvements and precise audio optimizations.

The three-month event gives all hunters plenty of time to explore the new content, collect rewards and master the revamped systems. Pack your gear and prepare for judgment – the bayou awaits!