Hey Hunters,
Thanks to everyone who joined our live test for bigger lobby sizes this month. We received a lot of feedback, and it really shows how invested you are in the game. We knew this change would be big, and we wanted you to be part of the journey.
Now, let’s dive into what we found from your responses. We appreciate your insights through surveys and social media, as they guide our future plans for Hunt: Showdown 1896.
Community Response
Let’s look at the bigger picture. When examining responses to the increased lobby sizes, we found that many players didn’t get to test the changes in Soul Survivor. So, we’ll focus on Duos and Trios lobbies.
About 57% of Trios players liked the bigger lobbies. However, Duos had mixed feelings. Here’s what we discovered:
- Players from Russia, South America, and Oceania were more positive about the changes than those in Europe and the US.
- Players with lower rank scores (MMR) were less satisfied.
- Console players had a slightly better view of Duos than PC players.
- More experienced players were more critical of the Duos experience.
There was lots of valuable feedback about the implementation. Many players enjoyed the new dynamics but still had concerns that we need to address.
Spawn Battles on the Rise
One key takeaway was that larger player counts led to more skirmishes near spawn points. This made it tough for some players to get settled in before facing off against others. Although some enjoyed the thrill, many felt it made the start of the game too chaotic, akin to a team deathmatch rather than the experience we want in Bounty Hunt.
Data showed that deaths within the first three minutes shot up as more teams entered, with 56% of feedback emphasizing the intense early game encounters. This was particularly challenging for newer or less skilled players, leading to calls for better balanced game modes.
Next Steps
We’ll be exploring ways to better manage how teams spawn in bigger lobbies. Our goal is to delay early encounters so that players can enjoy more strategic gameplay. We also want to connect player counts with ranks to create balanced matches.
Shifts in Playstyles
The increase in lobby sizes led to new strategies. Many players found themselves ambushed during fights, making it tough to engage effectively. This created a cycle where teams took a more passive approach, waiting for the right moment to swoop in for loot.
In Duos, the sheer number of players made encounters overwhelming. Around 37% of participants felt there were just too many opponents, and 32% thought the extra action didn’t enhance gameplay.
Next Steps
Following your input, we’ve set a maximum of seven teams in Duos, and we’re seeing improvements in gameplay. Going forward, we aim to create a more dynamic mix of player counts tailored to server populations, while also improving resource availability.
Balancing Rewards and Risks
We found that only 24% of players were pleased with the current rewards for escaping with a Bounty Token. The earlier deaths led to direct losses in Hunter Dollars. Many turned to looting defeated players instead, indicating a shift toward a scavenging strategy in the game.
Players expressed that extracting the Bounty Token felt less rewarding than it should. We’ll look into enhancing the value of this reward and exploring potential changes to non-Bounty Token incentives as well.
Conclusion
Your input is crucial. We wouldn’t have these findings without your feedback. While we’re not ready to announce the next test yet, we promise to keep you updated through our Discord and social media channels. We want to ensure that your voice is part of every step we take in this journey.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Your Hunt: Showdown 1896 Team
