Hunters,
We greatly appreciate everyone who participated in our recent live test of larger lobby sizes. The feedback we’ve received has been incredibly overwhelming, showcasing your passion for the game. We anticipated this change would be significant and wanted to involve you in every step of the testing process.
As we move forward, we want to share our findings with you. Thank you for providing your insights through our surveys and social media; your input is crucial in shaping the future of Hunt: Showdown 1896. So, gear up and let’s dive into the details!
Overall Sentiment
Let’s take a broader view. Below, you’ll see the community’s reactions to the lobby size changes across different queue types. Notably, two-thirds of respondents didn’t have the chance to test the changes in Soul Survivor, so we’ll focus on Duos and Trios lobbies.
Approximately 57% of players in Trios were pleased with the increased lobby size, while feedback in Duos was more varied. Satisfaction ratings were compared based on factors such as playtime, MMR, platform, and survey language, revealing some trends:
- Players from Russia, South America, and Oceania had a more favorable response than those from Europe and the US.
- Lower-MMR players rated the changes less favorably.
- Console players viewed Duos lobbies more positively than PC players.
- Experienced players were often more critical of Duos lobbies.
Increased Spawn Engagements
Finding
A key piece of feedback pointed to an increase in confrontations near spawn points. Many players expressed frustration at being eliminated before fully engaging with the game. While some enjoyed the heightened tension, it often led to prolonged battles that overshadowed the intended gameplay experience. The telemetry data supports this, showing a rise in early deaths as more teams entered the match.
Next Steps
We will explore solutions to manage team spawns in larger lobbies better, aiming to minimize adjacent team spawns and push encounters to the mid and late stages of the game. Additionally, we plan to associate player counts with specific MMR brackets and double Bounty Target Missions.
Changing Playstyles
Finding
The increase in lobby size fostered a more passive playstyle in Missions. Teams initiating fights were often ambushed, leading to resource depletion and longer engagements. This prompted players to adopt a “third-party” approach to conserve resources, ultimately reducing the risks of direct confrontations.
Next Steps
Following the feedback, we implemented a limit of seven teams in Duos lobbies, which many found improved their experience. We also aim to create a more flexible mix of player combinations and enhance visibility regarding player counts in Missions at the game mode selection stage.
Rewards and Risks
Finding
Only 24% of players were satisfied with the rewards from successfully extracting a Bounty Token. Increased deaths in the early game reduced average Hunter Dollar balances, pushing players to loot corpses more often. Many found the Bounty Token’s value disappointing and expressed a desire for greater incentives.
Next Steps
We will investigate ways to enhance the value of the Bounty Token and consider potential adjustments to other rewards based on player feedback.
Conclusion
Your insights have been invaluable in shaping our plans moving forward, and we look forward to incorporating your feedback into our next playtest. While we aren’t ready to announce the next test yet, you’ll be the first to know through our Discord and other social channels. Stay tuned for updates as we move ahead—just remember, survival might be optional amidst the fiery updates we have in store!
Your Hunt: Showdown 1896 Team
