Key Takeaways
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- Steel Hunters, a new title from Wargaming, will shut down on October 8, 2025 due to low player adoption and high maintenance costs.
- The game registered a peak of only 97 concurrent players in a recent 24-hour period, with reviews on Steam being Mixed.
- Before the servers are switched off, Wargaming will provide free access to all Hunters (including those planned for future updates) and host a farewell tournament.
- The console versions of Steel Hunters for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S were never released.
Steel Hunters: Early Shutdown Due to Low Player Adoption and High Maintenance Costs
Wargaming will shut down Steel Hunters on October 8, 2025, just over six months after its Early Access launch on Steam. The game, unveiled at The Game Awards 2024, began Early Access on April 2, 2025. During its announcement, Wargaming’s CEO, Victor Kislyi, shared that Steel Hunters aimed to offer something entirely fresh, moving beyond the company’s usual territory. However, Wargaming announced on July 8, 2025, that the free-to-play extraction shooter would cease operations on October 8, 2025. This early shutdown positions Steel Hunters alongside other live-service titles discontinued in recent months due to low player adoption and the difficulty of justifying maintenance costs. The project failed to reach expected popularity. According to SteamDB, Steel Hunters reached a peak of 4,479 concurrent players shortly after its Early Access debut. However, player engagement has since dropped significantly. The game registered a maximum of only 97 concurrent players in a recent 24-hour period, with around 76 players online at any given time. More broadly, recent player counts have hovered around 250. Reviews on Steam are “Mixed,” with players frequently complaining about the publisher’s actions and gameplay problems.
Steel Hunters Farewell Tournament and Free Access to All Mechs Before Shutdown (October 8)
Initially planned for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, those console versions were never released. Steel Hunters featured PvPvE mech combat, where players piloted massive mechs called Hunters. These Hunters ranged from humanoid designs to giant mechanical animals, reminiscent of the Zoids anime series. Players could customize and modify each mech with different weapons, mods, and abilities. The game operated with a non-monetized progression model. In a statement posted on Steam, Wargaming thanked the community for its support but acknowledged that continued development was not sustainable. Before the servers are switched off on October 8, Wargaming will provide players with free access to all Hunters, including those planned for future updates. The studio also plans to release custom match support and host a farewell tournament, though the date and format for this event have not yet been announced. This period allows players to explore all game content and bid farewell to Steel Hunters before its closure.
Specification | |
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Official Name | Steel Hunters |
Brief Summary | Steel Hunters is a PC, duo-based hero shooter with futuristic mech battles.
By mastering and customizing their Hunters, players can explore a variety of fighting styles and tactics to gain an advantage over their opponents in dynamic and immersive battles. With communication as a critical skill, Steel Hunters introduces “duo symbiosis” as mechanic to achieve victory. Steel Hunters is a Free-to-Play, PvPvE shooter with futuristic mech battles. Fight to collect rare loot on an abandoned Earth, and use combat tactics to turn rivals into scrap. Choose your Hunter and playstyle to battle 5 other duo teams. Only one can extract from the Hunting Grounds. |
Platforms | PC (Microsoft Windows) |
Released | April 2, 2025 |
Genre | Shooter, Tactical |
Play Modes | Multiplayer, Co-operative, Battle Royale |
Languages | English |
Genre | Wargaming.net |
Genre | Wargaming.net |
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Links to external sources for further reading
- Steel Hunters’ short flight before the crash landinghttps://www.gamepressure.com/newsroom/wargamings-steel-hunters-to-close-its-servers-in-october-another/za81a0
- Another Live-Service Shooter To Shut Down A Few Months After Launchhttps://insider-gaming.com/steel-hunters-closing/
- Wargaming Announces Steel Hunters Is Shutting Down, Three Months After Early Access Launchhttps://wccftech.com/wargaming-announces-steel-hunters-is-shutting-down-three-months-after-early-access-launch/
- World Of Tanks developer Wargaming’s ‘Steel Hunters’ to shut down after just three monthshttps://www.notebookcheck.net/World-Of-Tanks-Developer-Wargaming-s-Steel-Hunters-To-Shut-Down-After-Just-Three-Months.1054676.0.html
- Related Story Wargaming Announces Steel Hunters Early Access Datehttps://wccftech.com/wargaming-announces-steel-hunters-is-shutting-down-three-months-after-early-access-launch/