Steel Hunters marries Wargaming’s machine design with energetic gameplay

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Wargaming, known for creating World of Tanks and World of Warships, has surprised fans with its upcoming game. At this year’s Game Awards, they unveiled Steel Hunters, an exciting new third-person shooter that combines mech combat with both extraction and battle royale features. During GDC 2025, I had the chance to play a few rounds of Steel Hunters, offering me a detailed glimpse into the mech designs and giving me a better understanding of how matches will unfold.

In the game Steel Hunters, each match involves three-player teams from four different sides. However, it’s not just player-versus-player (PvP), but also includes a player-versus-environment (PvE) aspect, where you’ll encounter numerous AI opponents between your interactions with real players. At the start, I easily defeated robot adversaries to gather armor and weapon enhancements for future player encounters. The loot in this game is categorized into a tier system, with green representing uncommon items, blue being common, and so forth.

As is common in the battle royale style of gameplay, the play zone gradually shrank over the course of the game. Eventually, a safe zone appeared at the center of the map. The goal then became not just avoiding the encroaching circle but also escaping this zone before other players did. My team found ourselves in a fierce battle with two other squads at the extraction point. The area was filled with gunfire and explosions as we struggled to survive.

The choice of Steelhunter you select significantly impacts what actions are permissible during battle. Each mech comes equipped with distinct weapons and abilities that offer benefits not only for themselves but also their teammates. In a particular match, I chose a Steelhunter who specialized in long-range combat using a sniper rifle to inflict substantial damage. This enabled me to surprise enemy NPCs guarding specific zones, and when it was time to fight other players, I could maintain a safe distance from the action.

As a dedicated Steel Hunter, I get to tweak my gaming experience to suit me perfectly. By tinkering with my loadout, adding perks, and swapping out gear, I can tailor my gameplay style. This personalization doesn’t stop at functionality; it also extends to the visual side of things. My character will earn unique skins over time, either through a Battle Pass or by purchasing them from the in-game store.

Steel Hunters, an upcoming PC game, will debut on April 2, 2025. The developers, Wargaming, are exploring possibilities for console versions in the future. For additional information about the games showcased at GDC this year, please visit our dedicated topic page.

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2025-03-26 21:27