Steel Hunters was Wargaming’s free-to-play mech shooter, announced in December 2024 and released into PC Early Access on April 2, 2025. It blended Battle Royale and Extraction mechanics in duo PvPvE matches. Wargaming later announced the game’s shutdown for October 8, 2025 at 12:00 UTC. That date has passed; the notices establish the planned closure, but do not independently verify the servers’ present-day status.
What was Steel Hunters?
Wargaming announced Steel Hunters on December 12, 2024 as a free-to-play mech hero shooter. Players would pilot giant machines called Hunters in an arena where they fought both other players and AI-controlled threats. The announced match structure combined Battle Royale and Extraction ideas: pursue objectives, earn levels and gear, then face a final showdown at an extraction point. Wargaming’s announcement framed the game as a tactical team experience built around distinct Hunter abilities and playstyles.
The setting was a future Earth devastated by a catastrophe. Factions and corporations competed for Starfall, a rare extraterrestrial resource. Wargaming said the game was being built in Unreal Engine 5 and highlighted destructible environments, ability cooldowns, Hunter strengths and weaknesses, and synergies between teammates. These were features described by the publisher, not independent test findings.
How did its Battle Royale and Extraction ideas fit together?
The concept was to combine combat and survival pressures rather than focus on a single mode. Players would coordinate in duos, complete objectives to improve their Hunters, and contend with both PvE dangers and rival teams. The extraction-point showdown gave the match a focal endgame: teams had to bring their accumulated progress into a final confrontation.
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- Battle Royale pressure: rival players contested the arena and the late-match objective.
- Extraction-style progression: objectives offered levels and gear during a match, with the final contest centered on extraction.
- Hero-shooter identity: Hunters had distinct abilities and tactical roles, making ability use and team synergy part of the pitch.
- PvPvE tension: the announced format put players against both human opponents and environmental threats.
When did Steel Hunters release?
Wargaming first announced a 10-day closed PC playtest in December 2024. On March 11, 2025, it set the Early Access date for April 2. The game entered Early Access on that date for PC through Steam and Wargaming Game Center. The date announcement and the launch post establish those milestones.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| December 12, 2024 | Wargaming announced Steel Hunters and a 10-day closed PC playtest. |
| March 11, 2025 | Wargaming announced an April 2 Early Access launch. |
| April 2, 2025 | Early Access began on PC via Steam and Wargaming Game Center. |
| July 8, 2025 | A sunset notice said continued development was not sustainable and initially said servers would stay online for about 90 days. |
| September 26, 2025 | A shutdown notice specified October 8, 2025 at 12:00 UTC as the permanent server-closure time. |
At Early Access launch, Wargaming listed seven playable Hunters and three maps. The launch period also included a free Battle Pass through April 29, 2025, and the company said the first Early Access season would have no monetization. Those details describe the 2025 launch period, not a current offer or feature set. Wargaming’s launch announcement contains the period-specific details.
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Can you still play Steel Hunters?
Wargaming’s September shutdown notice set the permanent server closure for October 8, 2025 at 12:00 UTC. It also said all Hunters would be unlocked and custom lobbies would be available until that deadline. The notice was reproduced by Games Lantern and linked to the original Steel Hunters Steam announcement: Server Shutdown Notice – Steel Hunters.
Because the announced closure date has passed, the available notices do not establish that the game remains playable now. They record the official shutdown schedule, rather than independently verifying the servers’ current state. The earlier sunset announcement cited unsustainable continued development and said servers would remain live for about 90 days; that notice was also reproduced by Games Lantern from the official Steam post: Steel Hunters Sunsetting.
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What did Wargaming say about the project?
When the game was announced, Wargaming CEO Victor Kislyi called it “a massive moment for Wargaming.” Product Director Mike McDonald described the aim as “a unique take on the mech shooter space” combining elements of different genres. At Early Access launch, McDonald said, “We’re incredibly excited to bring Steel Hunters to our players today.” Those statements reflect the publisher’s framing at announcement and launch, before the later sunset decision.
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