From Hubris to Horror: Road to Hell Transforms Hunt: Showdown 1896

Hunters,

Road to Hell is coming, and it will not be smooth.

On June 9 ^th, the first Chapter in the story of the doomed new crusade against the Corruption begins. Walk the sprawling Strongholds of the rogue 26 ^th Regiment, wield devastating the firepower they left across the battlefield, and witness firsthand how hubris meets its horrifying end. Along with Road to Hell comes Update 2.8, loaded with upgrades, fixes, and improvements brought about thanks to your feedback.

Watch the Event Trailer now

Decrepit Battlefields

Two military scouts have vanished in Louisiana and Colorado. Concerned, Commander Whitlaw attempts to launch a rescue mission, but his request is declined by the military. Defiant, he forms the rogue 26 ^th Regiment. Backed by a mysterious figure known as the Desolation’s Delegate, The 26 ^th Regiment marches into the Incursion Zone confident in their training and firepower.

They meant to find their comrades, to cleanse the bayou and the gulch of Corruption. What they achieved was a military disaster. Their arrogance is torn, gnawed upon, hunted down, and scattered by monsters and hostile Hunters. The 26 ^th Regiment finds only despair and madness. Their final Stronghold becomes a monument to their undoing.

Players will explore the sprawling Stronghold Compound, and scavenge Military and Medical Supply Points left behind by The 26 ^th Regiment. Deep within the massive redoubt lies a rotting, caged Boss Target, a mystery to solve for those who breach the Compound. Former members of The 26 ^th haunt the area, now mere Corrupted mindless Grunts.

Among the debris of the Stronghold, daring Hunters may find: Destiny’s Dial, Sealed Rewards, and Tarot Cards. More secrets await at the Compound… who knows what other artifacts can be reclaimed during Road to Hell? Each visit is a chance to reclaim a piece of The 26 ^th tragic legacy.

Extraction and Supply Points are hidden at first, revealed by interacting with Scouting Maps found at Stronghold Compound, Military Supply, or Medical Supply. They’re also revealed when banishing a Boss Target or picking up a Bounty Token.

New Firepower
The 26th Regiment attacked the Corruption head‑on and brought significant firepower. Will players be able to find and tame it?

Maxim 1895

• A heavy in-world weapon, the Maxim gun was torn from the mount. On a Bounty Hunt, it becomes a heavyweight makeshift weapon. Fired from the hip, the Maxim gun has a large and unpredictable bullet spread.
  
  
• The Maxim is a heavy gun and slows Hunters down by 25% when carried. This prototype gun can also easily overheat, causing a malfunction that requires manual clearing.
  
  
• As an in-world weapon, it cannot be extracted or kept in a Hunter’s inventory.
  
  
• Bags of ammo are affixed to the sides and carried with the gun. The Maxim holds 50 Incendiary rounds by default and cannot be resupplied.
  
  

1890 Cavalry Rifle

• A new single‑shot long ammo rifle arrives for Hunters who prize precision and power. It deals 139 damage with a muzzle velocity of 380 m/s, carries 1/18 rounds, and is compatible with the “Fast Fingers” Trait. Custom Ammo types include FMJ and High Velocity.
  
  

New Faces

Road to Hell brings a new Battle Pass with 50 rewards for players to discover and earn: medals, signets, luxurious and gritty Legendary Skins, and much to fight over in the legacy of The 26th Regiment.

New Legendary Hunters join the fray:

Commander Whitlaw formed The 26 ^th Regiment; now only a gun can steady his shaking hands. Sergeant Riggins stayed loyal until he cracked, now hungering for occult knowledge.

The Foxhound arrives with a full set of specialized Legendary Skins, working to harness the power and nightmares of Mother Nature.

Another Legend appears: The Ol’ Cowpoke, Dusty Ivo, on a mission for rootin’ tootin’ revenge against the whippersnappers keen on silencing horses to save their own hides. He once sold those horses to Davant Ranch—look how that all turned out!

Others itch to traipse through the Corrupted battlegrounds. First among them is The Ironclad (also known as Ned Kelly), arriving with a DLC on June 10 ^th. Hailing from the chaotic badlands of old Australia, Ned was laying low in the years since his alleged death. When he discovered what was happening in Louisiana, he knew it was time to don his old armor once again. It’s time for The Ironclad to show all these Hunters just what a bushranger can do.

Road to Hell also brings brand a new single by Port Sulphur Band, releasing June 8 ^th. Available now to pre-save on Spotify.

A Free Story Challenge

Road to Hell is a perfect time to discover new stories and knowledge about bounty hunting. Included with the Event is a free Story Challenge: Let the Gunshots Ring. Designed for new and weathered players alike, this Story Challenge follows John Victor, a well-seasoned Hunter who is ready to show you the ropes. Let the Gunshots Ring can also guide newer players through tasks and Challenges meant to teach them about the game, as well as start their Hunt: Showdown 1896 journey on the right foot by earning themselves a free Legendary Hunter.

Update 2.8

Road to Hell brings a whole new vision, transforming the maps and offering deadly weapons to players, but it also brings significant Update 2.8. More details on balancing changes and fixes for community‑reported issues will be announced on release, with deep dives into additional features in the coming weeks and a Developer Livestream on June 3rd.

The Road is Calling

Walk the blood-soaked battlegrounds. Face the twisted remnants of a broken regiment and claim their deadly toys. Dig through the wreckage of fallen Strongholds. Descend into trenches of despair.

You can travel the Road to Hell on June 9 ^th, 2026.