Hunting Simulator 3

Quick facts

UK release: 29 October 2026 (09:00 UTC / 09:00 GMT)

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam)

Developer: NACON Studio Ghent

Publisher: Nacon (NACON SA)

UK price: Standard £44.99 / Apex Predator £54.99 (PS5 listings) — regional retail prices confirmed on PlayStation Store

PEGI: PEGI 16 (publisher listings)

Genre: Simulation / Shooter

Online mode: Not confirmed — PlayStation and Steam storefronts list single‑player and offline play; publisher has not clearly documented online multiplayer for launch

Engine: Unreal Engine 5 (publisher press materials)

Story and setting

There is no cinematic narrative campaign in the usual sense; the game is built around open reserves and hunting activity rather than a fictional story arc. NACON’s materials and Steam description confirm two large regions at launch: Colorado and Texas, presented as distinct reserves with different species and terrain. The developer’s aim with Hunting Simulator 3 is simulation and emergent behaviour rather than scripted storytelling — the SimFauna system drives encounters and population dynamics rather than a character‑led plot.

The publisher has framed the experience as a realistic hunting loop centred on tracking, observation and use of licensed equipment, with a focus on lodge life for customisation and trophy display.

How it plays

Hunting Simulator 3 is first‑person (and likely third‑person options typical of the series) open‑world hunting: explore on foot or in vehicles, use calls and scents, command a hunting dog to track or retrieve, and choose from rifles, shotguns, bows and crossbows. Nacon emphasises a new SimFauna system: animals age, reproduce and react to player activity, producing dynamic population changes and behaviour that influence how and when species appear in a reserve.

Confirmed gameplay features include: a hunting dog with a command wheel for orders and tracking; vehicles such as a Polaris RANGER; clay‑pigeon shooting minigames; a customisable hunting lodge with taxidermy poses; licensed kit from brands including Remington, Winchester, Browning, Beretta and Bushnell. Store pages list in‑game purchases as optional. Official system requirements for PC and minimum/recommended specs are available on the Steam page.

Platforms, editions and UK price

Nacon’s store and the PlayStation listing confirm PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam) as the launch platforms. The PlayStation Store shows two digital editions and explicit UK pricing: Standard Edition priced at £44.99 and Apex Predator Edition at £54.99 on PS5; the publisher’s site shows equivalent Euro prices for other storefronts. The PS5 listing also gives a release time of 29 October 2026 at 09:00 UTC (09:00 GMT in the UK).

Retail pages confirm the Apex Predator Edition bundles additional kit (Remington weapons, Polaris vehicle livery, dog and lodge customisation packs) and that pre‑order bonuses (the “Classic American Hunter” pack) are available. The PlayStation listing notes offline play enabled and 1 player; Steam’s feature list marks Single‑player and shows optional interactive elements and in‑game purchases.

Trailers and what was shown

Nacon released a series of assets and trailers across 2024–2026: the initial announcement and press pack describing SimFauna and UE5 (press release, November 2024), a release‑date trailer and subsequent gameplay overview that highlight Colorado and Texas reserves, vehicle use, dog commands, licensed weapons and the SimFauna behaviours (publisher channels and Steam community posts in 2026). Recent trailers emphasise the living ecosystems — animals ageing, reproducing and reacting — and show the Apex Predator Edition content (vehicle, specific firearms, dog breed and lodge options). The PlayStation Store and Nacon product pages mirror the trailer claims and list pre‑order content.

What we still don't know

Online and multiplayer details are unclear. Nacon’s product pages, the Steam store and PlayStation listing focus on single‑player/offline features and lodge progression; Steam tags include multiplayer and co‑op as user tags, but the publisher has not clearly documented online multiplayer, co‑op player counts, or persistent online features for launch. If online multiplayer is an intended feature, the publisher has not specified whether it will be available at launch or added later.

Other unanswered items: final UK boxed retail release and physical edition contents where applicable; full list and pricing of post‑launch DLC or battle/season plans; cross‑platform play or cross‑save functionality. Any changes between regional storefronts and future patch plans will only be clear after launch announcements from Nacon.