Since Multiplayer first entered public testing back in June, we’ve kept it on the Experimental Branch, and released a steady stream of fixes, stability improvements, and quality-of-life changes based on your feedback. The experience has come a long way since that first Experimental Branch build, and we’re now getting closer to bringing the current two-player Multiplayer mode to the default branch.
We’ve kept Multiplayer on the Experimental Branch during this period so we can actively develop the mode, test different network conditions, respond quickly to your reports, and roll out fixes without affecting the default branch.
There are still known bugs and issues that we’re working through, but the overall stability and quality of Multiplayer have improved significantly since testing began. If you’ve been waiting for the experience to improve before jumping in, now is a great time to give it another try.
We Need Your Help
As we get closer to moving Multiplayer to the default branch, we’d love to see as many of you playing as possible over the coming days. The more varied your sessions are, the better chance we have of uncovering issues that might only appear under specific circumstances. This is an important part of making sure Multiplayer is ready for a much larger player base.
So if you’ve been waiting for the right moment to jump in, this is it. Grab a hunting buddy, head into the Experimental Branch, and put Multiplayer through its paces.
Don’t have a hunting buddy yet?
Head over to the #looking-for-game channel on our official Discord and find someone to team up with.
screenshot by: ShyroAkai (Discord)
How to Access Multiplayer
Multiplayer is currently available through the Experimental Branch on Steam. To join:
Open your Steam Library.
Right-click Way of the Hunter 2 and select Properties.
Open the Betas tab.
Enter the code: WotH2experimental
Click Check Code.
Select Experimental from the dropdown.
Download and install the update.
Once the download is complete, you’re ready to jump in.
If you want to return to the default version of the game, simply go back to the Betas tab and select None from the dropdown.
Backup Your Save Before Switching
Before opting into the Experimental Branch, we strongly recommend backing up your save. Progress made on the Experimental Branch is not backwards compatible with the default branch. You can copy your default-branch save into the Experimental Branch and continue from your existing progress, but a save that has been played on Experimental should not be copied back to the default branch.
To back up your save:
Press Windows + R.
Paste: %localappdata%/WOTH2/Saved
Press Enter.
Copy your save files to a safe location, such as your desktop.
Keep that original backup untouched while playing on the Experimental Branch.
screenshot by: WujekZbigniew (Discord)
What Should You Test?
You don’t need to approach Multiplayer like a QA session. Simply play as you normally would. Host a hunt or join somebody else’s session. Explore the reserve together, use vehicles, fast travel, place markers, change equipment, hunt animals, and spend some time in longer sessions.
Trying different hosts, network setups, and playstyles is especially useful. The more naturally you play, the better chance we have of catching issues that might not appear during more controlled internal testing.
If something doesn’t behave as expected, let us know. Even small issues can be useful when we’re trying to make the experience as reliable as possible before it reaches the default branch.
Update 0.4.0 Improvements
Last week, we also introduced a number of Multiplayer fixes and improvements as part of Update 0.4.0.
The update made Multiplayer noticeably smoother across the board, with better synchronization for players, animals, and vehicles, more reliable markers and player IDs, and fixes for several client-side issues. We also improved session stability, server browser behavior, connections, and friend invites, while addressing multiple crashes and other issues that could disrupt a hunt.
screenshot by: tonymontana_7879 (Discord)
These improvements build on the work we’ve been doing since Multiplayer testing began. That means establishing a stable foundation first, then continuing to refine the experience based on what we learn from your sessions and reports.
How to Report a Bug
There are still issues we’re actively working on, and your reports continue to be an important part of the process. If you encounter a bug, please send it our way through the THQ Nordic bug reporting database.
When reporting an issue, please include the exact version of the game you’re playing whenever possible. Since the Experimental Branch can receive updates more frequently, knowing the precise build helps us match reports to the correct version and investigate problems faster.
Your feedback throughout Multiplayer testing has already helped us identify and address a wide range of issues, and it remains especially valuable as we prepare the mode for the default branch.
screenshot by: kponne (Discord)
The Next Step
The current goal is to get the core two-player Multiplayer experience into a state where we’re happy to bring it to the default branch so everyone can jump in without opting into Experimental.
Multiplayer development won’t stop there.
Once that foundation is established, we’ll continue building on it, with additional Multiplayer features and game modes planned for future updates. For now, every session helps. Jump into the Experimental Branch, bring a friend, or find a new hunting buddy on Discord, and let us know how your hunt goes.
Thanks for helping us shape Way of the Hunter 2.
See you out there, and good hunting!
screenshot by: jacek.b (Discord)
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