Horizon Hunters Gathering Second Playtest: Improved Tutorials and Harder Missions

Horizon Hunters Gathering is gearing up for its second public playtest later this month. After initial feedback, the development team has focused on refining the onboarding process and ramping up the difficulty. This Q&A covers everything you need to know about the upcoming test, from what's new to how you can join.

# When is the second playtest happening, and how can I sign up?

The second playtest for Horizon Hunters Gathering is scheduled for later this month. Exact dates haven’t been announced yet, but the developers have stated they will share them on the game's official Discord and social media channels within the next week. To register, you need to have a Steam account and join the game's official playtest group on Steam. Once approved, you'll receive an email with instructions. Make sure you've accepted the invitation before the test begins. The first test filled up quickly, so acting fast is recommended.

Horizon Hunters Gathering Second Playtest: Improved Tutorials and Harder Missions — Source: www.rockpapershotgun.com

# What improvements have been made to the onboarding process?

The initial playtest revealed that new players were often confused by the game's unique mechanics, especially the hybrid gathering-hunting loop. For the second test, the team has introduced a revamped tutorial system. This includes interactive guided missions that explain resource collection, creature tracking, and crafting step by step. Tooltips now appear more contextually, and a new 'practice arena' lets you test gear without penalty. The developer states that early feedback from internal tests shows a 40% reduction in time spent figuring out basic controls. This should make the first 30 minutes much smoother for newcomers.

# How will the tougher challenges play out in this new test?

The developers have increased the difficulty in two major ways. First, enemy AI has been improved – creatures now coordinate attacks, use environmental cover, and retreat to heal if overwhelmed. Second, resource nodes are scarcer in certain biomes, forcing you to explore more or trade with other hunters. The final boss of the test area now has a new rage phase that triggers when health drops below 20%, adding a frantic endgame. These changes are meant to push coordinated group play while still being manageable for solo players on easier difficulty settings.

# Will there be any new weapons or zones to explore?

Yes, the second playtest introduces two new weapon types: the Blast Sling (a mid-range AoE launcher) and the Spirit Bow (which can mark targets to reveal weak points). There's also a new biome—the Ashen Marshlands—which features toxic gas pockets and aggressive amphibious creatures. Additionally, a crafting station upgrade allows you to combine two common items into a rare resource, addressing the scarcity issue from the first test. These additions are meant to add depth without overwhelming new players.

# How will player feedback from the first playtest influence this one?

The first playtest received over 5,000 pieces of feedback via surveys and forums. The top requests were: better tutorials, more challenging endgame content, and faster load times. All three have been addressed in the second test. The tutorial now includes optional voice-over narration, the difficulty curve has been steepened (especially in co-op monster hunt missions), and the team optimized map loading by 30%. A live feedback button will also be available during this test for real-time bug reporting and suggestions.

# Are there any performance or system requirement changes?

The minimum and recommended system specs remain the same, but performance has improved. The team implemented new LOD (level of detail) streaming technology, which reduces stuttering in dense forest areas. Ray tracing support has been added for high-end rigs, though it remains optional. The second test also includes a new benchmark tool at the main menu so you can see if your PC can run the game smoothly before diving in. The developer notes that the game now runs at a stable 60 FPS on recommended settings, up from 45 FPS in the first test.

# Will the game's name ever change? (Horizon Hunters Gathering is a mouthful!)

The developer acknowledges the challenging mouthfeel of the title. Currently, there are no plans to change it, but internal discussions have considered a colon-based tweak such as Horizon: Hunters Gathering or Horizon Hunters: Gathering. The studio even humorously asked Guerrilla Games for permission to use a colon, referencing the Horizon series. For now, the name stays as is, but the community is free to abbreviate it as HHG. Expect a final decision closer to the full release date.

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