# Hunt: Showdown 2.1 – Significant User Interface Revamp, New Game Mode, and Halloween Festivity
Crytek has made its comeback with a considerable update for *Hunt: Showdown 1896*, tackling enduring criticisms and unveiling thrilling new content. Version 2.1 introduces a much-needed redesign of the game’s user interface (UI), an entirely new game mode, and the eagerly awaited Halloween event, *Harvest of Ghosts*. In this article, we will detail the major changes and fresh features that gamers can look forward to in this update.
## UI Revamp: Responding to Player Input
Following the launch of the *Hunt: Showdown 1896* update in August, which brought forth a new map, new content, and an engine enhancement, the game’s user interface became a major point of contention. Although the gameplay enhancements were well-received, the revamped menus and UI design encountered substantial criticism. This led to a decline in the game’s *Steam* reviews, as players voiced their dissatisfaction with the cumbersome and confusing interface.
Crytek promptly acknowledged the feedback and vowed to make improvements. Now, with version 2.1, Design Director Dennis Schwarz has rolled out the initial batch of UI updates, created with the aim of enhancing user-friendliness and streamlining the experience. Here are the primary changes:
– **Upgraded Equipment Purchasing**: The store now presents available items adjacent to your chosen loadout, offering a clearer and more efficient overview for gear purchases.
– **Hunter Selection Defaults to Grid View**: Players will now be able to view their entire roster of hunters at once, simplifying character management and selection.
– **New Hotkeys in Hunter Selection**: Hotkeys have been implemented for swift navigation to the Recruit menu, decreasing the number of clicks needed to manage hunters.
Community response has been favorable. On the X social media platform (formerly Twitter), user *QuickdrawQuin* remarked, “The grid view should have been the default from the start. I’m happy about it anyway. I also find the new hotkeys useful.”
Crytek has also shared a developer update video, offering additional details on the UI modifications and other enhancements upcoming in *Hunt: Showdown 1896*.
## Harvest of Ghosts: The Halloween Festivity
From October 16 to November 25, *Hunt: Showdown* will celebrate its yearly Halloween festivity, *Harvest of Ghosts*. This haunting event brings an array of new content, featuring spooky skins and the revival of the *Pact System*, which has been upgraded with new perks.
A highlight of the event is the introduction of fresh *Darksight* abilities. With the right upgrades, players can detect nearby gunfire and explosions, or even track bleeding and burning foes. These new capabilities introduce an innovative layer of strategy to the game, enabling players to hunt down opponents more efficiently.
As with past events, *Harvest of Ghosts* will also include a *Battle Pass*, providing exclusive rewards for players who complete event challenges.
## New Weaponry
In addition to the Halloween event, update 2.1 broadens the game’s arsenal with numerous new weapons and items. Here’s a list of the new equipment:
– **Maynard Sniper**: A scoped, single-shot rifle.
– **Auto-4 Shorty**: A compact version of the semi-automatic *Crown & King* shotgun.
– **Rival 87 Mace**: A shortened variant of the *Rival* shotgun, featuring a melee attachment.
– **Centennial Pointman**: A short version of the *Centennial* rifle fitted with a scope.
– **Bomb Launcher**: A miniaturized version of the *Bomb Lance*.
– **Revive Bolt**: Ammunition for the single-handed crossbow that enables players to revive teammates from afar.
– **Dark Dynamite Satchel**: A trap that can be detonated through *Darksight*.
These new offerings will provide players with a greater variety of options for tailoring their loadouts and adjusting to various combat scenarios.
## New Game Mode: Bounty Clash
One of the most thrilling additions in update 2.1 is the experimental new game mode, *Bounty Clash*. In contrast to the traditional slow-paced, tactical encounters that *Hunt: Showdown* is known for, *Bounty Clash* compresses the action into rapid, 15-minute skirmishes centered on a single map location.
In *Bounty Clash*, 12 players vie for control of one *Bounty Token*. The catch? There’s no boss to defeat – the *Banish* process kicks off right away, and the team that successfully claims the token must battle to escape with it. This mode is crafted for players who favor swift, intense gameplay over the more deliberate pace of the standard mode.
Crytek has announced that *Bounty Clash* will