Predator: Hunting Grounds

Predator: Hunting Grounds
General Information
Developer	Illfonic
Publisher	Sony Interactive Entertainment
Engine	Unreal Engine 4
Release date(s)	April 24, 2020
Genre(s)	Asymmetric Multiplayer
Production Information
Rating	Mature 17+
Platform(s)	PlayStation 4 PC (Epic Games Store) Microsoft Windows

Predator: Hunting Grounds is a 2020 asymmetric multiplayer shooter developed by Illfonic and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 and PC. Set in the remote jungles of the world, it tasks a team of four elite operatives with completing paramilitary operations before a single Predator can find and eliminate them. The game was released on April 24, 2020.

Predator: Hunting Grounds was the first Predator video game in a decade, following the Predators-themed mobile games from Angry Mob and Gameloft released in 2010, and the first full title for consoles since 2005's Predator: Concrete Jungle (although several other games featuring the Yautja were released in the interim).

Gameplay

Players either take on the role of an elite operative with Fireteam Voodoo, a four-man team conducting counter-terrorist operations in remote jungle locations, or the singular Predator that is hunting the squad. As a Fireteam member, players have access to a state-of-the-art arsenal, from pistols to assault rifles, shotguns, grenades and heavy weapons. The Predator player, meanwhile, is able to hunt its human prey with deadly alien tech including the shoulder-mounted Plasma Caster, Combistick, Smart Disc, Wrist Blades and more.

Objectives for Fireteam Voodoo include neutralizing computer-controlled enemy operatives, sabotaging their shipments and retrieving important VIP targets from them, as well as other special tasks. The game's maps offer various tactical opportunities for Fireteam players, from working together as a cohesive unit to splitting their force to reach their objectives. While this element of the game plays out, another player takes control of the Predator and tries to wipe out all of the special forces team members. If the human players manage to kill the Predator, their operation will be taken over by the OWLF and they will be instructed to guard the body against hostiles until they can be extracted.

For the first time in a Predator game, players have the option of playing as a female Yautja.

Field Lockers

The game includes a lootcrate system known a "Field Lockers", which are unlocked during gameplay and grant various appearance and weapon customization options for both Fireteam and Predator characters. Field Lockers are randomized and can contain duplicate items, in which case the duplicate item will be converted to additional XP. As well as being a reward for increasing in rank, Field Lockers can also be purchased, either using "Veritanium", a form of in-game currency that can be earned through gameplay or found hidden within the game map. Items may also be purchased directly for Veritanium, although some of the rarer items can be many times more expensive than a single Field Locker.

Development

Inside Illfonic's studios during the production of Predator: Hunting Grounds

Hunting Grounds was developed by IllFonic (working closely with 20th Century Fox), published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for release on the PlayStation 4 and PC via the Epic Games Store. The game is currently being developed as a multiplayer-only experience. The team primarily took inspiration from the '87 film for the setting of the game (citing it as the "true crown jewel" of the IP); additionally, as a result of working closely with Fox, IllFonic has been given a unique opportunity in that, everything they make in this game will become a part of the official lore.

Yautja Gear

The Predator may utilize the following equipment.

Weapons

• Alpha Sickle - Melee weapon once used by the legendary Alpha Predator.
• Combistick - Melee weapon with a broad swing, and can be thrown like a javelin.
• Elder Sword - Melee weapon with fast swings.
• Hand Held Plasma Caster - Ranged weapon with ammunition independent of the Yautja's energy reserve. Each shot fires three small plasma bolts that spread, with better performance at short range.
• Katana - Melee weapon that causes targets to bleed, inflicting continual damage for several additional seconds.
• Net Gun - Ranged weapon that binds a target's arms, making them take light damage and become unable to use weapons until they can break free.
• Plasmacaster - Ranged weapon that may fire powerful projectiles over long ranges.
• Smart Disc - Ranged weapon that may be thrown and manually guided by the Yautja.
• War Club - Melee weapon with slow, powerful swings.
• Wristblades - The default melee weapon with relatively weak, but fast attacks.
• Yautja Bow - Ranged weapon that utilizes arrows instead of energy.

Miscellaneous Gear

• Audio Decoy - Thrown device that generates confusing sounds.
• Bear Trap - Thrown device that can hold a target in place until they can break free.
• Bio-helmet - Enables infrared vision and provides laser targeting for the Plasmacaster. The Bio-helmet may be destroyed if it takes enough damage, disabling infrared vision and causing the Plasmacaster to become wildly inaccurate.
• Healing kit - Medical syringe that can completely restore the Yautja's health.
• Motion Detector - Thrown device that highlights targets who move within the device's proximity.
• Self-Destruct Device - If the Yautja is mortally wounded, he or she may initiate the self-destruct device to commit honorable suicide rather than allow their corpse to be captured by the Fireteam.
• Wrist Gauntlet - Tactical tool; provides information about the Yautja's status and highlights high-value prey.

Missions

There are several playable missions in Hunting Grounds, including the tutorial.

Liquid Gold

"Due to a recent train accident, locals are incapable of resuming the trade of commodities. Specifically, a tanker of crude oil is ready to ship once the wreckage is cleared. Unfortunately, guerrilla soldiers have secured the area. We're allocating extra choppers to lift the tanker out of the trainyard. This is something of a humanitarian mission, so let's make it count."

―Zeus from Predator: Hunting Grounds.

In Liquid Gold, the Fireteam's objective is to extract the stranded oil tanker via airlift. However, before this can be accomplished they must first make their way to the trainyard and kill the trainyard officer and then take his keys to unlock the foreman's office. They must then search the office for intel to confirm that they have the right tanker, after which they must locate the oil tanker and place a transponder beacon on it so that the transport helicopters are able to locate it. The Fireteam must then defend against any hostile forces while they wait for the helicopters.

Once the helicopters arrive, the Fireteam must secure the transport cables to the tanker so the helicopters can lift it. They must then escort the airlift to the other side of the trainyard where an escape train is waiting. TBF

The Traitor

"One of our agents has defected to Stargazer, taking a substantial amount of sensitive information with him. We tracked the agent down to a Stargazer facility, but now he's out of pocket. Your orders are to deploy into the area and track down the traitor before he can be debriefed. Use of lethal force is authorized."

―Zeus from Predator: Hunting Grounds.

In The Traitor, the Fireteam's objective is TBA

Fractured Bloodline

In Fractured Bloodline, the Fireteam's objective is TBA

Drug Blaze

"Normally, narcotics wouldn't be on our radar, but we've been receiving troubling intel on a number of unidentified substances being trafficked in the area. The sample we've recovered have dangerous chemical compositions with unknown effects for purposes we don't yet understand. Your orders are to gather any and all intel on their formulas and then destroy them and the latest shipment of narcotics."

―Zeus from Predator: Hunting Grounds.

In Drug Blaze, the Fireteam's objective is TBA

Weapon Destruction

"Intel suggests a shipment of advanced weaponry is being shipped from a remote guerrilla camp. We're not sure why, but our money's on using the guerrilla camps to avoid suspicion while they find a buyer. We don't know who procured the weapons or who's buying them, but nothing good can come from it."

―Zeus from Predator: Hunting Grounds.

In Weapon Destruction, the Fireteam's objective is TBA

Merchandising

A tie-in prequel novel, Predator: Stalking Shadows, was written by James A. Moore and Mark Morris to accompany the game.

DLC

IllFonic recently announced the first of their paid DLC plans for Hunting Grounds: the return of Dutch Schaefer.

Trivia

• As previously stated, Hunting Grounds will be the first Predator video game produced for home gaming systems since Predator: Concrete Jungle, released on PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2005, some 15 years previously. Since that time, the only Predator games made have been mobile titles, although the Predator has featured in several Alien vs. Predator games, as well as making "guest" appearances in games such as Call of Duty: Ghosts, Mortal Kombat X and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands.
• The development of Predator VR was first leaked around the announcement of Hunting Grounds, leading to rumors that the two could be connected as PlayStation 4 exclusives. However, Predator VR was subsequently confirmed to be a separate product.
• This is the first video game to prominently feature female Predators. Female Predators have, however, appeared several times before in other media (except films).
• NECA had a promo code for the alpha predator skin which was included with the first run of the alpha predator action figure

Images

Digital Deluxe Edition

Predator Fireteam killed victory cinematic (Jungle Hunter skin equipped).

Predator self-destruct victory cinematic.

Ditto.

Fireteam Predator killed victory cinematic.

Ditto.

Videos

Predator Hunting Grounds - Reveal Trailer PS4

Predator- Hunting Grounds - Gameplay Trailer Gamescom 2019 -HD 1080P-

Predator Hunting Grounds State of Play Ultimate Adversary Trailer PS4

Predator Hunting Grounds - Dutch 2025 DLC Pack PS4