Dino Hunters is currently in Early Access on Steam with a roadmap that extends through 2026 and into 2027. RaptorClaws, the indie studio behind the game, has been transparent about their plans, including the addition of new biomes, new dinosaur species, and improvements to the core gameplay loop. This guide summarizes the 2026 roadmap and explains what hunters can expect from upcoming updates.
If you are new to Dino Hunters and want to understand the current state of the game before buying, our Dino Hunters beginner guide covers what is available today. Once you understand the current state, the roadmap below will help you decide whether to wait for upcoming features or buy now.
Current State (As of 2026)
As of mid-2026, Dino Hunters is in Early Access with the following features available: The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| 5 biomes | Available |
| 12+ dinosaur species | Available |
| 8+ weapons | Available |
| Co-op multiplayer (1-4 players) | Available |
| Realistic ballistic model | Available |
| Trophy & contract system | Available |
| Steam Workshop | Available |
| Self-Revive Tokens | Available |
| Hardcore mode | Available |
The game has received positive reception from the Early Access community, with mostly positive reviews on Steam. RaptorClaws has been responsive to feedback and has shipped regular patches since launch. The Steam Discussions forum and the official Discord channel have multiple threads confirming this rule, with detailed screenshots and contract grade breakdowns.
Q1 2026 Roadmap
The Q1 2026 roadmap focused on stabilizing the Early Access launch and adding quality-of-life improvements. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
| Update | Release Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| v0.8.0 - Stability patch | January 2026 | Released |
| v0.8.1 - Performance patch | February 2026 | Released |
| v0.8.2 - Co-op stability | March 2026 | Released |
The Q1 patches focused on stability and performance rather than new content. The most significant change was the co-op stability improvements in v0.8.2, which addressed the most common cause of disconnections. Squad coordination amplifies the benefit of this rule because multiple hunters applying the same principle produce compounding payouts over a play session.
Q2 2026 Roadmap
The Q2 2026 roadmap introduced the first major content update of the year. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
| Update | Release Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| v0.9.0 - New dinosaur species | April 2026 | Released |
| v0.9.1 - New weapons | May 2026 | Released |
| v0.9.2 - Spinosaurus improvements | June 2026 | Released |
The v0.9.0 update added two new dinosaur species: Carnotaurus and Ceratosaurus. The v0.9.1 update added the .700 Nitro Express and a new set of attachments. The v0.9.2 update improved Spinosaurus AI and added new water combat mechanics. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
Q3 2026 Roadmap
The Q3 2026 roadmap focuses on the full release preparation, including the launch of the public roadmap and community-requested features. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
| Update | Expected Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| v1.0.0 - Full release | September 2026 | In development |
| Public roadmap | July 2026 | Released |
| Community modding tools | August 2026 | In development |
The v1.0.0 full release is the most anticipated update. It will mark Dino Hunters' transition from Early Access to full release. The exact release date has not been announced, but RaptorClaws has signaled September 2026 as the target. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
v1.0.0 Expected Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Polish pass | Bug fixes, performance improvements |
| Story mode | Optional narrative campaign |
| Achievements | Steam achievement integration |
| Cloud saves | Cross-device save sync |
| Anti-cheat | Co-op integrity improvements |
Q4 2026 Roadmap
The Q4 2026 roadmap focuses on post-launch content and community features. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
| Update | Expected Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| v1.1.0 - Story mode | October 2026 | In development |
| v1.2.0 - New biome | November 2026 | In development |
| v1.3.0 - Holiday event | December 2026 | Planned |
The Q4 roadmap includes the addition of a new biome (the Arctic Tundra) and a holiday-themed event with exclusive rewards. The Arctic Tundra biome will introduce new dinosaur species suited to cold weather. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
2027 and Beyond
RaptorClaws has hinted at longer-term plans for Dino Hunters but has not committed to specific features for 2027. The likely focus areas based on community feedback are listed below. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
| Focus Area | Likelihood | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-platform play | High | PC, console, mobile |
| Additional dinosaur species | High | More species and variants |
| Tournament mode | Medium | Competitive contract runs |
| Custom mod hosting | Medium | Dedicated server support |
| VR support | Low | Steam VR integration |
The cross-platform play feature is the most requested community feature. RaptorClaws has signaled that it is a priority but has not committed to a specific release date. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
Community Wishlist
The Dino Hunters community maintains a wishlist of features that hunters would like to see. The top wishlist items are listed below. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
| Wishlist Item | Votes | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-platform play | Very high | Planned |
| More dinosaur species | High | In progress |
| Custom contract creator | High | Considered |
| Photo mode | Medium | Considered |
| New game+ mode | Medium | Considered |
RaptorClaws has been responsive to community feedback, and many wishlist items are being considered for future updates. The custom contract creator is a particularly popular request because it would let players design their own contracts with specific dinosaurs, biomes, and bonus objectives.
How to Stay Updated
There are four official channels for staying updated on the Dino Hunters roadmap. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
| Channel | Best Use |
|---|---|
| Steam News | Patch notes and announcements |
| Twitter @RaptorClaws | Quick updates and teasers |
| YouTube @raptorclaws | Devlogs and trailers |
| Discord (when available) | Community discussion |
The Steam News channel is the most reliable source for official patch notes. Twitter is the fastest source for breaking news. YouTube is the best source for visual updates and trailers. The Steam Discussions forum and the official Discord channel have multiple threads confirming this rule, with detailed screenshots and contract grade breakdowns.
What's Not on the Roadmap
Some features that hunters ask about are not currently on the roadmap. The most common requests are listed below with explanations. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
| Request | Why It's Not Planned |
|---|---|
| Mobile version | Game requires high-end hardware |
| Free-to-play mode | Would conflict with the contract model |
| Single-player story campaign (currently) | Optional story mode coming in v1.1.0 |
| Mod marketplace | Steam Workshop is sufficient |
For more on the current state of the game and what hunters can do today, see our Dino Hunters beginner guide. For patch note details, see our Dino Hunters patch notes summary guide. The Steam Discussions forum and the official Discord channel have multiple threads confirming this rule, with detailed screenshots and contract grade breakdowns.
Why RaptorClaws Updates Dino Hunters Frequently
RaptorClaws has committed to an aggressive Early Access update cadence because the studio wants community feedback to shape the v1.0 release and beyond. Each major patch goes through a three-stage pipeline: internal QA at the studio, public test branch on Steam, then staged rollout to the default branch. The public test branch typically runs for 10-14 days before the patch moves to default, which gives veteran hunters a chance to break the patch before it goes live.
The patch cadence averages 6-8 weeks for major patches and 2-3 weeks for hotfixes. Hotfix patches address critical bugs such as server crashes, save corruption, or weapon stat regressions. They are usually deployed on Tuesdays after a Friday hotfix window closes. Major patches bundle new content with balance changes and quality-of-life improvements, and they always reset the seasonal leaderboard. The seasonal leaderboard reset is intentional: it keeps competitive hunters engaged because no single hunter can park at the top indefinitely.
Update priorities are driven by the public Trello board and the Steam Discussions forum. RaptorClaws staff actively vote on community-submitted issues, and the top-voted items move to the next patch's scope. This means that player feedback has a direct, visible impact on what gets shipped. The community wishlist in particular has influenced features like the Trophy Photo Mode, the Self-Revive Token, and the Bullet Drop Calculator that were all originally suggested by Steam Discussions users.
Another reason updates are frequent is that the game uses an aggressive telemetry system to detect silent bugs. Every weapon fired, every dinosaur damaged, every contract completed, and every crash is logged and reviewed by the QA team within 48 hours. If a regression appears in the telemetry, the team schedules a hotfix within the same week. This is why patch notes sometimes include lines like "Fixed a rare case where T-Rex contracts would fail to spawn." These silent bug fixes are not exciting, but they are critical for stability.
The Early Access roadmap is divided into three horizons. The current horizon (0.9.x) focuses on stability, balance, and the Story mode beta. The next horizon (1.0) focuses on the full release, achievements, cloud saves, and the final UI polish. The horizon after that (1.1+) focuses on post-launch content such as new biomes, new dinosaurs, and modding tools. RaptorClaws has committed to at least 12 months of post-launch updates after v1.0, so the cadence will continue even after the official release.
Hotfixes and major patches are announced on the official RaptorClaws Twitter, the Steam News hub, and the Discord announcement channel. The Steam News hub is the canonical source because it appears in your Steam client and never gets edited after publication, while Twitter can be revised. For long-form context, the devlog on the studio's website provides detailed behind-the-scenes breakdowns of each patch.
Finally, RaptorClaws has stated that the Early Access price will remain $24.99 until v1.0 ships, at which point the price will increase to $34.99. Existing Early Access owners will not be charged the difference; they will receive the v1.0 upgrade for free as a thank-you for the early support.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Dino Hunters leave Early Access?
RaptorClaws has targeted September 2026 for the v1.0.0 full release. The exact date depends on the development progress. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. RaptorClaws has confirmed that core mechanics like bullet drop, the Spinal Shot bonus, and the contract payout formula will not change before full release, so any strategy you develop during Early Access should remain valid through v1.0.0.
The full release target is September 2026, with the Early Access version already available on Steam since late 2025. RaptorClaws has not signaled any delays, but the exact date may shift based on development progress. The release timeline is updated on the official roadmap page and the Steam News hub.
This question touches on a system that veteran hunters refine over many contracts. Veteran hunters recommend pairing this with the appropriate scanner perk or weapon attachment for maximum efficiency in the specific biome you are hunting. Most contracts that touch on this topic are solvable in 5-15 minutes once you have the right loadout selected before you accept the offer. The expected payout for contracts that exercise this mechanic scales with hunter level and contract tier, making Tier 3+ contracts the most profitable way to practice. Squads that specialize in this mechanic earn 20-30% more per contract than solo hunters because they split the loadout cost and coordinate target prioritization. The community wiki tracks these mechanics with weekly updates based on the latest patch, and the Steam Discussions forum is the fastest place to ask follow-up questions.
Will the Early Access version transfer to the full release?
Yes, your Early Access progress, unlocks, and save files will transfer to the full release. There is no separate purchase required. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. RaptorClaws has confirmed that core mechanics like bullet drop, the Spinal Shot bonus, and the contract payout formula will not change before full release, so any strategy you develop during Early Access should remain valid through v1.0.0.
RaptorClaws deploys patches every 6-8 weeks for major patches and 2-3 weeks for hotfixes. The full patch notes are published on the Steam News hub, which is the canonical source. The first 48 hours after a major patch drop are usually unstable, so avoid high-stakes contracts during that window.
RaptorClaws deploys patches every 6-8 weeks for major patches and 2-3 weeks for hotfixes. The full patch notes are published on the Steam News hub, which is the canonical source. Twitter and Discord provide additional context but the Steam News hub is the most authoritative. The first 48 hours after a major patch drop are usually unstable, so avoid high-stakes contracts during that window. Veteran hunters recommend pairing this with the appropriate scanner perk or weapon attachment for maximum efficiency in the specific biome you are hunting. Most contracts that touch on this topic are solvable in 5-15 minutes once you have the right loadout selected before you accept the offer. The expected payout for contracts that exercise this mechanic scales with hunter level and contract tier, making Tier 3+ contracts the most profitable way to practice. Squads that specialize in this mechanic earn 20-30% more per contract than solo hunters because they split the loadout cost and coordinate target prioritization. The community wiki tracks these mechanics with weekly updates based on the latest patch, and the Steam Discussions forum is the fastest place to ask follow-up questions.
How often does RaptorClaws release updates?
Approximately every 4-6 weeks. Major content updates are released quarterly, while smaller patches are released as needed for bug fixes. The Steam Discussions forum and the official Discord channel have multiple threads confirming this rule, with detailed screenshots and contract grade breakdowns. Velociraptor packs are a coordination problem more than a damage problem: their individual health is low so any .308 rifle will drop one with a single shot, but they flank simultaneously so spreading out into a triangle formation prevents simultaneous downs.
Velociraptor packs coordinate their attacks, so isolating one raptor at a time using bait is the standard veteran strategy. Place 2-3 bait piles around your stalk path to redirect the pack, then pick off the isolated individual. Once you have killed 2-3 raptors the pack usually disperses.
Velociraptor packs coordinate their attacks, so isolating one raptor at a time using bait is the standard veteran strategy. Place 2-3 bait piles around your stalk path to redirect the pack, then pick off the isolated individual with the AR-15 or .308 Bolt-Action. Once you have killed 2-3 raptors the pack usually disperses, which lets you finish the contract without further engagement. Veteran hunters recommend pairing this with the appropriate scanner perk or weapon attachment for maximum efficiency in the specific biome you are hunting. Most contracts that touch on this topic are solvable in 5-15 minutes once you have the right loadout selected before you accept the offer. The expected payout for contracts that exercise this mechanic scales with hunter level and contract tier, making Tier 3+ contracts the most profitable way to practice. Squads that specialize in this mechanic earn 20-30% more per contract than solo hunters because they split the loadout cost and coordinate target prioritization. The community wiki tracks these mechanics with weekly updates based on the latest patch, and the Steam Discussions forum is the fastest place to ask follow-up questions.
Will there be paid DLC after the full release?
RaptorClaws has not announced paid DLC plans. The current model suggests post-launch content will be free updates rather than paid DLC. The full release target is September 2026, with the Early Access version already available on Steam since late 2025. RaptorClaws has not signaled any delays, but the exact date may shift based on development progress. The release timeline is updated on the official roadmap page and the Steam News hub. Velociraptor packs coordinate their attacks, so isolating one raptor at a time using bait is the standard veteran strategy. Place 2-3 bait piles around your stalk path to redirect the pack, then pick off the isolated individual with the AR-15 or .308 Bolt-Action. Once you have killed 2-3 raptors the pack usually disperses, which lets you finish the contract without further engagement. RaptorClaws deploys patches every 6-8 weeks for major patches and 2-3 weeks for hotfixes. The full patch notes are published on the Steam News hub, which is the canonical source. Twitter and Discord provide additional context but the Steam News hub is the most authoritative. The first 48 hours after a major patch drop are usually unstable, so avoid high-stakes contracts during that window. The full release target is September 2026, with the Early Access version already available on Steam since late 2025. RaptorClaws has not signaled any delays, but the exact date may shift based on development progress. The release timeline is updated on the official roadmap page and the Steam News hub.