Hunt: Showdown will go into closed Alpha this winter

Crytek will host a closed Alpha for Hunt: Showdown sometime this winter.

PC players will be able to play Hunt: Showdown during multiple closed Alpha testing phases this winter, Crytek have announced.

After initial tests with a very limited amount of players are conducted, Crytek plans to invite more testers with each phase.

All feedback will be taken into account as the development process moves forward, and it will continue through the game's early access period on Steam.

Steam Early Access for Hunt: Showdown is currently without a release date. You can get an idea of what to expect during this stage of development through a video released in October.

More details on the planned testing phases and Steam Early Access will be shared soon. Until then, you can apply for a chance to join the Hunt: Showdown closed Alpha tests through the official website. Randomly selected players will be informed by email.

Winter technically starts on December 21, but the closed Alpha could start earlier. Or later. Winter runs through March 31, so there's that to take into consideration. We highly doubt interested parties will have to wait until March.

Hunt: Showdown is a competitive, first-person, multiplayer bounty hunting game with heavy PvE elements. In it, there are four teams of two after a bounty, and matches will last between 20-40 minutes. Players will have to watch out for not only other players, but plenty of monsters with nasty, big,pointy teeth.

If you are unfamiliar with the title or want another look at it, here's some pre-alpha gameplay, and a video featuring one of the areas on the map.