Character Creation Status
Way of the Hunter 2 does not currently include a full character creator. At Version 1.0, every player starts as the same default male hunter, so there are no face, body, voice, name, or gender selections to make before beginning the campaign.
This matters because the game’s progression is built around your hunter’s reputation, equipment, lodge, trophies, and regional work for Hearth & Hunt—not around a custom avatar. You can focus on tracking animals and developing your hunting setup immediately, but you cannot make a personal-looking hunter at launch.
| Feature | Available at Version 1.0? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Choose a male or female hunter | No | The default male hunter is currently the only playable option. |
| Face or body customization | No | There are no appearance sliders, presets, or manual edits. |
| Rename your hunter | No | A player-created character identity is not part of the current setup. |
| Clothing customization | No | Clothing options are planned for future updates. |
| Create multiple hunters | No documented option | The game does not provide a confirmed character-selection screen or save-slot manager. |
| Switch hunters mid-save | No | There is no current character swap function. |
The game still offers a sense of personal progression. Hunting regions, missions, equipment choices, trophy displays, dog companionship, and lodge improvements become the practical ways to shape your experience. Your hunter may look fixed, but your hunting career will not play the same way as another player’s.
Do not confuse Way of the Hunter 2 with the original game’s map-specific playable characters. The sequel has its own structure, setting, and progression systems. In the current release, character identity is deliberately more limited than gear and hunting customization.
What You Can Customize Instead
Although the hunter model is fixed, Way of the Hunter 2 gives you meaningful control over how you hunt. Your decisions affect the animals you pursue, the tools you bring, the routes you drive, and the trophies you display at the Hearth & Hunt Headquarters.
The three hunting areas support different approaches. New Laurentia emphasizes North American wildlife and investigation of unusual moose behavior. Kilimaya Reserve brings dangerous African animals and archery-focused training into the picture. The Headquarters map serves as a hub for your expanding lodge and trophy collection.
| Area of choice | What you control | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Weapons | Rifle, scope, bow, and ammunition choices | Match your loadout to the species and shot distance. |
| Ammunition | Default and purchased ammo types | Select a suitable option for ethical, effective harvests. |
| Backpacks | Carrying capacity for ammo sets | Larger backpacks let you prepare for more situations. |
| Dog companion | How you use the Foxhound while tracking | The dog helps follow scent trails over long distances. |
| Hunting route | Camps, vehicle use, and on-foot exploration | Smart travel reduces wasted time and avoids spooking animals. |
| Lodge displays | Trophy mounts and display space | Your lodge becomes a record of your best hunts. |
A good first-session plan is to treat equipment and fieldcraft as your “build.” Start with familiar weapons, learn one region at a time, and avoid buying gear just because it looks versatile. A focused setup is easier to manage while you are still learning animal behavior and habitat patterns.
- Pick a target species before leaving the lodge.
- Carry ammunition appropriate for that animal’s size and tier.
- Use tracks, movement patterns, and habitat conditions to narrow the search.
- Bring the dog when scent tracking is likely to matter.
- Return valuable trophies to the lodge rather than treating every harvest as routine.
This approach is especially helpful because Way of the Hunter 2 rewards deliberate pacing. A carefully observed animal and well-placed shot are usually more valuable than rushing through a region looking for instant results.
Future Appearance Options
A female hunter and clothing customization are planned for post-launch updates. These features appeared on the official roadmap after Version 1.0, which means they are intended additions rather than options already hidden in the current menus.
That distinction is important. Planned content can change in timing, scope, and implementation while development continues. Until an update is released, do not expect a gender selection screen, wardrobe menu, facial editor, or confirmation that existing saves will support every future appearance option in the same way.
| Planned feature | Current status | What is known |
|---|---|---|
| Female hunter | Planned | The developer has listed a female character among post-launch additions. |
| Clothing options | Planned | Appearance-related clothing customization is on the future roadmap. |
| Advanced dog training | Planned | This is separate from hunter appearance but expands companion customization. |
| More hunting gear | Planned | Future updates and DLC are expected to add equipment choices. |
| Additional regions | Planned | Paid DLC is intended to introduce more hunting locations. |
| Expanded multiplayer features | Planned | Future work includes improvements such as text chat and more session options. |
For now, it is best to choose the game based on its hunting simulation rather than the promise of a detailed avatar editor. The core experience centers on living ecosystems, animal behavior, tracking, shooting, travel, and trophy hunting across North America and Africa.
If character representation is your main priority, consider waiting for a roadmap update that specifically confirms the available selections and whether clothing is cosmetic, unlockable, or tied to progression. The confirmed direction is encouraging, but exact customization depth has not been officially confirmed.
Starting Fresh and Character-Related FAQ
There is no documented in-game option to delete one character, make another hunter, or reset progress through a dedicated character-creation menu. Starting fresh currently means replacing your save data rather than creating a second profile inside the game.
On PC, community reports place save data in %LocalAppData%\WOTH2\Saved\SaveGames. Back up that folder before changing anything. If Steam Cloud is enabled, it can restore deleted files unless cloud synchronization is handled carefully. Console and cloud-streaming players may not have direct access to local save folders, so they should check their platform’s save-data tools first.
Do not delete saves casually. A fresh start can remove campaign progress, equipment unlocks, lodge progress, and trophy records. Early Access also demonstrated that saves can occasionally be affected by major development changes, so keeping a backup is sensible even if you are not resetting.
FAQ
Does Way of the Hunter 2 have character creation?
No. Way of the Hunter 2 character creation is not available in Version 1.0. You play as the default male hunter.
Can I play as a female hunter?
Not yet. A female hunter is planned for a future post-launch update, but it is not currently playable.
Can I change my hunter’s clothes?
No clothing customization is available at present. Clothing options are planned, though the exact selection and unlock method have not been officially confirmed.
Can I change my character’s face, hair, body, or voice?
No. The current game has no visible editor for those features.
Can I create a second hunter or use multiple character slots?
There is no documented multiple-character or save-slot manager in the current release. Players generally use the existing save rather than choosing between separate hunters.
Can I restart from the beginning?
There is no confirmed reset button in the game menus. On PC, starting over may require backing up and removing save data manually. Be cautious with Steam Cloud so it does not restore the old save.
Will future character options require a new save?
That has not been officially confirmed. Wait for the relevant update notes before deleting or restarting any existing progress.
What should I customize while waiting for appearance options?
Focus on loadouts, ammunition, backpacks, hunting routes, dog use, trophy displays, and lodge expansion. Those systems currently have the biggest effect on how your hunt feels.
