In the world of hunting simulators, "Ultimate Hunting" stands out for its commitment to realism and ethical hunting practices. At the helm of this ambitious project is Rafał Jelonek, the producer and director of the game, who brings a unique blend of personal hunting experience and game development expertise. In this exclusive interview, Rafał shares his insights into the development process, the challenges of creating a realistic hunting game, and the ethical considerations that shape "Ultimate Hunting."

Personal and Team Experience with Hunting:

Q: Could you share your personal experience with hunting? How did you get started, and what aspects of hunting have most influenced your approach to developing Ultimate Hunting?

A: Hunting has been part of my family for several generations. My sainted grandfather hunted, my father hunts, and I hunt. In fact, hunting surrounds each of us, every day - but not everyone wants to be a part of it, and this should be respected. I had the opportunity to be a part of it from an early age and learn about the circle of life, rules, principles, and, above all, animals.

However, I did not always go hunting or observing with my father. There came an age when I became more interested in computers and then my adventure with hunting games began. The beginnings were very interesting, as developers put in games what is in reality. Unfortunately, over the years, the growing political advocacy caused developers to portray hunting games in a very sensitive way.

Q: Are there other hunters on the 3T Games team? If so, how have their experiences and insights contributed to the game's development, particularly in achieving the realism and authenticity you aim for?

A: I am the only hunter.

Q: How do your real-world hunting experiences influence the mechanics and features in Ultimate Hunting? Are there specific practices or lessons from your hunting background that you've incorporated into the game?

A: It always adds a more realistic overview of the game. You know what happens with animals, how they behave, and how to take down animals quickly without unnecessary suffering. Nowadays, games don't show the brutality of hunting, and every hunter around the globe knows that in the end, we take lives - there is blood, and if you don't place your shot precisely, animals will suffer. This is something I want to show in the game through, for example, shot reaction animations.

Incorporation of Wildlife like Elephants and Deer:

Q: How did you decide on including specific animals like elephants and deer in Ultimate Hunting? What criteria did you use to select the various species represented in the game?

A: The criteria are pretty simple - reserves and biomes. Every animal that we develop (or use) needs to be part of such a place in real life. If we have a Southern Africa reserve, we do proper research. We check what is hunted there in real life. There is always controversy, but this is the real world.

Q: Elephants are majestic and complex creatures. How did you approach designing their behavior and interactions in Ultimate Hunting to reflect their real-world characteristics and challenges in hunting them?

A: To be honest, there is not much complexity in their behavior. Like other animals in our game, they roam in packs or solo. They search for food, water, and a place where they can rest. The biggest challenge is to take down an elephant in an ethical way without being knocked out in the game. Do you know what is the most ethical shot for an elephant? A headshot. You break through the skull and hit the brain. The animal dies instantly without any suffering. That is why picking proper gear - weapon and ammunition - is crucial for a quick kill.

Q: Deer are a staple of many hunting games. What unique aspects of deer behavior and habitat did you focus on to differentiate the deer in Ultimate Hunting from those in other hunting simulators?

A: Why differentiate from other hunting simulators when they have proper behaviors? We can improve them, but we won't reinvent them.

Q: What research and resources did you rely on to accurately portray the behaviors, habits, and ecosystems of animals like elephants and deer in the game?

A: That's a solid question. As I live in Poland and I know our local wildlife, it was a challenge to get a lot of information about animals. To be honest, finding information about animals' habitats and behavior, videos from real-life hunting, or just chatting with some of our community fans from the US and Africa - gave us a lot of information. The hardest thing was to find proper scientific names and pick proper sub-species. Here we relied on books like "Polish Names of Mammals of The World," which included Latin and English names that are the most up-to-date.

Images provided by Ultimate Games

Integration of Hunting Ethics and Conservation:

Q: Does Ultimate Hunting include any messages or educational elements about wildlife conservation? If so, how do you integrate these aspects into the gameplay and narrative?

A: In general, it's a video game, but we want to send a message that trophy hunting is something normal. People complain that animals take to the streets, destroy crops, and pose a danger on the roads. Unfortunately, the progress of civilization means that we are reducing the size of animal habitats. Hunting has been with humans for thousands of years, and with our development, controlling animal populations has become an essential part of our lives. Do we want to educate the players? Maybe in terms of ethical hunting - it is the responsibility of the hunter to kill any game animal as quickly and humanely as possible.

Q: Given that hunting can be a contentious topic, have you faced any issues or concerns from wildlife organizations or advocacy groups? How do you address these concerns, and what steps do you take to ensure the game respects wildlife conservation principles?

A: Trophy hunting is a real thing in the real world. Money raised from selling tags - especially in Africa - usually goes to wildlife conservation, park rangers, etc. They take care of wildlife and fight with poachers who don't care if it is a big, healthy male that can pass on genes to future generations or just a young specimen. Bones are money, trophies are money - poachers only care about money. Meanwhile, hunters, in the end, are part of the circle of life. People think that you can shoot anything you want, whenever you want - and this is the biggest lie in the narration about hunters, as we have regulations, limitations, and protection seasons.

Release Plans and Future Directions:

Q: Ultimate Hunting is scheduled for release in 2025/2026. What factors influenced this release window, and how is the timeline shaping up in terms of meeting development milestones?

A: Team size and budget. We are currently the smallest team that worked on a hunting game. When the competition has a team size of over 50 workers, our team is between 3 and 5 people, depending on the current feature development.

Q: With plans to release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, the Nintendo Switch successor, and VR platforms, what challenges have you faced in ensuring the game performs well across different hardware? How are you addressing these challenges?

A: It is too early to talk about cross-platform as the game will first be released on PC. When we deliver a good product that is in a good state without plenty of bugs, we will release it on consoles.

Q: As technology evolves, especially with new hardware expected in 2025/2026, how do you plan to leverage advancements like ray tracing, DLSS, and FSR to enhance the game's realism and performance?

A: Yes, the game will include DLSS, FSR, and ray tracing.

Q: What can players expect in terms of post-release support and content updates? Are there any specific features, species, or gameplay expansions planned for after the initial launch?

A: Hard to say when the game hasn't been released yet. We are not focusing on the future but on daily tasks and problems.

Q: How do you plan to gather and incorporate player feedback post-launch to improve the game? Are there particular areas of the game you are keen to get player insights on?

A: Players can talk directly with us on Discord, Facebook, or send us their hunting stories through our website. When the story is good enough, we want to consider this as an in-game mission.

Q: Are there plans to include additional species or expand on the wildlife in future updates? What new animals or ecosystems are you excited to explore in the game's future?

A: Many players asked us to include the Big 5 of Africa in our game. So far we have 3 animals from this list: elephant, buffalo, and lion. In the future, we would probably consider creating a second map in Africa with leopards and rhinos being added, but that is the "future," and no one knows how it will look. So I can just say that we see the request from the community, and we would like to fulfill some of them one day.

Q: As you approach the release window, what are the key challenges you anticipate in the final stages of development, and how are you preparing to address them?

A: I believe the biggest concern will be game optimization. Maps are over 64km2, filled with fauna and flora, and Unreal Engine 5 can be heavy for PCs. I can say right now this will be the biggest and hardest task to perform.

Q: What long-term vision do you have for Ultimate Hunting beyond its release? How do you see the game evolving in the next few years, and what are your goals for its impact on the hunting simulator genre?

A: As I said, I am focusing on present problems and challenges.

Q: When can players expect to see demos or playtests from Ultimate Hunting? How will these opportunities shape the final release of the game?

A: We don't have a date yet, but when there is one, we will let everyone know.

Rafał Jelonek's in-depth discussion highlights the meticulous care and passionate commitment behind "Ultimate Hunting." Drawing from personal experiences and extensive research, Jelonek and his team at 3T Games are dedicated to delivering a game that is not only authentic and engaging but also respects wildlife and adheres to ethical hunting practices. 

By integrating real-world hunting principles and conservation efforts into the game's mechanics, they aim to educate players about the importance of ethical hunting and the role it plays in wildlife management. As "Ultimate Hunting" gears up for its release, it's shaping up to set a new standard in hunting simulations, offering players a uniquely immersive and educational experience. 

To ensure you don't miss out on any updates and to support the game, consider adding "Ultimate Hunting" to your Steam wishlist. Keep following us here on Fix Gaming Channel for continuous updates and more information.