We’ve been expecting her arrival for a while, and now it’s official! Predators’ Isabelle is here to stalk the Hunting Grounds as Illfonic’s paid June DLC! And as with Dutch’s big return to the Predator franchise, Isabelle’s reappearance also comes with Alice Braga returning to voice the character.
Our paid DLC pack for this summer re-introduces a fan favorite to the Predator: Hunting Grounds world, and it’s available today. Help us in welcoming 2010’s Predators character Isabelle to the game. A sniper in an elite defense force, Isabelle was selected by the Predator menace as worthy prey to be hunted on an off-world game preserve. One of two survivors in a group of eight specialized killers, she managed to escape and returned to Earth. After joining the OWLF, it was determined that “Izzy” had more confirmed Predator kills than any other human…aside from Dutch.
Now you, too, can harness her immense power as one of the fiercest competitors in the jungle. She not only carries specializations that are tailored to her like sniper, rushdown, scavenger [and more], but she is a real glass cannon. Izzy is a heavy hitter but watch your health; she pairs best with a medic teammate. QA says if you feel like your team is incomplete, she is that missing piece to a well-rounded crew.
The article doesn’t mention Isabelle specifically so we’re going to have to find this one out on our own, but the new update also comes with a new lore drop in the form even more OWLF tapes! Isabelle’s DLC also comes with early access to the NRV-E, a new sniper rifle equipped with some very explosive sounding “Pred Shells.” Izzy’s new sniper rifle will become unlockable via gameplay once the August update drops.
While Isabelle’s return is the paid DLC for June, with this month’s free update we’re getting another new map! It’s the known-about-since-the-game-launched map Headquarters! Illfonic call it their “most complex, spacious, and difficult map yet,” complete with 12 missions including new and specific to Headquarters missions.
Deep in the jungle, atop a large waterfall, the Stargazer fleet built their headquarters, a strong military base to facilitate their proxy wars while trying to draw the Predator to Earth. HQ comprises multiple bases, facility structures, and cabanas that sit atop the most challenging terrains the game has showcased yet.
The Headquarters, at first, will feel like a multi-floor labyrinth, with lots of turns forcing players into close-quarters combat. Anyone up for an elevator battle royale? With so many hiding spots and nowhere to perch, HQ really is a Predator death trap for most, but there may be one that can survive. A highly skilled Trapper Predator could be stealthy enough to beat the fire team. But most that have played this new map make mincemeat out of the enemy.
If the Headquarters is the “burial grounds” for our Yautja friend, then the Cabanas are where the Fireteam could meet their demise. It’s a predkour paradise. With 12 different missions for the Fireteam to conquer; they will often traverse the area. This map also showcases new missions unavailable to other maps. Fireteams will be faced with an all drone mission, these act as mobile alarm systems that will alert your enemies if they spot you. Take them out before they see you, or a constant stream of Stargazer guerillas will be coming after you. Or try your hand at the Maiden’s Treasure; this mission will send teams on the ultimate treasure hunt to unveil unexplainable Predator technology. These missions and others will be the key to unlocking bonus XP.
The update also comes with minor fixes which you can find in the patch notes below.
General
- Addressed an exploit spot in Airstrip
- Fixed an issue in Airstrip where certain parts of the map did not have the proper lighting
- Fixed an issue in Airstrip where the downed helicopter not always showing up during certain missions
- Fixed an issue in Airstrip where the reinforcements may sometimes spawn Fireteam members in the incorrect location
Fireteam
- General
- Fireteam members can no longer muddy up in Clash mode
- Fixed an issue where Dutch 1987 was not working properly in custom private matches, ‘Big Head Mode’
- Fixed an issue where certain cosmetics were not properly displaying on Dutch 2025
- Fixed an issue where Dutch’s beard was floating over his body during certain cinematics
Predator
- Weapons
- Battle Axe
- Fixed an issue where the Battle Axe was not properly being sheathed when entering Predkour
- Plasma Caster
- Fixed an issue where the Plasma Caster reticle was not properly focusing while charging
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Killing the pig is not the problem, is eating it and the scarcity of pigs everywhere else except when Fireteam is present nearby. For one, its dead, you show up as blue due to body heat loss as it is dead, so why is the piggy still squealing when grabbing at the heart? A second pig squeal is not needed, loud enough as it is to hear the fist punch through the pig's body to eat the heart, dont need sweaty Fireteam players coming my way that fast.
Second, why only plenty of pigs when 7 meters away from Fireteam while I find a scarce 2 or 1 any other place on the map. People would say take the Large Pouch perk but must one really rely on that perk all the time to play a game just to ensure enough heals for a proper match engagement? Is it wrong to ask for consistent pig spawns around the maps? If Fireteam has 4 ways to heal but Predator has only 2, with one being very limited to two uses and the other depending if Fireteam is nearby to spawn pigs but placing yourself in danger of being in their crosshairs.
Just need Illfonic to have consistent spots around the map that spawns about 6 pigs or so, and have Fireteam also have consistent ammo boxes as well. Its also annoying that Fireteam gets only one ammo crate in random matches at times. There is a reason why people love Airstrip, as the map has that best balance resource consistency that favors both sides.
People are obtaining the whole new recording set, so perhaps the bugs (if true) are map dependent. I remember when searching for the first batch back in the day, I always had problems keeping the tapes I found strictly on the Overgrowth map.
Then this day happened
Hmm. I have no issues using my Target Isolation and finding Pigs on the map around a Fireteam or miles away. But never gut a pig around a Fireteam. Use your meditation instead. It's realistic they squeal!
They fixed that back in May, thankfully! 👏
I've only had a change to play the new map once but it seems pretty cool. I like how big and open it seems, and I want to explore the actual HQ building a bit more.
It definitely seems like it's one where both sides are going to have a much tougher time depending on where they are when the fight starts.
My guess would be because the content drops are time-sensitive (ie promised for certain months). Patches can drop any time, so they probably didn't implement much because they were focused on meeting the hard deadline. I'm sure it won't be long until we get more substantial fixes rolled out.
There is still lots to do, I wonder why patch notes are barely non existent this time around?
But damn, I'm not looking forward to the frustrating feeling again when you find a tape but don't make it to the chopper, and can't take it with you!
Nice analysis Nec!
Headquarters is indeed large, magnificently so. It didn't take long to become my favorite map, so I'm not surprised it's become a favorite of the Illfonic crew (something other maps like Airstrip had no shot of doing, at least for me). I found the map pretty wondrous, and dangerous for a FT - those cliffs!
I noticed those hydro tubes too. It all made me wonder what those Stargazer bastards are up to in there. Possibly the lore tapes combined with missions will paint a complete picture.
And I hope you're right about that 3 v 12 mode!
Yeah, Isabelle, I like her and her gun, but she has some squishy stats. Not recommended unless you're in a solid Fireteam that sticks together and communicates. Dutch can survive in a team not watching each other's back, but not Izzy! (But to be fair, that encompasses the sniper class in general.)
And damn, do I love hearing Alice Braga's voice. My only complaint is sometimes I just want her to say "Stay together Fireteam" and instead she goes into some soliloquy.
I'll try to keep an eye out for you if I see any real good explorations on YouTube.
Trying to watch this now, but I'm getting terrible buffering issues. Can't watch more than 20 seconds straight without a good 5-10 second load. Giant happen to other YouTube videos, and I've tried multiple devices. Anyone else experiencing this?
The new map is cool, I like the design of the environments, enjoyed more than Airstrip. But some locations like that big building can be a nightmare for the Predator, tight indoors locations are terrible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTkZvI9irg8&
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YHBxFoZZAU&
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBXTmQ-LZiQ&;
Yeah, there's a small structure right underneath it with a button to call the lift. And there are actually two horizontal "lifts" on the map - free on each side of the HQ.
Ive still yet to enter the one you spoke about (from below the main structure under the water fall?).
Isabelle
Headquarters
That's all from me, for now. Curious to hear what others think.
I really like all of the different predator trophies Isabelle wears, the dreads on her waist are a really nice touch.
Ah, then agreed.
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Right-click-save!
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Touché! It's telling that I don't associate Predator 2 (my favourite in the series, FYI) with domesticity though. As Mike himself says, it may be an urban environment, but it's basically a warzone - no creature comforts at all. The only time the film dips into a domestic setting is the apartment gate-crash, and while it's a great scene I think they did the right thing by limiting it like that.
By "domestic" I guess I mean an environment where you could picture kids/teenagers and soccer mums milling about.
Glad that this was finally the DLC drop where they decided to give us Isabelle. In retrospect it was likely changed so that the first post-Steam release content drop could seem more substantial for new PC players especially, but they definitely made a mistake by teasing her so early and then holding off on her for so long.
Either way, good to see she's finally made it! I like that it looks like she's got Mr Black's mask jawbone as a trophy there too. And the new map looks cool as well, especially with that big structure jutting out over the waterfall. Almost gave me Predators vibes in itself when I first saw the tiny thumbnail.
I would have thought the sniper rifle would have had a thermal sight like the movie that would have allowed you to see the Predator even while cloaked, so this "ranged impact shot" feature sounds interesting.
*cough,cough* Ahem... Predator 2?
https://64.media.tumblr.com/d159f3fda7c0693750ca976ee1ba5b85/tumblr_nvv1xvZ0jF1rp0vkjo1_500.gif
This is what I've been craving a maze! Hopefully lots of dark eerie corridors in here!
"The Headquarters, at first, will feel like a multi-floor labyrinth, with lots of turns forcing players into close-quarters combat. Anyone up for an elevator battle royale? With so many hiding spots and nowhere to perch, HQ really is a Predator death trap for most, but there may be one that can survive. A highly skilled Trapper Predator could be stealthy enough to beat the fire team. But most that have played this new map make mincemeat out of the enemy."
Yeah, after re-reading with less giddy excitement that does appear to be the case. Maybe they had Alice lined up for the tapes initially, but had to come up with a work-around when she was too busy (or too costly, as you say). Something like that would explain the last-minute reshuffle from when she was first teased as DLC.
Not sure how I feel about the "resort"-like elements of the new map. Kind've reminds me of Jurassic Park actually, which may not be too much of a stretch from the Predator feel, but does take it away from the strictly paramilitary stuff we've had so far. As AVPR and The Predator have shown, things start to go off the rails when this franchise gets too domestic.
If so, Alice Braga stars in a TV show here in the US called "Queen of the South", so perhaps she was too expensive to record her own lore tapes, where Jake isn't seemingly doing much and costs a smaller fee to record the long stuff.
But damn, more lore I can't wait to delve into!
Thank you Illfonic!!!
So much to love here! So much to love!
Plus an Ewok village!
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