Carnival Hunt, the 5v1 asymmetrical horror game from Beer Night Studio and Crytivo, enters Steam Early Access on July 23, 2026. Five wind-up Bunnies work together to escape a shifting carnival while one player hunts them as the Carnival Monster.
Quick answer: Early Access unlocks on July 23, 2026 at 8:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM ET / 3:00 PM UTC / 5:00 PM CEST. To confirm it is live, open the Steam store page at your local equivalent and check that the “Play Game” or purchase button is active.
Release time: July 23, 2026, 8:00 AM PT (3:00 PM UTC)
Carnival Hunt release status: Confirmed
The launch date is confirmed. Crytivo announced the exact unlock time, and the Steam store listing carries the same July 23, 2026 date. The unlock happens at a single global moment, so the local clock time depends on your region.
| Time zone | Unlock time (July 23, 2026) |
|---|---|
| PT | 8:00 AM |
| CT | 10:00 AM |
| ET | 11:00 AM |
| UTC | 3:00 PM |
| BST | 4:00 PM |
| CEST | 5:00 PM |
Platform and price
Early Access is a PC release through Steam. There is no confirmed PlayStation 5 or Xbox version tied to this date, so treat the launch as PC-only for now.
The base price is $19.99 USD, with regional pricing set by Steam at checkout. A 10% launch discount is available for a limited time from launch. Steam determines the final local price when you buy.
What is in the Early Access build
At launch the game includes two Hunters, along with active, passive, and modifier gear upgrades. Maps are built from 32 modular rooms across several themes. Instead of one fixed layout, the rooms are arranged procedurally, so routes and connections change between matches and force you to adapt how you move and hide.
Early Access is not the finished game. Expect occasional bugs, balancing gaps, and areas that still need work, though the core loop is already in place.
During Early Access, the developers listed the following update targets. These are goals, not fixed promises, and may shift with testing.
| Content | Target cadence |
|---|---|
| Gear upgrades | 1 to 3 each month |
| New rooms | 1 to 4 each month |
| New Hunter | 1 every 3 to 6 months |
| PvE experiences | New content every 1 to 2 months |
A shared community space called Bunny Town is also planned, where players spend resources earned in matches to build and decorate a town together. It is set for after the initial Early Access launch, not for day one.
How the match works
Five players start as wind-up Bunnies trying to escape, and one plays as the Carnival Monster trying to stop them. Both sides depend on finding and managing limited keys. Bunnies use keys to keep each other wound up and moving, while the Monster consumes them to close in.
Every key makes noise, so a single careless moment can give your position away. Bunnies can conceal themselves in specific spots, including fallen teammates, which makes teamwork and resource control the deciding factors in whether the group escapes or the Monster wins.
Kickstarter and Crytivo Store cosmetics
Kickstarter backers at the Early Carnival Enjoyer tier and above, plus anyone who bought the game through the Crytivo Store, receive codes for the exclusive Black Bunny Makeup and White Bunny Makeup cosmetics. Codes are sent by email to the address linked to your pledge or store purchase, so check your inbox and your spam or junk folder.
If you want to jump in the moment it unlocks, wishlist the game now and open the Steam store page at 8:00 AM PT on July 23 to confirm the release is live in your region.
