SCUM | July Update Preview: New Tutorial, Master Hunter Quests & Mutant Animals

Hey there prisoners!

The July Into the Wild update is coming on Monday, July 20, and today we’re giving you a preview of what’s on the way.

This update builds on the return of free-roaming animals with new Master Hunter Quests offering exclusive rewards, mutant animal variants, and quality-of-life improvements. It also introduces a new tutorial experience set inside the TEC1 Conditioning Facility.

Before we get into the July update, we want to update you on the wider season.

When we first announced Into the Wild, we said it would run from May to July. Since then, the season has grown beyond the original three-month plan, so we’re extending it through August and September. That gives the team more development time and gives each update a little more room.

Across those next two updates, we’ll continue building on hunting, cooking, food systems, and fishing, with new challenges and further improvements still to come. The extra room also lets us bring the new TEC1 Conditioning Facility tutorial into July.

With that covered, here’s a closer look at what’s coming in the July update.

NEW TUTORIAL: TEC1 CONDITIONING FACILITY

We’re introducing a new tutorial experience for SCUM with the July update.

The TEC1 Conditioning Facility is built to help new players learn the basics before they’re dropped onto the Island. Existing players can access it too, so it isn’t only for first-time prisoners.

It’s a controlled survival training space where every lesson is watched, recorded, and turned into entertainment. It may be more concrete floor than forest floor, but under studio lights and TEC1 supervision, you’ll get some hands-on experience before the Island teaches you the harder lessons.

Outside the TEC1 Conditioning Facility, the wider tutorial system has also been reworked around a new in-game tutorial library. You can choose which tutorials to follow while you play and work through them at your own pace, rather than completing them in a fixed sequence.

The library combines familiar and new lessons across categories including Survival, Crafting, Metabolism, Economy, Base Building, and Hunting, making it easier to find what you want to learn and track what you’ve completed.

MUTANT ANIMALS

Mutated wildlife has been sighted across the Island. Mutant boar, wolves, and deer are tougher, stranger versions of familiar animals, and prisoners who want to hunt them will need to track them down.

The mutant boar and wolves hit harder and take more punishment than their regular versions. The mutant deer is more likely to bolt, so getting close enough to bring it down may be a challenge.

If you do manage it, mutant animals can drop unique loot alongside the usual animal materials. Bring the right weapon, and don’t assume the animal is the one in trouble.

MASTER HUNTER QUESTS & EXCLUSIVE REWARDS

The Master Hunter arrives at the Hunter’s Grotto in July, bringing three tiers of tougher quests and exclusive rewards.

These quests are where several Into the Wild systems and updates start coming together, including improved quest flow, free-roaming animals, tracking, bait, and kill quality.

The Regular Hunter continues to offer general hunting jobs and gear, while the new Master Hunter is where you’ll find tougher challenges, mutant animal hunts, and more valuable unlocks.

Alongside Fame, cash, gear, and discounts, Master Hunter Quests can also unlock exclusive items, including weapon charms and furniture recipes. These rewards are earned through quest progression, so prisoners who put in the work can unlock them by climbing the Master Hunter tiers.

CRAFTING, COOKING & BASE BUILDING UI UPDATE

The Crafting, Cooking, and Base Building interfaces have received a visual redesign, bringing them in line with the updated Inventory UI.

The new layouts make these menus clearer and more consistent to use, while laying the groundwork for future additions to these systems.

INVENTORY DROP ALL FUNCTIONALITY

The update also adds a new Drop All function, helping you clear space faster when you’re looting, sorting, or emptying a bag after a run.

Especially when you’re overloaded and something nearby is closing the distance.

MORE PRISONERS ON THE ISLAND

Official servers are currently testing an increase from 64 to 80 players, bringing more prisoners to the Island.

Recent optimization work has made the test possible, and we’ll be watching performance and stability closely throughout the week. If both remain strong, 80 players will become the new default with the July update. Otherwise, official servers will return to 64.

MORE IN THE JULY UPDATE

That’s the main focus for this preview, but it isn’t everything coming in July.

The full update also includes further work on animal behavior, balance changes, fixes, and quality-of-life improvements.

We’ll share the full patch notes when the update goes live on Monday, July 20.

Until then, let us know what you’re most looking forward to.

See you on the Island, prisoners.