Call of the Wild The Angler

Call of the Wild: The Angler PC is an open-world fishing simulation from Expansive Worlds, the studio behind theHunter: Call of the Wild. The current storefront name remains Call of the Wild: The Angler; there is no verified rebrand or replacement edition. It combines first-person exploration, flexible fishing rigs, vehicle travel, and cooperative angling across five reserves.

The game is developed by Expansive Worlds and published under Avalanche Studios on Steam. It uses the Apex Avalanche Open World Engine and is available on PC through Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store. Players can fish alone, explore with other anglers, or join large online sessions built around shared outdoor exploration.

Open-world fishing with a deliberate rhythm

The main loop begins with choosing a reserve, locating suitable water, selecting equipment, and deciding how to approach the target species. You can leave the road, walk along a shoreline, drive across the landscape, or use a boat to reach deeper fishing areas.

Fishing is not reduced to waiting for a bite. You need to choose a suitable rig, cast accurately, manage the line, and control tension during the fight. A poorly matched rod, reel, line, hook, bait, or lure can make a difficult catch much harder than it needs to be.

The first-person camera keeps attention on the rod, water, float, lure, and surrounding terrain. The pace is generally slower than an action game, but the tension rises quickly when a strong fish takes the hook and starts pulling against the line.

Players who enjoy the outdoor exploration and tracking side of this formula may also appreciate methodical wilderness simulations like theHunter: Call of the Wild, although The Angler replaces animal tracking and shooting with tackle selection and fish behavior.

Techniques, tackle, and fish behavior

Float fishing, lure spinning, and bottom fishing form the core techniques. Each approach changes how you prepare, where you search, and how you respond after a fish bites.

Float fishing makes the bite easy to read, but hook size, bait choice, depth, and target species still matter. Lure fishing demands more active presentation, while bottom fishing uses a different setup for species that feed closer to the lakebed or riverbed.

The equipment system is built around combinations rather than a single universal upgrade path. Rod strength, reel performance, line capacity, hook size, bait, and lure selection all influence which fish you can target effectively.

Fish behavior is affected by location, time of day, species traits, and the angler's actions. The game allows players to choose between morning, day, evening, and night, which can help when pursuing a particular species or trying to improve the odds of a rare catch.

The in-game handbook records catches and provides information about species, habits, and preferences. It gives new players a practical starting point while leaving room for experimentation, especially when searching for Legendary fish and higher-ranked specimens.

Progression also includes missions, challenges, credits, equipment unlocks, and fishing knowledge. Taylor's Tackle Academy is aimed at teaching fundamentals such as float fishing and hook-size selection without turning the entire game into a rigid campaign.

Five reserves and a completed content catalog

The base experience centers on Golden Ridge Reserve, a North American wilderness setting with lakes, rivers, mountains, roads, outposts, and fishing spots that can be reached on foot or by vehicle.

Additional destinations expand the structure with Trollsporet Nature Reserve in Norway, Spain Reserve, South Africa Reserve, and Japan Fishing Reserve. Each reserve introduces its own scenery, missions, fish population, and regional identity rather than functioning as a simple reskin.

The current PC catalog lists twelve add-on items in the Ultimate Fishing Bundle. The substantial content is divided between reserve expansions and smaller equipment or cosmetic packs, including the Ultra Cruiser Boat Pack, LakePal Bait Boat Pack, Fiskespro Gear Pack, Rushy Gear Pack, and Mountain Range Pack.

Two cosmetic packs, the Wilderness Cosmetics Pack and Winter Vehicle Cosmetics Pack, are listed as free add-ons. The commercial model is therefore a paid base game with optional paid reserves, equipment, vehicles, and cosmetic content rather than a free-to-play fishing service.

Development has ended, but the game remains playable in its existing state. The official support announcement states that online and offline functionality remain available, multiplayer continues to work, and the base game and existing DLC remain accessible.

Multiplayer and shared exploration

Online multiplayer supports up to 12 players in a seamless cooperative environment. The emphasis is on fishing together, traveling between water bodies, sharing vehicles, comparing catches, and enjoying the reserve as a communal outdoor space.

PC crossplay works across the supported PC launchers, allowing players on Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store to join one another. That makes the choice of storefront less restrictive for groups of friends.

There is no local split-screen mode listed for the PC version. The multiplayer experience is online co-op, while solo play provides the quieter alternative for players who prefer to explore and fish without a group.

Multiplayer is particularly useful when one player knows a reserve well and another is still learning its water types, routes, and species. It also makes boat travel and the search for difficult catches feel less isolated.

PC features and storefront details

The PC version supports solo play, online co-op, Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Family Sharing, keyboard and mouse input, and controller play. Controller support is useful for players who prefer analog movement and a more relaxed casting setup.

On Steam, the game requires agreement to a third-party EULA. The title is distributed through the relevant storefront client, with no separate launcher or anti-cheat system publicly identified in the verified storefront information used for this guide.

Steam lists interface and subtitle support for English, French, German, Spanish from Spain, Japanese, Polish, Russian, and Simplified Chinese. English is the only language listed with full audio support.

The game is not Steam Deck Verified according to the official support page. That status matters for handheld buyers because the developer recommends a PC for the intended experience rather than presenting handheld compatibility as a guaranteed feature.

Players should also note that the PC display options are borderless and windowed rather than exclusive fullscreen. That is a small but relevant detail for users planning a multi-application desktop setup.

Who Call of the Wild: The Angler suits

This is a strong fit for players who want a relaxing open-world fishing game with more structure than a simple casting minigame. Exploration, equipment decisions, mission progression, and the search for rare fish give the quiet moments a clear purpose.

It also works well for groups that want a low-pressure online activity. You can travel, fish, compare catches, and switch locations without following a mandatory story route or competing in every session.

The game is less suitable for players expecting a dense career mode, tournament-heavy competition, local co-op, or constant mechanical complexity. Its appeal comes from repetition, observation, gear experimentation, and gradual mastery of each reserve.

For a more technique-heavy fishing alternative with a broader range of fishing methods, traditional PC fishing simulations like Ultimate Fishing Simulator offer a useful comparison. The Angler is the better match for players who prioritize open-world travel and shared reserves.

Call of the Wild: The Angler FAQ

Has Call of the Wild: The Angler been renamed?

No. The current PC storefront listings continue to use Call of the Wild: The Angler. The version without the colon is a common search variant, not a separate official edition or verified rebrand.

Is Call of the Wild: The Angler offline?

Yes. The official support information states that players can play solo in offline mode. Online access is required for the cooperative multiplayer features.

How many players can join a PC session?

A session supports up to 12 players in seamless online co-op. PC crossplay allows players using the supported PC storefronts to play together.

What fishing techniques are available?

The verified core techniques are float fishing, lure spinning, and bottom fishing. The equipment system lets players combine rods, reels, line, hooks, bait, and lures for different species and conditions.

Does the game still receive new content?

No. Development has ended, so new content and updates are not planned. The existing game, online multiplayer, offline mode, five reserves, and released DLC remain playable in their current state.

Is Steam Deck support officially verified?

No. The official support page says Call of the Wild: The Angler is not Steam Deck Verified and recommends playing on a PC for the best experience.