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Building the Predator: Hunting Grounds Website — Kicking Off with IllFonic
Predator: Hunting Grounds was already out in the wild when I got the chance to work on the official website — but that didn’t make it any less exciting. In fact, it was the very first big project I took on for IllFonic, and it marked the beginning of an ongoing collaboration that’s grown to include multiple game and studio sites since.
Getting to build a site for a major IP like Predator is always going to come with a bit of pressure — fans have high expectations, and the visual identity is iconic. But more than anything, this project was about establishing a strong working relationship with the team at IllFonic and delivering something that felt as sharp and cinematic as the game itself.
The Mission
Even though the game had already launched, the website still had a clear purpose:
Serve as a polished, official hub for Predator: Hunting Grounds
Highlight key features, media, and platform availability
Deliver press materials and downloadable assets
Reflect the intense, atmospheric vibe of the game
Be easy to update and expand for future content drops or community updates
It wasn’t about hyping a launch — it was about delivering long-term value for players, press, and the dev team.
Design & Visual Direction
Mike Heald at Fully Illustrated handled the design — and as usual, he delivered something spot-on. The visuals leaned into deep shadows, glowing reds, and military-style layouts that felt lifted straight out of the jungle. Subtle textures and layered visuals gave the site a weight that matched the game's tone.
As a dev, it was my job to bring that tension and detail into the build — making sure everything felt responsive and alive without overloading the experience.
The Stack
For the tech stack, I used:
Nuxt (pre-Nuxt 3 at the time) for structure and performance
Storyblok for content management — flexible enough to handle everything from trailers to patch notes
Netlify for fast deployment and hosting
This setup gave IllFonic the tools they needed to keep the site updated internally without leaning on dev time for every change — which was a big win for long-term usability.
Key Features
A clean, cinematic homepage with key art, story highlights, and platform info
CMS-managed Game Features and Media sections, easy to update
A dedicated Press Kit area with downloadable assets and trailers
Structured support for future updates, DLC, and community links
Optimized performance and accessibility to keep the site fast and user-friendly
Everything was built to be scalable — not just in terms of content, but in terms of how the studio could use and reuse components across other projects in the future.
Why It Mattered
This site wasn’t just about Predator — it was about establishing trust with IllFonic. It was our first major collaboration, and it laid the groundwork for future projects like Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, the IllFonic studio site, and more.
That relationship has grown into something I truly value — and it all started here, with a stealthy, deadly, and technically fun project.
Final Thoughts
Predator: Hunting Grounds was a turning point for me. It brought me into IllFonic’s orbit and opened the door to a lot of exciting projects after it. Building this site post-launch was a reminder that a good website doesn’t just support a game at release — it helps keep that world alive long after.
Check out the site here: predator.illfonic.com
If you’ve got a game that’s already launched but still needs the digital home it deserves, let’s build something solid together.