Predators have always come to Earth, hunting humans and other animals. But the real reason can be totally deflating for the hunters in question.
The following contains spoilers for Prey, currently streaming on Hulu.
In Prey, audiences saw a version of the Predator that was far less technologically advanced than those featured in previous films. As a result, the flaws of certain species were more easily exposed and it was easier to see that not all predators were perfect. However, what could this mean for the species as a whole and, more importantly, for planet Earth? Well, one theory may have offered both an intriguing and downright perplexing answer for Yautja audiences so far.
According to Reddit theorist Wonderfool, the reason Predators came to Earth and apparently got killed time and time again was because the planet was seen as a corrective planet for underperforming Yautja. This made Earth a slice of a loser for some predators who couldn’t make the cut on more advanced planets. As a result, Earth was their final test to prove themselves to the tribe. But more interesting than that is how the logic behind the theory meshes perfectly with the movies and the lore.
To begin with, even in Prey, the Yautja have always had advanced weaponry that included invisibility, infrared, and smart weapons that could surpass anything considered a weapon in the 1700s. Therefore, it is possible that for the Yautja who have underperforming, the Earth is a difficult but simple way to earn their respect in the tribe. This would explain why the Feral Predator moved up the food chain, looking for a predator that would give it the challenge and victory it needed. But, as shown by Naru and the other warriors, his skill, while impressive, was nothing compared to the intelligence of the human race.
The Yautja have always focused on pride in their tribe and rites of passage meant to impress others around them and show elders their value to the tribe. The Jungle and City Hunters, while intimidating, could have been Hunters who weren’t accepted and sent to Earth as well. However, they too failed to outsmart their prey. It may also have shown that the Predators sent to Earth failed because they lacked the ability to think about their targets and relied too much on their strength and technology rather than their intelligence.
predators also added more credence to this theory as it was shown that lower level predators like the tethered one were considered a lesser species compared to the berserker predator. That said, those sent to Earth were probably young too, as none of the more advanced versions had appeared before. The predator. At that time, the advanced Ultimate Predator traveled to Earth because they believed Earth held the key to their genetic advancement. Because of this, Earth was finally worthy of a more advanced Yautja, further justifying its previous status as a healing planet.
There is no confirmation that the Predators sent to Earth were the ones who failed in their species. But their ability to be outmaneuvered even with their technology helped prove it to some degree. There’s also the lack of more advanced Yautja, having been on Earth until 2018. As a result, it’s likely that Earth was nothing special for a while and was a perfect way to test and eliminate any Yautja weakest of the species.