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Monster Hunter Wilds is gearing up for its grand debut in early 2025, and it’s set to hit PS5, Xbox, and PC simultaneously. With exciting new monsters, an open world map, and visual and gameplay upgrades, anticipation is soaring. However, you might have some questions about the new mechanics or how the game will run. Before you preorder the game, here’s everything you need to know about Monster Hunter Wilds.
[Updated on November 5 – Added more information]
Monster Hunter Wilds Release Date, PC System Requirements, and PS5 and Xbox Performance
Monster Hunter Wilds will be released simultaneously on PS5 and Xbox consoles as well as PC on February 28, 2025. Although series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto has confirmed it’ll come with a toggleable cross-play, the team admits that cross-save will be “hard to implement.”
Anyone who has World and Iceborne saves data is eligible for 2 Palico armor and weapon sets. Players who preordered will be able to claim Guild Knight Set Layered Armor and Hope Charm Talisman. Meanwhile, PS5 players can also get an exclusive Digital Art Book.
The game will come in 3 tiers:
- Monster Hunter Wilds standard edition: Base game and preorder bonus, if preordered.
- Monster Hunter Wilds Deluxe Edition:
- Base game.
- Preorder bonus, if preordered.
- Deluxe Pack:
- Hunter Layered Armor Set: Feudal Soldier, Hunter Layered Armor: Fencer’s Eyepatch, Oni Horns Wig.
- Seikret Decoration: Soldier’s Caparison, General’s Caparison.
- Felyne Layered Armor Set: Felyne Ashigaru.
- Pendant: Avian Wind Chime.
- Gesture: Battle Cry, Uchiko.
- Hairstyle: Hero’s Topknot, Refined Warrior.
- Makeup/Face Paint: Hunter’s Kumadori, Special Bloom.
- Sticker Set: Avis Unit, Monsters of the Windward Plains.
- Nameplate: Extra Frame — Russet Dawn *Purchase Bonus.
- Monster Hunter Wilds Premium Deluxe Pack:
- Base game.
- Preorder bonus, if preordered.
- Deluxe Pack:
- Premium Bonus:
- Hunter Layered Armor: Wyverian Ears.
- Premium Bonus Hunter Profile Set.
- BGM: Proof of a Hero (2025 Recording).
- Cosmetic DLC Pack 1, planned for release in Spring 2025.
- Cosmetic DLC Pack 2, planned for release in Summer 2025.
The Deluxe Pack and Premium Bonus will be sold separately after the game has launched. Below is the Minimum and Recommended specs for the PC version.
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-10600 or Intel Core i3-12100F or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Intel Core i5-11600K or Intel Core i5-12400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or AMD Ryzen 5 5500 |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super (VRAM 6GB) or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (VRAM 6GB) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super (VRAM 8GB) or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060(VRAM 8GB) or AMD Radeon RX 6700XT (VRAM 12GB) |
| Storage | 140 GB, SSD required, DirectStorage supported | 140 GB, SSD required, DirectStorage supported |
Capcom ran an open beta test for Monster Hunter Wilds from October 31 to November 3, 2024, for all platforms with toggleable cross-play functionality. PlayStation Plus subscribers were able to play the beta test 3 days earlier starting on 28 October. Players will be able to transfer their custom character settings to the full game and obtain an exclusive Palico weapon pendant for participating.
It’s stated that the main purpose of the beta test is to verify various technical aspects, including network load and game performance.
According to Monster Hunter Wilds PC specification page, the Minimum requirement is aiming at upscaled 1080p with 30 FPS under the Lowest graphics setting. Meanwhile, for those with Recommended or more specs can expect the game to run at 1080p/60 FPS with Frame Generation enabled on the Medium graphics setting.
These system requirements end up scaring off quite some players, and Japanese players are once again eyeing up PS5 for their Monster Hunter Wilds machine. Some people who managed to try out the demo during Gamescom and Tokyo Game Show were also noticing performance issues. Capcom community managers promise players that it will run at 60 FPS on base PS5 in the Scarlet Forest Gameplay Watch Party video.
Nevertheless, many players, especially on PC, have reported that their hardware is struggling to run the Monster Hunter Wilds beta. RTX 4070 owners said they can barely get a stable 60 FPS on 1080p while lower spec PC rendered NPC and objects as rough polygons.
Seikret and Hunting Gameplay Changes in Monster Hunter Wilds for PS5, Xbox, and PC
Like every generational leap, Wilds is going to bring tons of changes to the Monster Hunter formula to keep it fresh.
Armor is no longer gender-locked; Hunter and Huntress can mix and match armor parts regardless of body type. Mixed sets can also have Set Bonuses if the used parts fit into a common theme. Let’s use Rathalos and Rey Dau’s sets as an example. By wearing a combination of them you can get Flying Wyvern Set Bonus Skill. Your weapons will come with Armor Skills as well, and Decorations or Jewel will be obtainable from random drops like in World.
Fashion Hunters need not worry as Layered Armor will be unlocked as the story progresses. The character creator includes hair with multiple color shades as well. However, there is no confirmation whether Wilds is bringing back the Blademaster/Gunner or Alpha/Beta/Gamma armor variant or ditching them like in Rise.
Speaking of Rise, a personal mount like Palamute is back, in the form of a Chocobo-like bird called Seikret. There are some accessories that you can attach to customize its looks. As the Seikret can glide, there are areas where you can only traverse on foot and others needing Seikret. Your loyal ride can immediately help you get out of a pickle after being thrown by a monster’s attack. But this “auto dodge” can only be activated for a limited number of times per period.
You can bring 2 weapons into a hunt, the Seikret mount will carry the one you’re not using. Want to take a Great Sword and Gunlance? Or bring 2 Hunting Horns with different Melody buffs? You can do both. This mechanic isn’t available from the get-go but is unlocked quickly.
Nearly every weapon has at least one special mechanic that rewards players for perfect timing. Dodging an attack at the last second with Dual Blades gives a short buff. Meanwhile, guarding or performing a right move at just the right second may cause a Power Clash or Offset Attack, Wilds‘ parry systems.
Power Clash can only be performed using weapons with a shield or can do a blocking move. That includes Sword and Shield, Lance, Gunlance, Heavy Bowgun, Charge Blade, and Great Sword. On the other hand, gear considered ‘heavy weapons’ can perform Offset Attacks to parry incoming danger as part of their movelist. They are Hammer, Hunting Horn, Heavy Bowgun, Switch Axe, and Great Sword.
Together with Power Clash and Offset Attack, another main gimmick in Monster Hunter Wilds is the Focus Mode. The feature is made to emphasize positioning, letting you aim your attacks or blocks– even rotate during a True Charged Slash. When activated, you can target or defend in the camera’s direction, while highlighting any wounds or weak spots on the monster.
Special moves, called Focus Strikes, inflict massive damage when aimed at these weak points. Striking a wound with a Focus Strike will destroy it, causing heavy damage and stunning the monster. All 14 weapons are able to do Focus Strike and doing so will reward you with lower-tier monster material.
After a hunt, the 60-second Quest Cleared timer can be skipped, and in multiplayer quests, all players must vote on it. End-of-quest accolades such as Most Stuns, Most Damage Dealt, etcetera make a return from World.
Another thing from World, the Slinger, comes back to Wilds with a vengeance. Now the tool provides Hunters with even more functions. You can use it to grab materials from the ground, trees, or walls. There are environmental hazards that can be activated with it as well. Hook Slinger can be used to pull a monster slightly too, mostly to quickly pull an aggro from a specific target.
Slinger ammo has more purpose this time around. For example, aside from shooing away monsters, Large Dung Pods can be used to disperse herds. Luring Pod can be used to lure monsters while Bleeding Pod can be used to create wounds faster. Some Slinger ammo can be obtained by hooking at small monsters instead of being found on the ground.
A progression from World Camps, and maybe also inspired by EA and Omega Force’s Wild Hearts, is the Pop-Up Camps. You can craft camps at recommended locations all over the open world map where you can change equipment and rest. But keep in mind that Pop-up Camps can be attacked by monsters; ideally, you’ll make them in lower-threat areas. Every location has a “safety level” based on where it is relative to monsters’ habitats. NPC Hunters that accompany you will also spawn in these camps.
New and Returning Monsters in Wilds
As of November 2024, Capcom has shown off 11 original monsters you’ll have to hunt in the game. Series veterans should also be excited for the return of 2 classic fan-favorite: the Low Rank punching bag Yian Kut-Ku and the farting ape Congalala. Nevertheless, Capcom has promised Yian Kut-Ku will serve a “different role” this time around. Let’s see what kind of tricks it has up its sleeve.
| New Monster | Returning Monster |
|---|---|
| Arkveld (Flagship, possibly Flying Wyvern) | Yian Kut-Ku (Bird Wyvern) |
| Balahara (Leviathan) | Congalala (Fanged Beast) |
| Chatacabra (Amphibian) | Rathalos (Flying Wyvern) |
| Doshaguma (Fanged Beast) | |
| Lala Barina (Temnoceran) | |
| Rey Dau (Flying Wyvern) | |
| Uth Duna (Leviathan) | |
| Quematrice (Brute Wyvern) | |
| Rompopolo (Brute Wyvern) | |
| Ajarakan (Fanged Beast) | |
| The Black Flame (Unknown) |
Capcom has said that the base Wilds is aiming to feature more monsters than in the base World. While Capcom hasn’t revealed more yet, information acquired from data mining the beta might suggest that 5 more returning monsters might show up. They are Blangonga, Gravios, Gypceros, Gore Magala, and Nerscylla.
Most monsters will be equipped with unique mechanics of their own. For example, when enraged, a Doshaguma’s muscles swell and heal all wounds the player has destroyed. On the other hand, after shooting its electric railgun, Rey Dau’s head will become a weak spot. The area being hit by Rey Dau’s attack will form Fulgurite crystals as well, which can be used to Hunter’s advantage. Monsters will have different behaviors and preferences with herds.
Aside from large monsters’ unique mechanics, small monsters and hunting grounds will offer additional challenges. Great Thunderbugs will swarm and zap monsters that touch them although Rey Dau will be immune to them. During Sandtide, lightning can hit and damage players and monsters. Fighting on Dunes is dangerous, as they may collapse.
Monster mounting from Monster Hunter 4 and World returns too in Wilds. However, this time around 1 Mounting Finisher will not always be enough to bring down a monster.
Quests are created dynamically by choosing a monster on the map; the timer starts once you’ve engaged them. Interestingly, damage to monsters can carry over between quests, somewhat similar to Repel Quests in older games. Say you were hunting a Doshaguma but also damaged Yian Kut-Ku in the process. You can later create a Kut-Ku Quest from the same target and it will still have the damage you previously did.
After being defeated, the monsters’ carcasses will have hitboxes. Players no longer can walk through them and will climb them up to carve them.
Hunting Areas, Seasons, and Monster Hunter Wilds Colorful Supporting Casts
The hunting areas in Monster Hunter Wilds PS5, Xbox, and PC versions are accessible seamlessly without any loading screen. So far, Capcom has shown us 3 of them:
- Windward Plains: The introductory hunting area, consists of a large desert and savanna.
- Scarlet Forest: The second hunting ground offers lush forest and deadly waters.
- Oilwell Basin: The third hot area, filled with pools of oil silt and combustible gasses. Cool Drink might be necessary to traverse this land.
Perhaps taking note of its predecessor, Monster Hunter Dos, the Forbidden Lands offer a dynamic hunting experience through seasons. In Wilds, the hunting areas will cycle between 3 periods:
- Fallow, when hungry predators roam the land for food,
- Inclemency, it’s when an ecology-altering phenomenon happens and apex predators are out for a hunt.
- Windward Plains’ Inclemency is the Sandtide sandstorm with lightning bolts. In Scarlet Forest, it’s the torrential rainstorm Downpour. Meanwhile, it’s called Firespring in Oilwell Basin.
- They last about 10 minutes judging from various demo footage.
- Plenty, the rich and calm moments when herbivores can graze freely.
Of course, with varied hunting conditions, comes special situations. Great Thunderbugs, for example, will only appear during the Inclemency and Fallow seasons. Monsters drop additional rewards based on time of day and season, among other factors). Grass burns away from lightning or Gunlance shelling and scorch marks remain.
Endemic Life and plants will also differ drastically between seasons, rarer ones only appear in specific conditions. Plenty will have more healing items, while you can find more buff materials during Fallow. As a direct response to how cluttered Ancient Forest in World, Capcom has made the map menu fully 3D. It can be freely rotated, tilted, and zoomed.
The classic fishing mechanic has been expanded as well. This time, you will need special lures rather than a variety of baits.
Continuing the trend from Monster Hunter World and Rise, a handful of unique personalities will tag along with you on your journey. Some can even help you during a fight:
- Alma: The glasses-wearing Handler of our Avis Unit. She’s a specialist in cultural anthropology and an avid archaeologist.
- Gemma: A smithy with the Research Commission. Currently, the fanbase is speculating she’s an all-grown-up Little Miss Forge from Monster Hunter 4.
- Nata: A young boy who’s hunting the mysterious White Wraith that attacked his village.
- Fabius: A former hunter who now leads the the Hunter’s Guild and established the Forbidden Lands Research Commission.
- Olivia: Hammer user from Astrum Unit. Can be called as a Support Hunter.
- Athos: Olivia’s Palico.
- Erik: Astrum Unit’s Handler, an adroit biologist.
- Werner: Astrum Unit’s smithy.
Last but not least, Capcom also didn’t forget the importance of cooking in Monster Hunter Wilds. Cooking is the player’s responsibility and is reminiscent of camping– you must improvise and make the most of what you have.
For starters, this time, canteen ingredients must be gathered or purchased with Zenny from specialty shops. Cooking for food buff consists of 3 parts: combining the main ingredients of Fish, Meat, and Veggie. Then you can add Additional Ingredients and top it off with Finishing Touches. You can open up the menu and cook during a hunt. But be careful as monsters will and can interrupt you if you’re being careless.
As tasty-looking food is also core to Monster Hunter, Capcom is preparing unique cooking animations and the best textures for your meal.
Packed with fresh content and exciting cross-platform play on PS5, Xbox, and PC, Monster Hunter Wilds promises to deliver a wild ride for Hunters everywhere. Capcom is promising big changes, and as the release date draws near, let’s wait and see if it lives up to its epic expectations.
