Monster Hunter Wilds is the next installment in Capcom's long line of Monster Hunter games, which have become increasingly popular since the release of Monster Hunter World in 2018. Monster Hunter Wilds appears to be unlike any installment before it, though it will most likely retain certain traditions, like resource gathering and crafting, various weapon types, Palico companions, and its challenging difficulty. Furthermore, just like the games that came before it, Monster Hunter Wilds will probably have DLC expansions similar to Monster Hunter Rise's Sunbreak expansion and Monster Hunter World's Iceborne expansion. Currently, Monster Hunter Wilds is slated for a 2025 release, with it most likely taking place in early 2025, as previous installments have typically launched within their release year's first quarter.

2025 is already stacked with games, with highly anticipated titles such as Grand Theft Auto 6, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A already confirmed for release next year. Needless to say, it will be a big year for gaming, considering there are likely more 2025 release confirmations still to come. Nevertheless, despite Monster Hunter Wilds already having such stiff competition, it may not need to worry about potentially losing the race, especially if Monster Hunter's release history has anything to say about it.

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Monster Hunter Wilds May Still Shine After 2025

2025 Already Looks Like It Could Be 2023 All Over Again

With several big game releases already planned for 2025, there's the potential for Monster Hunter Wilds to fall under the radar. Despite the series' growing success, it could still be considered a niche franchise, as its combat and exploration mechanics often differ from the norm. With other, much more universally praised IPs such as Grand Theft Auto and Pokemon launching new entries in 2025, there is plenty of reason to think Monster Hunter Wilds could get placed on the back burner.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra is one of the more recent titles to receive a 2025 release window, which could also cast a shadow over Monster Hunter Wilds. It's also entirely possible that Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Red could launch next year, along with Bungie's Marathon remake, Ken Levine's highly anticipated BioShock-like title Judas, and the Overwatch-esque superhero title Marvel Rivals. Each of these releases could potentially impact the success of Monster Hunter Wilds, but it may have an ace up its sleeve if it follows the pattern of its predecessors.

Monster Hunter Wilds' Expansions Could Carry It Into 2026

Past Monster Hunter titles, especially those more recently released, have eventually launched expansions that renewed interest in them after the initial honeymoon phase for each game died out. Monster Hunter World, for instance, launched its hugely popular Iceborne expansion almost two years after the release of the base game and saw players returning to MH World for another round of monster-hunting fun.

Monster Hunter Rise, which launched in March 2021, released its Sunbreak expansion just over a year after the base game, granting a reignited interest in it as well. As such, Monster Hunter Wilds could release an expansion or two that will carry its success into 2026 and beyond, and even more so if this particular installment ends up being as large as it seems it will be.

Monster Hunter Wilds' ability to rise above 2025's biggest game releases shouldn't be doubted before it's given a chance to prove itself, but it probably won't have to worry about it with the likelihood of expansions for it launching in the year or two that follow it. Perhaps this will be the Monster Hunter game to tip the scales and make the longstanding franchise not so niche anymore, but that much remains to be seen.