Highlights

  • Monster Hunter Wilds seems to feature an unprecedented scale, with larger groups of monsters and the potential for an open-world environment that is interconnected and affected by the actions of the monsters.
  • The introduction of a new mount companion with flying abilities and additional features suggests a significant shift in gameplay, potentially including the inclusion of portable camps and the manipulation of biomes through terraforming.

The Game Awards 2023 came with several announcements, but one of the biggest came from Capcom in the form of a reveal trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds. The latest in one of the company’s flagship franchises, Wilds’ unveiling comes after months of rumors regarding what the follow-up to World and Rise could end up looking like. Fans were uncertain whether the next Monster Hunter title would lean into the advanced combat mechanics of Rise or the expansive setting of World, but it seems that Capcom’s next step has ultimately landed somewhere in between.

With a trailer that started off with a herd of uncanny herbivores and distinct rock formations, Monster Hunter Wilds was almost instantly recognizable as a part of the franchise to eagle-eyed fans. Its graphical fidelity doesn’t seem to have far surpassed its predecessors in its current state, but that’s not what has established this upcoming title as an advancement of Monster Hunter.

While it may have been brief, Wilds’ trailer showed off several details that make it clear Capcom is serious about moving into the current generation with this series in 2025.

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The Unprecedented Scale of Monster Hunter Wilds

monster hunter wilds reveal trailer vista

More Monsters On-Screen Than Ever

Despite the familiarity of Monster Hunter’s formula shown through the smaller monsters seen at the start of Wilds’ trailer, the sheer quantity of these creatures immediately implied a new level of technical performance. The endemic lifeforms are not only shown in larger groups than seen previously, but some have smaller creatures perched on top of them in a symbiotic display. The player is then seen being chased through one of these herds by a group of several ape-like monsters, resembling the likes of Rise’s Goss Harag. An entire pack of these monsters that would usually each be an individual battle rips through the herd as an avalanche of dust seems to overtake the entire zone, showing a level of chaos that previous console generations likely couldn’t have supported.

Hints of an Open-World Approach

Between what appears to be a large environment in the vein of World’s areas, and the way that the monsters within might be able to affect their surroundings, it would make more sense than ever for Monster Hunter to go fully open-world. The hub world-centric structure of previous titles has always been a staple for the franchise, but creating a seamless set of interconnected zones would be a progression from World in a similar vein to other aspects of the reveal.

Wilds' Potential to Evolve Existing Mechanics

Monster Hunter Wilds first trailer TGA

Monster Hunter's Latest Mount is No Palamute

One of the most obvious signs that the MH series could be due for a huge shift is the presence of Wilds’ new mount, a companion that appears essential to the core gameplay. Assisting the player in traversing across a wide expanse in a manner reminiscent of Rise’s Palamute mounts, these new dinosaur creatures seem to be even more important. Not only will it be key to traversal through its ability to fly, but the presence of an additional weapon and a bedroll on its back could mean that this mount may act as a mini-camp of sorts. If Wilds makes the full jump into an open world, it stands to reason that a portable camp would be a natural fit.

Biomes at the Forefront in a Fresh Way

The various biomes of Monster Hunter have been significant parts of the series since its beginning, but Wilds could be reinterpreting them in a daunting manner. The player appeared to run from a sort of avalanche in the trailer, but reaching safety above it revealed that this dust storm of debris may have acted as a terraforming phenomenon. The biome became visually altered from this wave of force, becoming more lush with grass after it initially resembled a desert. There’s no telling how far it will push terraforming, but manipulating the environment itself is a feature that Monster Hunter Wilds can only attempt as a current-gen title.