Highlights

  • Monster Hunter Wilds breaks tradition with a fully-voiced player character, potentially revolutionizing multiplayer communication.
  • A shift towards a voiced protagonist may lead to new communication methods in multiplayer.
  • Voiced protagonists in Wilds could offer immediate reactions during moment-to-moment play and elevate solo and multiplayer experiences.

Following recent showcases of features that indicate Monster Hunter Wilds could be an evolution of the franchise on par with World, the RPG's unprecedented use of voice acting has broken a pattern established by every previous title. In a series which has always seen the player in the shoes of a silent protagonist who never speaks outside of grunts during combat, the next game will pioneer the player character being fully-voiced for the first time. This change falls in line with what appears to be Monster Hunter Wilds' shift towards higher cinematic quality, but it could also have uses which extend into the deeper side of gameplay.

After the reveal that the player seems to have as much dialogue as the NPCs in footage of Wilds so far, it's reasonable to speculate about how far this feature could extend into the title's new formula. Considering that multiplayer in Monster Hunter has always operated through traditional chat methods due to the bare-bones gestures available in-game, there is genuine potential for expanding communication with other players through character speech. As the franchise has continued to grow on an international scale, the benefits of a chat system which could surpass language barriers arguably has more value than ever before.

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Communication Between Players in Monster Hunter's Multiplayer Has Always Been Extremely Limited

Gestures Are the Only Alternative to Voice Chat

There have been systems like Quick Chats and Custom Shoutouts in Monster Hunter for years, but that type of text messaging only meets the most basic standard for chat features. It's not the most ideal in terms of gameplay flow for players to have to switch to typing, especially on the sizable console playerbase of MH, so it's understandable that many players have likely opted for external forms of chatting like Discord if they intend to hunt together. The gestures available in-game tend to act as more comedic jokes than serious methods of communication, but this isn't exactly an area of the series which has received particular criticism.

It's still unknown how important the protagonist of Monster Hunter Wilds' speech will be overall, but it could provide a similar level of entertainment at the very least. Apart from the utility of being able to remark on monsters and items in the world, the player character could also be capable of memorable lines across different voice sets which might complement gestures in a similar role.

Monster Hunter Wilds' Voiced Protagonist Seems Poised to Make for a Smoother Multiplayer Experience

Universal Emotes or Preset Phrases Outside of Text

Voice or text chat alike can make multiplayer more efficient in Monster Hunter, but there's an exciting middle ground that could be found between these two if Monster Hunter Wilds' voice acting is used to its fullest effect. Not only could the player utilize callout phrases that would transcend language and immediately grab the attention of fellow hunters, but there could also be warnings or assistance to the player themselves through hints within the protagonist's lines during hectic situations.

Those who have other dedicated friends to play with on a consistent basis may not find as much use in the expanded possibilities of voice lines, but it may significantly enhance the online experience for solo hunters. If there can be immediate feedback between players across the world through various calls or commands, this kind of system could even mimic the functions of voice chat in the hands of people who wouldn't usually be able to connect with others on that level. There are several routes depending on the depth with which the voiced protagonist of Monster Hunter Wilds is implemented alongside other new features in Monster Hunter Wilds, but it's almost guaranteed to enhance some aspects of communication when the game arrives next year.